MLB Extra Innings

[Mizzou]

Much as I had to admit it, it's a pretty good business move by MLB.

It's a great business move. MLB.TV is run by Major League Baseball Advance Media. There has been talk of MLBAM going public sometime in the not so distant future. One of the key assets for them is, obviously, MLB.TV. If MLB shifts the MLB Extra Innings package to direcTV, they will automatically greatly expand the market for their own product. People like myself who have no interest in switching to satellite will only have one choice - MLB.TV. If people look at the big picture, it makes perfect sense.

[Buford T Justice]

So I'm confused..Is it or isn't going to happen? Is my cable provider gonna have it this year or not?

[Abe Frohman]

Well, I am a Dish Network customer who is NOT happy about this. Called again today and the operator told me it was not resolved yet as to if they would be offering the EI package. I asked him for specific information, and he gave me this number: 212-931-7800.

 

That is the number for the Offices of Major League Baseball.

 

I have a feeling that Dish Network will not win this battle.

[Vinestal]

Well, I am a Dish Network customer who is NOT happy about this. Called again today and the operator told me it was not resolved yet as to if they would be offering the EI package. I asked him for specific information, and he gave me this number: 212-931-7800.

 

That is the number for the Offices of Major League Baseball.

 

I have a feeling that Dish Network will not win this battle.

 

I think there will be a huge leagal backlash over this if DirectTv gets exclusive rights, not to mention the millions of fans that will be absolutely pissed. I hope Congress gets involved, and I hope some private citizens with alot of money sue the hell out of MLB. MLB is not the NFL its a completely different thing for them to move the package to a network that a large amount of people cant or dont want to move to. MLBTV via the internet is also not a choice for a large number of people who still cant get highspeed internet (Im included in this group). MLB is doing a huge diservice to thier fans if they screw them over with this deal.

[Twiggy]

If I was on dish, I would be placing a call to DirecTV right now. Getting service setup before the season started. Extra Innings is great.

[radarluv1]

can you get EI at a monthly rate?

[goonys evil twin]

can you get EI at a monthly rate?

 

I don't believe so. I think you can spread out the payments over 3 or 4 months, and maybe more. But it's pretty much an all or nothing service. You can sign up later in the season, but it won't be half the cost or anything.

[Soul]

can you get EI at a monthly rate?

 

I don't believe so. I think you can spread out the payments over 3 or 4 months, and maybe more. But it's pretty much an all or nothing service. You can sign up later in the season, but it won't be half the cost or anything.

 

I've never tried to do it, but if you got the package on the installment plan, and then canceled halfway through, wouldn't that essentially be the same thing?

 

I don't know why anyone would do this though, unless they discovered they just didn't like it.

[goonys evil twin]

can you get EI at a monthly rate?

 

I don't believe so. I think you can spread out the payments over 3 or 4 months, and maybe more. But it's pretty much an all or nothing service. You can sign up later in the season, but it won't be half the cost or anything.

 

I've never tried to do it, but if you got the package on the installment plan, and then canceled halfway through, wouldn't that essentially be the same thing?

 

I don't know why anyone would do this though, unless they discovered they just didn't like it.

 

I don't know if you can do it. I think you commit to the season when you sign up. I guess it might be possible to cancel your entire service before finishing paying for the package, if your contract is up. But even then they might force you to finish the payments.

[radarluv1]

can you get EI at a monthly rate?

 

I don't believe so. I think you can spread out the payments over 3 or 4 months, and maybe more. But it's pretty much an all or nothing service. You can sign up later in the season, but it won't be half the cost or anything.

 

I've never tried to do it, but if you got the package on the installment plan, and then canceled halfway through, wouldn't that essentially be the same thing?

 

I don't know why anyone would do this though, unless they discovered they just didn't like it.

 

we've got cable now and are moving in may, so i'm just weighing my options. i could see cancelling if your team dives and your fantasy team falls apart. like last year. mlb.tv may be the best answer.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

can you get EI at a monthly rate?

 

I don't believe so. I think you can spread out the payments over 3 or 4 months, and maybe more. But it's pretty much an all or nothing service. You can sign up later in the season, but it won't be half the cost or anything.

 

Goony is right you can spread it over three-four months, but not monthly.

 

On the other hand, for DirectTV users or those thinking of switching, if you sign up for Sunday Ticket 2007 now, you can get a pretty good rate and have it spread out over 12 months of billing.

[stubbers56]

link

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/22/AR2007022201481.html

 

FCC Investigating DirectTV, MLB Deal

 

WASHINGTON -- The government is investigating a proposed deal between Major League Baseball and DirecTV Inc. that has had fans in a tizzy.

 

The chairman added that he understood the package had been available to 75 million cable and satellite viewers for the past several years, and would only be viewable by DirecTV customers if a deal were signed.

 

"I am concerned whenever consumers cannot purchase the programming they want or are forced to purchase programming they don't want," Martin wrote.

 

Martin wrote that the agency has "contacted the parties and requested additional information about their proposed arrangement. Once we have this information, we will report to you on the deal's implications for consumers and any recommended changes to the law to ameliorate any harms to consumers."

[Derwood]

it sounds to me like cable is simply shooting itself in the foot. if it had made NFL Network part of the basic cable package, they'd still have Sunday Ticket, and if they would just let MLB Network be part of the basic package, they could have Extra Innings.

[Vinestal]

it sounds to me like cable is simply shooting itself in the foot. if it had made NFL Network part of the basic cable package, they'd still have Sunday Ticket, and if they would just let MLB Network be part of the basic package, they could have Extra Innings.

 

That is so freaking stupid! I dont give a damn about a freeakin 24 hour baseball station and neither could most baseball fans. Its not going to cover thier team 90% of the time anyway. Most of the news that fans want to hear can be gathered easily off websites or local tv or espn or 100s of other sources. Saying that they wont give EI to cable and dish because of them not wanting to carry a station that most people dont give a hoot about anyway is just pure bull. They are just looking for a reason to make some extra money and they dont apparently care about thier fans. Its wrecklessly stupid to treat your fan base this way. I dont see how it helps them for less people to be able to purchase thier product. I sure as heck wont switch tv companies to get it. I hope the FCC or Congress or someone will stand up and do something about this. Goverment often sticks thier noses in places where it doesnt belong but this is one case that they would be warmly welcomed.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

it sounds to me like cable is simply shooting itself in the foot. if it had made NFL Network part of the basic cable package, they'd still have Sunday Ticket, and if they would just let MLB Network be part of the basic package, they could have Extra Innings.

 

That is so freaking stupid! I dont give a damn about a freeakin 24 hour baseball station and neither could most baseball fans. Its not going to cover thier team 90% of the time anyway. Most of the news that fans want to hear can be gathered easily off websites or local tv or espn or 100s of other sources. Saying that they wont give EI to cable and dish because of them not wanting to carry a station that most people dont give a hoot about anyway is just pure bull. They are just looking for a reason to make some extra money and they dont apparently care about thier fans. Its wrecklessly stupid to treat your fan base this way. I dont see how it helps them for less people to be able to purchase thier product. I sure as heck wont switch tv companies to get it. I hope the FCC or Congress or someone will stand up and do something about this. Goverment often sticks thier noses in places where it doesnt belong but this is one case that they would be warmly welcomed.

 

However, like the NFL, MLB may want to put games exclusively on this channel like the NFL does with their Thursday broadcast. Not having it available could hurt advertising.

 

In all honesty, I think this move has more to do with improving the value of MLB.tv

[goonys evil twin]

it sounds to me like cable is simply shooting itself in the foot. if it had made NFL Network part of the basic cable package, they'd still have Sunday Ticket, and if they would just let MLB Network be part of the basic package, they could have Extra Innings.

 

Cable never had Sunday Ticket.

[Jehrico]

it sounds to me like cable is simply shooting itself in the foot. if it had made NFL Network part of the basic cable package, they'd still have Sunday Ticket, and if they would just let MLB Network be part of the basic package, they could have Extra Innings.

 

Cable never had Sunday Ticket.

I can't speak for all cable companies, but I got it on cable in the late 90s.

[BigbadB]

However, like the NFL, MLB may want to put games exclusively on this channel like the NFL does with their Thursday broadcast. Not having it available could hurt advertising.

 

In all honesty, I think this move has more to do with improving the value of MLB.tv

 

Have you seen the programming on the NFL Network? Other than one game a week for 3 hours for 17 weeks, it's a bunch of garbage. The ratings have to be in the toilet.

 

What could possibly be interesting on a 24 hour baseball network? Anybody ever watch ESPN sportscenter two or three times in a row? Boring. Same show repeated. It gets boring. And they cover ALL sports. NFL has cheerleaders, so the constant barrage of cheerleader shows on that network gets boring. Baseball doesn't have cheerleaders.

 

Can an MLB Network be trusted to give you anything worth listening to? What you'll get is a bunch of retired old school baseball players who don't know a thing about being a broadcaster (Joe Morgan, Dusty Baker, Harold Reynolds, John Kruk, etc. ad nauseum.

 

And a previous poster was 100% on the money. If you need baseball news that badly (24/7), that's what the internet is for.

[Derwood]

However, like the NFL, MLB may want to put games exclusively on this channel like the NFL does with their Thursday broadcast. Not having it available could hurt advertising.

 

In all honesty, I think this move has more to do with improving the value of MLB.tv

 

Have you seen the programming on the NFL Network? Other than one game a week for 3 hours for 17 weeks, it's a bunch of garbage. The ratings have to be in the toilet.

 

What could possibly be interesting on a 24 hour baseball network? Anybody ever watch ESPN sportscenter two or three times in a row? Boring. Same show repeated. It gets boring. And they cover ALL sports. NFL has cheerleaders, so the constant barrage of cheerleader shows on that network gets boring. Baseball doesn't have cheerleaders.

 

Can an MLB Network be trusted to give you anything worth listening to? What you'll get is a bunch of retired old school baseball players who don't know a thing about being a broadcaster (Joe Morgan, Dusty Baker, Harold Reynolds, John Kruk, etc. ad nauseum.

 

And a previous poster was 100% on the money. If you need baseball news that badly (24/7), that's what the internet is for.

 

considering there is baseball every day and not just once a week, you could have a nightly highlight show, etc. More spring training coverage, perhaps even a TV broadcast (gasp!) of the Amateur Draft. I'd watch it.

[BigbadB]

24/7/365

 

Think about it. You just penciled in 3 days in June for the draft, 2 weeks of Spring Training and a 1 hour daily highlight show.

 

24/7/365

[Derwood]

24/7/365

 

Think about it. You just penciled in 3 days in June for the draft, 2 weeks of Spring Training and a 1 hour daily highlight show.

 

24/7/365

 

Right, and I'm also not the programming director for the MLB channel. I'm sure they'll do shows on baseball legends and all the other stuff that NFL network does.

 

But you're sort of making my point. The MLB network is going to be somewhat unremarkable, so why won't cable just put it in the basic package? Why try to make their customers pay more for something that isn't that great, and in doing so, cost yourself the revenue from EI? It's horrible business sense from cable

[CubColtPacer]

24/7/365

 

Think about it. You just penciled in 3 days in June for the draft, 2 weeks of Spring Training and a 1 hour daily highlight show.

 

24/7/365

 

Right, and I'm also not the programming director for the MLB channel. I'm sure they'll do shows on baseball legends and all the other stuff that NFL network does.

 

But you're sort of making my point. The MLB network is going to be somewhat unremarkable, so why won't cable just put it in the basic package? Why try to make their customers pay more for something that isn't that great, and in doing so, cost yourself the revenue from EI? It's horrible business sense from cable

 

Each channel has it's own fee per subscriber I know the NFL Network's fee is incredibly high for a cable channel (they want 70 cents from every subscriber, which would make it one of the priciest cable channels out there), and if MLB's network is the same way, than basically cable operators might have to raise everyone's basic cable bill by a dollar in order to make up for what putting those networks on what cost them. Since such a low percentage of people would want those channels, the backlash would be enormous on cable bills going up for what most people would see as a "worthless channel". They are only putting it on a special package because then the people who want it can pay the extra large fee for it . MLB wants it on the basic package because then they get that subscriber fee from every single person who has cable.

 

Edit: Basically, to sum up what I'm saying is that it only makes sense for cable to add these channels if there is enough popular demand for them. A large percentage of their consumer base would have to beg for them (which is why the NFL network tried to put games on it so that enough people would complain) in order to justify the higher bill for everybody. As you said though, this channel will likely not be remarkable, so it makes no sense for cable to make everyone pay a higher bill for a bad channel.

[moorecg]

it sounds to me like cable is simply shooting itself in the foot. if it had made NFL Network part of the basic cable package, they'd still have Sunday Ticket, and if they would just let MLB Network be part of the basic package, they could have Extra Innings.

 

Cable never had Sunday Ticket.

I can't speak for all cable companies, but I got it on cable in the late 90s.

 

I'm not saying your wrong...just that I used to sell DirecTV at the electronics store I worked at in College and to my knowledge Sunday Ticket originated with DirecTV and has always been exclusive to that sattelite provider...not sure how you could ever have gotten it on cable.

[moorecg]

Has anyone heard anything definitive on this recently? I've still seen no MLB/DirecTV press release saying this HAS happened...just a lot of talk that is probably is going to happen...we're coming up on the first spring training game...you'd think this would be getting nailed down soon.

[Abe Frohman]

As a Dish Network customer, I like to call in once a week to see if I can get any information on them carrying the MLB EI package, and I had an interesting conversation today.

 

Talked to an operator named Megan, and she GUARANTEED to me that they would be carrying the package. She said they will continue to fight, but they would DEFINATELY be offering it to us.

 

Still feel uneasy.