Remember the uproar over Major League Baseball's decision to offer their Extra Innings package exclusively to DirectTV? Well, it turns out the package isn't exclusive ... yet, at least. An agreement between MLB and DirectTV was announced via a conference call yesterday, with the two parties revealing that In Demand (the leading cable provider) and the Dish Network (DirectTV's largest satellite competitor) have until the end of the month to accept a deal that would make Extra Innings, as well as the upcoming MLB Channel, available to their customers. HOWEVA, before your digital-cable-receiving self gets all excited about not missing your out-of-market games this season, it doesn't look like In Demand or the Dish Network will actually accept the agreement:
However, the president of In Demand, Robert Jacobson, speaking to the Associated Press, sounded pessimistic about reaching an agreement because of "conditions for carriage that MLB and DirecTV designed to be impossible for cable and Dish to meet."MLB chief operating officer is trying to downplay the whole uproar, explaining that of the 500,000 people that subscribed to Extra Innings last year, about 270,000 of them already subscribe to DirectTV. The Baltimore Sun's Ray Frager notes:
As DuPuy noted yesterday, the Extra Innings package has no effect on telecasts via local broadcast stations, regional sports networks, Fox, ESPN, TBS or WGN. So, yes, it's a good thing that MLB is giving a second satellite provider and cable TV another chance to go Extra Innings. But we're talking maybe 250,000 households spread out across the whole country, which, according to Nielsen, has 111.4 million TV households. Not even one rating point's worth.Why is anyone talking about 111.4 million households? The real issue is that almost half of the people who subscribed to Extra Innings last year -- the hardest of the hard-core baseball fans -- simply won't be able to in 2007 unless they switch to DirectTV, which in many cases is simply cost-prohibitive and not feasible. It's a money-grab by MLB that screws their best customers, plain and simple.
Tempest in a teapot? Maybe more like a teacup.
(via Baseball Musings)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-09-2007 @ 2:31PM
Julie said...
Is that the Big Lebowski I see sitting next to Bud?
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3-09-2007 @ 3:00PM
Matt W. said...
Whoa, Bob Dupuy does look like Mr. Lebowski:
http://robola.files.wordpress.com/2006/08/image507.jpg
Nice catch!
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3-12-2007 @ 3:01PM
Cemterkel said...
I'm extremely upset with MLB about this deal. Everthing's about the money. I don't care about how it's not exclusively for directv but your still limiting how many people are going to be able to watch baseball.
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3-18-2007 @ 4:26PM
Niki said...
I am a baseball fan. I live in a building that will not allow the dish. Therefore, Direct TV would be very unfair to 50,000 baseball fans to not let cable companys have Baseball special innings available to everyone in America. It would sour me on Direct TV and those in charge.
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3-21-2007 @ 3:04PM
matt said...
MLB is scrwing the most hardcore fans. Obviously we can't depend on league apologists like Espn network, sign and circulate this petition for the cause http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/mlb
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3-21-2007 @ 3:43PM
matt said...
Really hope cable steps up here
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3-26-2007 @ 10:29PM
rob said...
i am so pi#$ed. no more baseball on demand!! direct t.v sucks. and in my area we are lucky to get 5 or 6 red sox games on regular calbe. on demand we got everyone!! monet rules the world i ques. imo baseball wil lose alot of fans! this blows
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3-28-2007 @ 11:07AM
KP said...
I can't believe this is really happening! I'm a die-hard Red Sox transplant in Texas, and Extra Innings was the only thing keeping me sane down here!! Now greedy Bud Selig is taking that away from me, or forcing me to get Direct TV...WTF???!!! I'm trying to figure out if its worth a grass roots protest, or just to give in and get The Dish. I can't believe this is happening!!! I know someone is making a lot of money off this deal...Bud? Bud? Bud? Hello, Bud?
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3-28-2007 @ 12:06PM
Joe said...
As a White Sox season ticket holder, an avid baseball fan, and a Baltimore Orioles fan (I know, sorry), I am outraged. I live in a 111 unit condo building and do not have the propr view to even get direct tv. They have done it with football and will do it with baseball? I can tell you if this deal goes through and Congress does not get involved...I will no longer support MLB. This is an absurd injustice.
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3-28-2007 @ 12:26PM
Chris said...
This deal was, from the very beginning, put together in such a way as to make it virtually impossible for EI to remain on cable, and that stinks for every baseball fan. Check out http://www.screwedbybaseball.com and join the fight to take back baseball!
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3-28-2007 @ 12:28PM
lsf said...
I am sick to my stomach over this development. I am an avid, rabid Yankee fan. I live in Florida, and have been happily getting most of the Yankee games on mlb tv. I live in a building that does not allow a dish. Now what? I get to watch my computer? Whoopee. Is ther any group out ther that would like to get together and protest? I would be happy to add my name to any petition, or write, call, email the powers that be. I feel cheated and discriminated against. Anyone else like to organize a major protest?
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3-30-2007 @ 10:41AM
cal said...
Twins fan out in California and unable to get Direct TV.
You guys should check out the hearing that took place on the 27th and judge for yourselves. For me it was the last nail in the coffin. No way MLB wants InDemand to match the offer. All they want is Direct TV to pay up for the baseball channel in 09.
Fans get screwed now and always. I'm already done with baseball. This has ruined my favorite time of year. Thanks Bud. I hope baseball burns and bleeds money when the fans you've screwed disappear.
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4-30-2007 @ 8:29PM
terri krause said...
It was published today that Baseball's central office paid $77.3 million in salaries and benefits to 231 employees. The NFL paid $41.5 million to 839 employees in 12 months ending March 31. Commisioner Bud Selig earned $14.5 million and Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, received $4,875,000. But wait til you see how much they end up making in 2007 after they got their greedy little hands in Rupert Murdoch's gravy deal. How much of DirecTV's seven-year, $700 million offer for Extra Innings will go to those two 'Directly'? They don't care about the game or the fans. They'd rather shut out anyone who lives in an apartment that can't have a dish, or the other 84% that got Extra Innings via cable or Dish Network. I don't know anyone that is willing to switch subscribers just to make Bud & Bob & Rupert any richer.
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