MLB Extra Innings

[macuser2]

It's turns out that I can get Direct TV afterall. Some recent tree removals, plus a mast installation make it possible. The installer comes today. A little problem with ice came yesterday delayed things. There was more than just the baseball thing involved with my choice, and it's too early to rant.

 

Anyway, the sales person didn't know anything about a baseball exclusive, but did say the early bird special on EI would be available March 1.

[J.R.]

It's turns out that I can get Direct TV afterall. Some recent tree removals, plus a mast installation make it possible. The installer comes today. A little problem with ice came yesterday delayed things. There was more than just the baseball thing involved with my choice, and it's too early to rant.

 

Anyway, the sales person didn't know anything about a baseball exclusive, but did say the early bird special on EI would be available March 1.

 

Welcome to the family!

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Well, looks like a deal is in place!

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/20/sports/baseball/20base.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

 

I would imagine this would be effective starting this season. The article mentions a full Baseball Channel (much like NFL Network) by 2009.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What a joke.

[treebird]

What a joke.

 

agreed. im no longer a customer.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

I guess (for me) this means my first season with MLB.tv. I have used it some in the past, but not as my primary method of NON WGN Cubs games.

 

For those who currently rely on MLB.tv, how is the reception? I would imagine the faster your internet connection is, the better the quality? Altough the image will always suck on streaming video, at least the lag and latency will be better with high connectivity?

 

Oh, and to echo what others have said.... THIS SUCKS!

[ConstableRabbit]

Maybe I'm not that big of a baseball fan because I refuse to pay to watch or listen to baseball other than going to a game. That goes for any sport.

 

And I'm just the opposite. I refuse to pay for tickets to a baseball game when the organization has made it very clear they don't want me there.

 

(ie. smoking not allowed ANYWHERE on the stadium grounds at Petco)

 

And when I am successful at quitting, I still won't go. I will still be bitter that they didn't want my money then, therefore they can't have it now.

 

I am honestly sorry that you're hooked on cigarettes and I understand that it's very difficult to quit. The best of luck to you -- it's well worth it!

 

That being said, while I can understand your bitterness about being reduced to a social outcast because of your habit, you have to understand some of the logic behind it.

 

I don't think the Padres are saying "we don't want BBB's money." It's more like "we don't want money from those who smoke." Even though you're a hardcore and smart baseball fans, there are a lot of casual fans who may decide to not go to a game because of the adverse effects of smoking on them and/or their kids (I think it's the smell mostly). They might be making more money by banning smoking. In fact, they probably are or they wouldn't be doing this. Along with drunk fat guys, I'm sure kids are the source of most of the concession revenues.

 

If it were up to most state governments, I'm sure they'd try to make cigarettes illegal. However, there are far too many jobs and livelihoods (unfortunately) based in the industry. Behind the "evil executives" there are thousands of decent farmers at work. So instead they decide to limit tobacco use and hope that eventually people will get so irritated by the high prices and restrictions that they'll quit and the market will take care of itself.

 

I would encourage you to go back to PETCO once you've quit. It's a beautiful place to watch a game, and the smoke-free enviornment would probably be quite relieving for you.

[macuser2]

It's turns out that I can get Direct TV afterall. Some recent tree removals, plus a mast installation make it possible. The installer comes today. A little problem with ice came yesterday delayed things. There was more than just the baseball thing involved with my choice, and it's too early to rant.

 

Anyway, the sales person didn't know anything about a baseball exclusive, but did say the early bird special on EI would be available March 1.

 

Welcome to the family!

 

The local cable system had changed hands twice suring the years I was a subcriber. Each time, first with Time Warner, and then with Comcast, the quality of service deteriorated and the effective cost of the same channel coverage went up. Time Warner and Comcast both seemed to be oblivious to the need to do major line replacement in older neighborhoods such as mine. The signal dropouts were so bad, I gave up on cable internet access.

So there was more than watching baseball involved here.

 

But to answer the concerns Cheesehead has, I have found that basic DSL service (1.5 down and 300 up) was sufficient for streaming video. I got a free upgrade to faster service, and the reception was a litle better. But if you can get 1.5 down it should work.

 

Also, I have been able to connect a computer to my LCD TV. Watching the streaming video on a larger scrren is nicer. The only limitation with that is the speed of a home computer network if it's wireless. You would need what is called 11g for it to work well. 11b just won't cut it, and is subject to interference.

[cubweiser03]

7 YEARS!

SoB

[macuser2]

Here's the thing for me: being able to travel to Wrigley to see a game live is next to impossible for me. So a tv package of some kind is the only way I can enjoy the games. But I have my limits.

 

The price for Extra Innings hasn't been announced. If Direct TV increases it too much, I'll go back to the streaming videos. Simple as that. It works well enough for me to be able to follow certain teams, especially the Cubs.

[UK1679666180]

Well, looks like a deal is in place!

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/20/sports/baseball/20base.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

 

I would imagine this would be effective starting this season. The article mentions a full Baseball Channel (much like NFL Network) by 2009.

 

Where I live, we have a monopoly as far as high speed internet so I have comcast with everything. If they create a MLB.TV like the NFL network, I will have to suck it up and get DirecTV with the comcast which bumps up high speed to 57.00 per month.

[BigbadB]

Maybe I'm not that big of a baseball fan because I refuse to pay to watch or listen to baseball other than going to a game. That goes for any sport.

 

And I'm just the opposite. I refuse to pay for tickets to a baseball game when the organization has made it very clear they don't want me there.

 

(ie. smoking not allowed ANYWHERE on the stadium grounds at Petco)

 

And when I am successful at quitting, I still won't go. I will still be bitter that they didn't want my money then, therefore they can't have it now.

 

I am honestly sorry that you're hooked on cigarettes and I understand that it's very difficult to quit. The best of luck to you -- it's well worth it!

 

That being said, while I can understand your bitterness about being reduced to a social outcast because of your habit, you have to understand some of the logic behind it.

 

I don't think the Padres are saying "we don't want BBB's money." It's more like "we don't want money from those who smoke." Even though you're a hardcore and smart baseball fans, there are a lot of casual fans who may decide to not go to a game because of the adverse effects of smoking on them and/or their kids (I think it's the smell mostly). They might be making more money by banning smoking. In fact, they probably are or they wouldn't be doing this. Along with drunk fat guys, I'm sure kids are the source of most of the concession revenues.

 

If it were up to most state governments, I'm sure they'd try to make cigarettes illegal. However, there are far too many jobs and livelihoods (unfortunately) based in the industry. Behind the "evil executives" there are thousands of decent farmers at work. So instead they decide to limit tobacco use and hope that eventually people will get so irritated by the high prices and restrictions that they'll quit and the market will take care of itself.

 

I would encourage you to go back to PETCO once you've quit. It's a beautiful place to watch a game, and the smoke-free enviornment would probably be quite relieving for you.

 

I appreciate the sentiment. I really appreciate that you don't follow the trend of considering a smoker as "the enemy". I can respect, understand and abide by many of the restrictions already in place in California. I don't want my smoke to offend non-smokers.

 

The problem I have is that there is no attempt to compromise. It would have been very easy to set up an area well away from the non-smoking environment that would appease the smokers. Many stadiums already have that in place, though not really well planned, as it is still within range of non-smokers. The smoking area I would have been fine with didn't need to be in view of the field or anywhere near the paths of non-smokers. And that's why I won't feel sorry for Petco when attendance drops. They've basically told the smoker they aren't wanted, which is fine for most smokers, as they can just not go. They've basically cut a huge percentage of the consumers right out of the picture.

 

If they still fill the stadium because there are enough non-smokers, well, I guess they made the right decision.

 

Baseball isn't like a lot of other sports. It has non-stop action. At the local basketball and hockey games here, I can leave during halftime or between periods and have a smoke outside. During an opera, I can leave at intermission and have a smoke outside.

 

There was a time you could smoke anywhere in the stadium. Heck, I remember smoking on airplanes. I'm in 100% agreement that you shouldn't be able to smoke anywhere, but I'm also in agreement that there should be an area supplied that will allow those of us with this habit to still feed our addiction without offending those that don't want anything to do with it.

 

I know some season ticket holders that are no longer season ticket holders. Maybe there were new season ticket holders to replace those season ticket holders that gave up their tickets due to this new smoking policy, but they definitely lost some fans.

 

It's poor planning for the most part. When they banned smoking in public places, where did they put the ashtrays? Right outside of every doorway of those public buildings where non-smokers still had to deal with people blowing smoke in their faces. Not exactly a brilliant idea, is it?

[BigbadB]

Here is the letter I'm submitting to Butt Selig.

 

To whom it may concern,

 

I’ve been a lifelong fan of baseball. I have been very disappointed recently to learn that the MLB Extra Innings package will now be available exclusively on DirecTV. I have had the MLB Extra Innings package every year that it has been made available to me in the San Diego cable market. It is with with sad regret that I will no longer subscribe to this service now that it is being taken away from me.

 

I absolutely WILL NOT switch to DirecTV. Now that they will have a monopoly on this package, not only will it become much more expensive to purchase through the exclusive rights, but I am very much against any company that is free to charge as much as they want for a product because there is no competition.

 

I feel very sad for MLB to have the gall to consider their own greed before the baseball fan. It took a lot for me to come back to the sport after the last strike. The greed only hurt the fan base. I believe the same will happen with the exclusivity rights with DirecTV.

 

With the steroid controversy in full swing, I find it shocking that MLB would take another swing at the people who support this sport by taking away something many of us enjoy.

 

Many people, like myself, are transplants to other parts of the country. MLB EI allowed us to still keep close tabs on our favorite teams no matter where we lived. DirecTV is available to me here where I live, but it’s not my current cable provider and it most likely never will be. My current cable provider offers me a package deal for my digital telephone service, my cable internet and my digital cable service. Does DirecTV offer this at a comparable price? I don’t think so.

 

I’m about as passionate of a baseball fan as it gets. If I am unwilling to switch cable companies to continue getting MLB EI, how many other fans are more passionate than me and will make the switch. I doubt many will.

 

I could still get the streaming video through MLB to watch games on the internet, but not only is it not the same thing as tv, but I do many things on my computer (including work) that would not allow me to sit there and watch my computer screen for a typical 3 hour game. I just won’t do it. MLB EI on my tv allowed me to continue working on my computer and watching games on my tv.

 

I suppose MLB will be receiving the 700 million dollars promised by DirecTV regardless of how successful this venture ends up. However, the future fan base that will be excluded from view because they either don’t want DirecTV, have had poor experiences in the past with DirecTV, or cannot receive it in their area could have many years of negative impact on the sport of major league baseball.

 

And if greed really is the reason behind this exclusivity deal, I have better things to do with my time. Instead of MLB capitalizing on baseball as the national past time with huge spikes in fantasy baseball, which in turn leads to more subscribers to MLB EI, instead MLB seems to want to allow steroids and exclusivity rights drag MLB through the mud.

 

I was furious during the strike year. It took me 3 to 4 years to completely recover. Fantasy baseball was one of the reasons I came back. It elevated my interest to a whole new level.

 

If this deal goes down, which is apparently the case, you will be losing this fan. I’m sure I won’t be the only one. Instead of becoming a part of the solution, you appear to want to be part of the problem. Just wait until everyone in the country hears what this exclusive deal is about to do to John Q. Public. Between this and the steroid scandals, one more strike ought to be just about right for MLB to disappear forever.

 

And that’s pretty sad. I still have high school, college and minor league baseball that I can enjoy locally. MLB will no longer get my hard earned entertainment dollar.

 

I have had to succumb to monopolies for electricity and water services, but for a baseball game? This is the 21st century for crying out loud. My cable provider should be able to offer me whatever I want to watch, for a price of course. Thanks for being part of the problem rather than the solution.

 

Thanks for nothing!

 

BigbadB

Loyal subscriber to Cox Communications

 

Name changed for privacy purposes on the internet. :D

[moorecg]

Here is the letter I'm submitting to Butt Selig.

 

To whom it may concern,

 

I’ve been a lifelong fan of baseball. I have been very disappointed recently to learn that the MLB Extra Innings package will now be available exclusively on DirecTV. I have had the MLB Extra Innings package every year that it has been made available to me in the San Diego cable market. It is with with sad regret that I will no longer subscribe to this service now that it is being taken away from me.

 

I absolutely WILL NOT switch to DirecTV. Now that they will have a monopoly on this package, not only will it become much more expensive to purchase through the exclusive rights, but I am very much against any company that is free to charge as much as they want for a product because there is no competition.

 

I feel very sad for MLB to have the gall to consider their own greed before the baseball fan. It took a lot for me to come back to the sport after the last strike. The greed only hurt the fan base. I believe the same will happen with the exclusivity rights with DirecTV.

 

With the steroid controversy in full swing, I find it shocking that MLB would take another swing at the people who support this sport by taking away something many of us enjoy.

 

Many people, like myself, are transplants to other parts of the country. MLB EI allowed us to still keep close tabs on our favorite teams no matter where we lived. DirecTV is available to me here where I live, but it’s not my current cable provider and it most likely never will be. My current cable provider offers me a package deal for my digital telephone service, my cable internet and my digital cable service. Does DirecTV offer this at a comparable price? I don’t think so.

 

I’m about as passionate of a baseball fan as it gets. If I am unwilling to switch cable companies to continue getting MLB EI, how many other fans are more passionate than me and will make the switch. I doubt many will.

 

I could still get the streaming video through MLB to watch games on the internet, but not only is it not the same thing as tv, but I do many things on my computer (including work) that would not allow me to sit there and watch my computer screen for a typical 3 hour game. I just won’t do it. MLB EI on my tv allowed me to continue working on my computer and watching games on my tv.

 

I suppose MLB will be receiving the 700 million dollars promised by DirecTV regardless of how successful this venture ends up. However, the future fan base that will be excluded from view because they either don’t want DirecTV, have had poor experiences in the past with DirecTV, or cannot receive it in their area could have many years of negative impact on the sport of major league baseball.

 

And if greed really is the reason behind this exclusivity deal, I have better things to do with my time. Instead of MLB capitalizing on baseball as the national past time with huge spikes in fantasy baseball, which in turn leads to more subscribers to MLB EI, instead MLB seems to want to allow steroids and exclusivity rights drag MLB through the mud.

 

I was furious during the strike year. It took me 3 to 4 years to completely recover. Fantasy baseball was one of the reasons I came back. It elevated my interest to a whole new level.

 

If this deal goes down, which is apparently the case, you will be losing this fan. I’m sure I won’t be the only one. Instead of becoming a part of the solution, you appear to want to be part of the problem. Just wait until everyone in the country hears what this exclusive deal is about to do to John Q. Public. Between this and the steroid scandals, one more strike ought to be just about right for MLB to disappear forever.

 

And that’s pretty sad. I still have high school, college and minor league baseball that I can enjoy locally. MLB will no longer get my hard earned entertainment dollar.

 

I have had to succumb to monopolies for electricity and water services, but for a baseball game? This is the 21st century for crying out loud. My cable provider should be able to offer me whatever I want to watch, for a price of course. Thanks for being part of the problem rather than the solution.

 

Thanks for nothing!

 

BigbadB

Loyal subscriber to Cox Communications

 

Name changed for privacy purposes on the internet. :D

 

Nice. I'm going to copy and paste.

[moorecg]

Here is my letter to my Sen.

 

Dear Sen. McCaskill,

 

I know you are very busy at this important time, and with Iraq, health care, the minimum wage, and all the other important issues on the plate, I'm sure this seems trivial. However, I wanted to express my concern about an overreach by Major League Baseball which will harm fans all across this country, including those (like myself) who are voters in your state.

As you may be aware (see http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/20/sports/baseball/20base.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin ) MLB has apparently decided to deny fans across the country the ability to purchase the MLB-EI Package which allows transplanted fans to see their favorite team no matter where they live. (as an example, It allows Cardinal fans in Chicago to watch every Cards game and Cubs fans in St. Louis to watch every Cubs game.) This package has been available for many years, through both satellite and cable systems, and only recently has MLB decided to allow DirecTV monopolize it.

 

As you also may be aware, baseball has operated under an "antitrust exemption" since 1922 when the U.S. Supreme Court decided Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore, Inc. v. National Baseball Clubs. This exemption has been questioned in the past, including by the proposed "Fairness in Antitrust in National Sports (FANS)" act sponsored Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. I believe it needs to be questioned again.

 

If MLB acts to extend its monopoly in what would otherwise likely be a violation of antitrust principals of competition and would work to destroy a previously existing market, I believe MLB's antitrust exemption should be Congressionally reviewed. If it is the only way to ensure fans across the country are allowed to enjoy their teams, and would keep MLB and DirecTV from exploiting this monopoly, I would support the repeal of this "antitrust exemption" and ask you to introduce legislation supporting the same.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Soul]

I'm a DirecTV subscriber, and am generally happy with the service. But I'm against this. The limiting of consumer options almost always winds up hurting us in the long run. For example, since DirecTV is now the only place to get both the NFL and MLB packages, I can see how they would be able to raise their prices, even for the normal packages. Hey---if you don't like it, go back to cable and suffer without your out-of-market ballclub.

 

I suppose one of the counter-arguments DirecTV will make is that they really can't get in on the multi-service markets that cable & telephone are beginning to offer (internet + TV + phone all for one low price, and so forth). By locking up the exclusive packages, they are protecting their ability to compete. I think they could help this situation by upgrading their satellite internet service, which right now is expensive and slow, making it a rural-customer niche product.

[J.R.]

Fantastic.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BBB, Petco has no area for smokers? Are you serious? I thought they did.

 

Even Angel and Dodger Stadium do.

[CuseCubFan69]

IMO, this is why you don't pay for any baseball in the first place. Once you start paying for baseball packages they push the envolope and want more money.

[Mark_R]

Fantastic.

 

Why is monopolizing MLB EI good?

[moorecg]

Fantastic.

 

Why is monopolizing MLB EI good?

 

I'm hoping that was sarcasm...

[J.R.]

More HD games, the MLB Channel, a chance at ending the Saturday blackouts. What's not to like?

 

A better product exclusive to DTV > a mediocre product available to the masses.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

More HD games, the MLB Channel, a chance at ending the Saturday blackouts. What's not to like?

 

A better product exclusive to DTV > a mediocre product available to the masses.

 

Only problem is the product available to the masses wasn't mediocre, and those aren't the only two possibilities.

[J.R.]

Aside from an occasional HD game, MLBEI is the exact same package as was offered in 1997. Same ridiculous blackouts, same awful picture quality on the backwoods (and some metro) RSNs. If it's not mediocre, it's certainly moldy.

 

Sunday Ticket has improved immensely in the same timeframe. With a vested-and-controlling interest in the product, DirecTV will lavish some much-needed attention on the baseball side.

[moorecg]

Aside from an occasional HD game, MLBEI is the exact same package as was offered in 1997. Same ridiculous blackouts, same awful picture quality on the backwoods (and some metro) RSNs. If it's not mediocre, it's certainly moldy.

 

Sunday Ticket has improved immensely in the same timeframe. With a vested-and-controlling interest in the product, DirecTV will lavish some much-needed attention on the baseball side.

 

Seriously, do you work for DirectTV?

 

Its pretty obvious this is horrible for the average fan. Why? Well, because for those with DirectTV, this package was already available last year...they really get nothing more. EVERYONE ELSE who doesn't have DirecTV...they get screwed. If you can't see that you're obviously biased.

 

Bottom line. Everyone with cable (the vast vast majority of fans) is getting screwed here.