Last year, a total of 2.2 million people bought BAM's AtBat iPhone and iPad apps (among the top-grossing in iTunes) or paid BAM up to $120 to subscribe to MLB.tv, the service that airs every out-of-market Major League Baseball game (most local games are blacked out). Because BAM operates behind the scenes, its technological prowess and financial success rarely attract much attention. But it now belongs to a small fraternity of digital stars. BAM's business is more multifaceted than YouTube's; last year, it sold more than 35 million MLB tickets, more than half of the league's inventory. It streams more live video than any other sports entity--and any other company. How did a game that revels in tradition produce something so cutting-edge?
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