MLB Extra Innings

[kujay]

... I guess i'll be watching alot of MLB.TV on my Wii browser this season. :(

 

I'm not terribly tech savvy, and really only know how to play games and spin the weather globe on the Wii.

 

Is the browser up and running now? Do I need to do some sort of config?

[CubColtPacer]

... I guess i'll be watching alot of MLB.TV on my Wii browser this season. :(

 

I'm not terribly tech savvy, and really only know how to play games and spin the weather globe on the Wii.

 

Is the browser up and running now? Do I need to do some sort of config?

 

There's a trial version (more like a beta) of the browser available for download for free in the Wii shop right now. The full version of the browser comes out in March I think, and if you download it before the end of June, it's free.

[kujay]

^Thanks. Very cool.

[Laura]

Terry Nau / The Pawtucket Times[/url]"]

This country's various cable companies were represented in negotiations by InDemand, which offered MLB $70M annually without asking for exclusivity. In other words, MLB could have pocketed the $70M from InDemand and still sold the package to DirecTV, Dish Network and other services, including AT&T and Verizon.

 

But no! According to an article in Sunday's New York Daily News, Bud Selig's negotiators chose to go with DirecTV, possibly because they are looking for a place to land The Baseball Channel, a new MLB venture that cable companies will not permit on their basic tier of service.

 

Had MLB received "basic tier" status from the cable companies for its embryonic Baseball Channel, it would have been paid per subscriber, a veritable financial bonanza geared to the popularity of the sport (which is doing quite nicely these days).

 

Neil Best / Newsday[/url]"] What is baseball's motivation? Cash surely is part of it. The New York Times reported the deal would be worth $100 million a year for seven years, $30 million more than MLB got from cable companies.

 

The real payback would come in 2009.

 

Two industry sources said a key to the deal was DirecTV's agreement to put a planned baseball channel owned by MLB on its basic service. The cable companies could well insist on putting it on dreaded, lightly subscribed sports tiers, for which viewers pay an extra fee.

 

Again, though, why blame baseball for that strategy when the NFL Network also has had trouble getting a slot on expanded basic from Cablevision and Time Warner?

 

In any case, now the cable companies have another reason to be frustrated at baseball and are unlikely to cooperate when its channel launches two years from now.

[rocket]

i never said it was illegal. i said it's greedy and it sucks.

[BigbadB]

Terry Nau / The Pawtucket Times[/url]"]

This country's various cable companies were represented in negotiations by InDemand, which offered MLB $70M annually without asking for exclusivity. In other words, MLB could have pocketed the $70M from InDemand and still sold the package to DirecTV, Dish Network and other services, including AT&T and Verizon.

 

But no! According to an article in Sunday's New York Daily News, Bud Selig's negotiators chose to go with DirecTV, possibly because they are looking for a place to land The Baseball Channel, a new MLB venture that cable companies will not permit on their basic tier of service.

 

Had MLB received "basic tier" status from the cable companies for its embryonic Baseball Channel, it would have been paid per subscriber, a veritable financial bonanza geared to the popularity of the sport (which is doing quite nicely these days).

 

Neil Best / Newsday[/url]"] What is baseball's motivation? Cash surely is part of it. The New York Times reported the deal would be worth $100 million a year for seven years, $30 million more than MLB got from cable companies.

 

The real payback would come in 2009.

 

Two industry sources said a key to the deal was DirecTV's agreement to put a planned baseball channel owned by MLB on its basic service. The cable companies could well insist on putting it on dreaded, lightly subscribed sports tiers, for which viewers pay an extra fee.

 

Again, though, why blame baseball for that strategy when the NFL Network also has had trouble getting a slot on expanded basic from Cablevision and Time Warner?

 

In any case, now the cable companies have another reason to be frustrated at baseball and are unlikely to cooperate when its channel launches two years from now.

 

So, from the first article, we conclude that MLB stood to make 70m from just the cable companies, who knows how much more from DirecTV, Dish, ATT and Verizon, possibly reaching more than 100m a year. Yet, exclusively through DirecTV (which shuts out many people who will not switch companies), they stand to make less by receiving 100m.

 

100m and your product reaching nearly every home or 100m and your product reaching only a small percentage of homes? Seems pretty logical to reach the correct conclusion, but it is Bud Selig we are talking about.

 

Has Bud Selig ever sat and watched the NFL channel? The name should be changed to ACATT. All Cheerleaders All The Time. Since baseball doesn't have cheerleaders, will the MLB channel become All Mascots All The Time?

 

I'm amazed this is actually happening. I'm guessing Bud and his boys all took out a little stock in DirecTV prior to this agreement. And I hope this backfires in a huge way. Unfortunately, it probably won't.

[Soul]

So, I cancelled my directv. Their incompetence just became too much to bare. 8 times now I have had my appointment to upgrade from regular dish/box to the HD/DVR combo, and all 8 times they cancelled at the last minute due to a lack of hardware. They had me over a barrel until the end the football season, but they came back with an offer for all sorts of freebies if I set-up another install date. Sure enough, this past Friday evening, I got a call saying my Saturday appointment had to be rescheduled.

 

I know they routinely go to customers who leave with a big offer to return, I'll consider it since I like the product. But I'm officially done for now with Directv's incompetent customer service.

 

this is 100% a subcontractor problem. I've had the DirecTV guys at my house 3 times, and only once did they not do the job (due to not having a tall enough ladder....they did not return again).

 

It is definitely not just a subcontractor problem. It's a directv/directech problem. Directv is setting up installation dates that they can't handle. It's not a matter of a guy showing up with the wrong stuff, it's a matter of directv trying to sell more hardware than they actually have, and putting a greater emphasis on getting new customers over keeping existing customers. I estimated I've spent about $20,000 on their service over the years, and they've given me all sorts of garbage about being an A-list customer. I've been given all sorts of rebates and crap in the past few months, but they aren't getting the job done.

 

perhaps it's regional then. I can only speak for my own experience.

 

Had the subcontractors out a few times, each time they were prompt and provided great service. I just upgraded to HD and the service was great. First appointment and the guy was right on time.

 

Sorry some are having trouble. If they canceled out on me 4 times I would probably be upset too. Too bad, because DirecTV is really starting to push its 150 channel HD capacity in their ads. All the new HD channels that are launched as a result will be available to DirecTV subscribers, and not cable.

[goonys evil twin]

That's no different then CBS paying the NFL billions of dollars to be able to exclusively show AFC games on Sundary afternoons-another station could have got it, but CBS was willing to pay more.

 

Yes, it is quite different. CBS is an over the air broadcast channel available to everybody. Directv is not.

[Abe Frohman]

Sorry, I didn't read through some of the recent pages of this thread yet - but what is being said is that DISHNETWORK will NOT be getting the MLB sports package?

 

So if we want to have this package, we have to get DirecTV? Please tell me this isn't the case!

[kujay]

Sorry, I didn't read through some of the recent pages of this thread yet - but what is being said is that DISHNETWORK will NOT be getting the MLB sports package?

 

So if we want to have this package, we have to get DirecTV? Please tell me this isn't the case!

 

That's exactly the case, assuming the deal doesn't fall through at the last minute. It will be just like Sunday Ticket.

 

Everything else will be the same, in terms of getting your local team's games, national telecasts on WGN, TBS, FOX, ESPN, etc.

 

Some here are suggesting MLB.tv as an alternative.

[Abe Frohman]

Sorry, I didn't read through some of the recent pages of this thread yet - but what is being said is that DISHNETWORK will NOT be getting the MLB sports package?

 

So if we want to have this package, we have to get DirecTV? Please tell me this isn't the case!

 

That's exactly the case, assuming the deal doesn't fall through at the last minute. It will be just like Sunday Ticket.

 

Everything else will be the same, in terms of getting your local team's games, national telecasts on WGN, TBS, FOX, ESPN, etc.

 

Some here are suggesting MLB.tv as an alternative.

 

Well, that sucks big time. Here in NW Louisiana - all we get is WGN, which is only good for a game a week. I loved being able to watch the Cubs whenever I had time, not to mention skimming other games to see who was doing what.

 

This is a tremendous disservice to baseball fans, which is what we really have come to expect from Bud Selig and MLB.

[Derwood]

Sorry, I didn't read through some of the recent pages of this thread yet - but what is being said is that DISHNETWORK will NOT be getting the MLB sports package?

 

So if we want to have this package, we have to get DirecTV? Please tell me this isn't the case!

 

That's exactly the case, assuming the deal doesn't fall through at the last minute. It will be just like Sunday Ticket.

 

Everything else will be the same, in terms of getting your local team's games, national telecasts on WGN, TBS, FOX, ESPN, etc.

 

Some here are suggesting MLB.tv as an alternative.

 

Well, that sucks big time. Here in NW Louisiana - all we get is WGN, which is only good for a game a week. I loved being able to watch the Cubs whenever I had time, not to mention skimming other games to see who was doing what.

 

This is a tremendous disservice to baseball fans, which is what we really have come to expect from Bud Selig and MLB.

 

One game a week? Doesn't WGN show about 1/2 the games? Maybe 70 or so?

[Fred Hornkohl]

 

One game a week? Doesn't WGN show about 1/2 the games? Maybe 70 or so?

 

No, they average a little over 2 games a week.

[Derwood]

 

One game a week? Doesn't WGN show about 1/2 the games? Maybe 70 or so?

 

No, they average a little over 2 games a week.

 

I had EI two summers ago, didn't have it last summer. I felt like I saw plenty of games. I dont' have the time to watch every game anymore, so EI isn't worth the $$

[Soul]

Sorry, I didn't read through some of the recent pages of this thread yet - but what is being said is that DISHNETWORK will NOT be getting the MLB sports package?

 

So if we want to have this package, we have to get DirecTV? Please tell me this isn't the case!

 

That's exactly the case, assuming the deal doesn't fall through at the last minute. It will be just like Sunday Ticket.

 

Everything else will be the same, in terms of getting your local team's games, national telecasts on WGN, TBS, FOX, ESPN, etc.

 

Some here are suggesting MLB.tv as an alternative.

 

Well, that sucks big time. Here in NW Louisiana - all we get is WGN, which is only good for a game a week. I loved being able to watch the Cubs whenever I had time, not to mention skimming other games to see who was doing what.

 

This is a tremendous disservice to baseball fans, which is what we really have come to expect from Bud Selig and MLB.

 

*sigh*

 

I'm almost afraid to ask. I hate being a cheerleader for DirecTV, but I'm baffled by the big deal everyone's making here. You've already got a dish. If EI is that important to you, why wouldn't you just switch?

[BigbadB]

*sigh*

 

I'm almost afraid to ask. I hate being a cheerleader for DirecTV, but I'm baffled by the big deal everyone's making here. You've already got a dish. If EI is that important to you, why wouldn't you just switch?

 

*sigh*

 

We shouldn't have to switch.

Some people CAN'T switch.

Goony just told DirecTV to shove it, so it sounds like he, I and a few others don't want to switch. My employee isn't going to switch. She's pissed about this. I have a feeling many won't be making the switch.

[Buford T Justice]

From what I've heard today on Basebal Beat with Charlie Steiner, regarding MLB TV MLB is supposed to be doubling the resolution of the MLB TV. I know it's not on the TV but it there is an easy fix get an S-Video card for your computer or if you have an HDTV plug you desktop or laptop in to your S-Video port or your VGA port. It's half the price of MLBEI so I'll go that route this year.

[Soul]

*sigh*

 

I'm almost afraid to ask. I hate being a cheerleader for DirecTV, but I'm baffled by the big deal everyone's making here. You've already got a dish. If EI is that important to you, why wouldn't you just switch?

 

*sigh*

 

We shouldn't have to switch.

Some people CAN'T switch.

Goony just told DirecTV to shove it, so it sounds like he, I and a few others don't want to switch. My employee isn't going to switch. She's pissed about this. I have a feeling many won't be making the switch.

 

This guy's already got a dish which means the service metric for dish vs. directv would be similar, if not the identical subcontractor.

 

Goony will be back. He knows it; he's just stubborn. Wait til the cable guys give him the stiff a couple times.

[Soul]

From what I've heard today on Basebal Beat with Charlie Steiner, regarding MLB TV MLB is supposed to be doubling the resolution of the MLB TV. I know it's not on the TV but it there is an easy fix get an S-Video card for your computer or if you have an HDTV plug you desktop or laptop in to your S-Video port or your VGA port. It's half the price of MLBEI so I'll go that route this year.

 

That actually sounds like a good idea to try, if you have a laptop or easy connectivity between your comp & TV.

[Buford T Justice]

From what I've heard today on Basebal Beat with Charlie Steiner, regarding MLB TV MLB is supposed to be doubling the resolution of the MLB TV. I know it's not on the TV but it there is an easy fix get an S-Video card for your computer or if you have an HDTV plug you desktop or laptop in to your S-Video port or your VGA port. It's half the price of MLBEI so I'll go that route this year.

 

That actually sounds like a good idea to try, if you have a laptop or easy connectivity between your comp & TV.

 

Just put the player to full screen and sit back and watch, if you had webtv then it would be perfect, do they still make webtv?

[BigbadB]

I haven't heard the words web tv in a long time. It might still be out there, but at this point probably quite obsolete.

[Derwood]

The laptop I"m buying has an S-Video outlet so I can plug it directly into my TV

[Abe Frohman]

*sigh*

 

I'm almost afraid to ask. I hate being a cheerleader for DirecTV, but I'm baffled by the big deal everyone's making here. You've already got a dish. If EI is that important to you, why wouldn't you just switch?

 

Well, there are a few factors, nothing REAL big.

 

* I have been a Dish Network customer for about 6 years, now - and I have been extremely happy.

 

* I am locked into some pretty good deals with Dish Network.

 

* There is a totally different channel scheme between the two dishes. This is a problem that would go away when we learn all the new channels, but after years of knowing where to go, it would be a royal pain in the arse to relearn hundreds of channels.

 

* DirecTV has already served me a BAD taste. They called me telling me lies like Dish Network was shutting down, and I would never get a deal like the one they were offering me. I asked them if they could give me all of the programming I had with DN, plus the EI package that I had already paid for - and they said absolutely.

 

The DirecTV contractors came out and took down our old dishes and put in theirs, then when they called in to activate the service, the DirecTV operator told me that my monthly bill would be almost $30 MORE per month, and I had to pay for the EI package AGAIN if I wanted it with them. We got the original salesman on the phone, and he crawfished - then admitted to offering me those rates (even though it was impossible).

 

I told them "no deal" and made the contractors pull down the DirecTV stuff and reinstall my DishNetwork stuff. Quite the ordeal. I did tip the contractor for all his work, though. Wasn't his fault.

 

Believe me, I will give switching a good look regardless.

[dalgreen]

I admit I do hate it because I am a cable subscriber and have had EI for the past three seasons and I am happy with cable. But I also hate it because MLB keeps talking about trying to bring more fans back so that it can not only remain America's pastime but also America's passion. Yet they do what I consider a stupid move like making fans have to jump through hoops just to see their favorite out-of-market team(s). It appears MLB is just looking out for MLB.

[mhuber92211]

So I looked at Direct Tv's operations today. For all those saying that switching is easy to, I was one of them until now. Their menus are impossible to navigate easily, to access the DVR is like trying to figure out VCR + and their menus are impossible to read - terrible font choices.

 

Dish is SO much easier to use and offers access to its many option with 1 push of a button. No matter how much I want EI, its not worth screwing up my wife's entertainment. So much for EI.