Four years ago, a Seattle resident transitioned away from cable, leading to a loss of access to Mariners games on television. In response, the individual began streaming radio broadcasts through a Google Home speaker. While enjoying the radio offers a unique experience, the challenge of receiving score notifications, particularly through the MLB app, emerged as a significant issue. This app provided live scores, which were beneficial for following the game, but the notifications arrived quicker than the audio stream, resulting in unintentional spoilers.
Prior to April of this year, the options to watch Mariners games were limited to either expensive cable packages or attending games in person. Root Sports, the organization that holds the broadcasting rights, only recently offered a standalone streaming service priced at $20 per month. As a result, listening to the game on the radio became the most accessible option. However, the rapid notifications continued to disrupt the experience.
To manage this, the individual considered various approaches, including utilizing “Do Not Disturb” settings to silence notifications while listening. Ultimately, during a recent playoff game against the Blue Jays, a feature was discovered in the app that allowed notifications to be delayed by 30 seconds. This enhancement struck a balance between receiving updates and preventing spoilers, making the radio experience more enjoyable.
Interestingly, it was noted that the MLB app may have introduced this delayed notification feature a few years ago, which went unnoticed until recently. With the Mariners now making a playoff run, the reliance on the radio may diminish, as the remaining games are scheduled for national television coverage.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/tech/800279/mlb-app-baseball-notifications-delay