MLB Extra Innings

[goonys evil twin]

I'm upset about it but I will definitely make the switch to Direct TV. I'm easy.

 

Will you be easy when the package price becomes $350+ per year?

 

When sports bars refuse to pay the huge package price for baseball like they do Sunday Ticket, as I'm sure DirecTV seems to think sports bars will value a baseball package as much as football, the price for the everyday consumer will skyrocket.

 

I hear what you're saying, but I find it unlikely sports bars will refuse to carry the baseball package. They'll lose business like crazy to those who do. It's the whole reason they're in business. They'll be ponying up.

 

I don't see it as being that popular in a bar and not nearly as popular as football.

 

Yeah, most bars around here don't carry it, while pretty much all of them have Sunday Ticket. It's not the draw that football is for a bar, the extremely high level of supply means there isn't significant demand.

[BWcubs21]

For those interested in the MLB.TV package, last year I believe I paid $79.95. I will not be renewing the package. The picture quality is horrific. I have a 6MB connection speed, and I still had problems all the time. I know you may ask if I was running a wireless connection, but I was not. The service was terrible, and I wouldn't pay for it again if it was $10. That's just my opinion though.

 

I was wondering if that was still going to be available, since I have no choice but to get MLB.TV. I move every 13 weeks (then take a week or two after that for vacation), so it would be a major pain to do direct tv and I would miss a lot of games with it. I agree the quality wasn't great, but at least I could watch the games.

[BigbadB]

Yeah, most bars around here don't carry it, while pretty much all of them have Sunday Ticket. It's not the draw that football is for a bar, the extremely high level of supply means there isn't significant demand.

 

That's more to my point. I'm in bars all over San Diego County, and they don't carry the package. Part of that is because the Padres are in this town and almost all of their games are televised locally. In fact, the Padres would be blacked out on MLB EI, therefore it makes even less sense.

 

Outside of baseball markets, I'm not nearly as educated there. But, there is plenty of baseball between TBS, WGN, ESPN and Fox weekends. The cost for a bar to have MLB EI is mammoth in cost.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

I contacted someone at Cox Communications, and they have heard nothing about this proposed deal. They still have the green light to show MLB EI this year. I had the guy research as much as he could, and he found nothing.

 

The article does say that it the proposal wasn't complete, so maybe things will change after completion, but at this time, cable subscribers can still sign up for the EI package in mid February.

 

Someone called the Show with Dibble and Kennedy yesterday to complain about this. According to Dibble and Kennedy, the exclusive deal wouldn't begin until 2009. Of course, I'm not sure I'd trust those two...but that is what they said.

 

If Dibble is the answer, your asking the wrong question.

 

That being said, the article mentioned that the Baseball Channel was set to debut in 09. I would imagine if 700m is thrown on the table, DirecTV want's it done now.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

For those interested in the MLB.TV package, last year I believe I paid $79.95. I will not be renewing the package. The picture quality is horrific. I have a 6MB connection speed, and I still had problems all the time. I know you may ask if I was running a wireless connection, but I was not. The service was terrible, and I wouldn't pay for it again if it was $10. That's just my opinion though.

 

I would say you have other issues if you have a 6mb connection and you still have a horrific picture. I recall watching 3 or 4 games on MLB.tv via WiFi last year (tops 3mg connection) and had no problems at all. Sure the video was streaming, and not exactly HD, but it wasn't nearly as bad as you experienced.

[Buford T Justice]

I too called Cox Comunications yesterday and they said they are offereing it this season. There supposed to be an article about on sports.yahoo.com. I can't get to it here at work. Would someone mind looking it up and posting it?

[Soul]

Yeah, most bars around here don't carry it, while pretty much all of them have Sunday Ticket. It's not the draw that football is for a bar, the extremely high level of supply means there isn't significant demand.

 

That's more to my point. I'm in bars all over San Diego County, and they don't carry the package. Part of that is because the Padres are in this town and almost all of their games are televised locally. In fact, the Padres would be blacked out on MLB EI, therefore it makes even less sense.

 

Outside of baseball markets, I'm not nearly as educated there. But, there is plenty of baseball between TBS, WGN, ESPN and Fox weekends. The cost for a bar to have MLB EI is mammoth in cost.

 

OK, but if nobody's carrying it now there certainly won't be a huge impact if they continue to not carry it.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

I too called Cox Comunications yesterday and they said they are offereing it this season. There supposed to be an article about on sports.yahoo.com. I can't get to it here at work. Would someone mind looking it up and posting it?

 

This is about the only thing worth mentioniong in the article. Otherwise, it is much of his opinion and quotes from this past weekends NY Times article.

 

The only hope to ditch the dish is intervention from Congress, which could strip MLB of its anti-trust exemption, which stems from a 1922 Supreme Court case that ruled baseball games were just "local affairs" and – get this – not "interstate commerce."

 

But considering how much money billionaire owners can sprinkle around to politicians, you could get better odds on the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series. Similar efforts against the NFL have died quickly.

 

I also heard Mike/Mike in the Morning discussing this. It appears it will happen this year, or so they say!

[BigbadB]

Yeah, most bars around here don't carry it, while pretty much all of them have Sunday Ticket. It's not the draw that football is for a bar, the extremely high level of supply means there isn't significant demand.

 

That's more to my point. I'm in bars all over San Diego County, and they don't carry the package. Part of that is because the Padres are in this town and almost all of their games are televised locally. In fact, the Padres would be blacked out on MLB EI, therefore it makes even less sense.

 

Outside of baseball markets, I'm not nearly as educated there. But, there is plenty of baseball between TBS, WGN, ESPN and Fox weekends. The cost for a bar to have MLB EI is mammoth in cost.

 

OK, but if nobody's carrying it now there certainly won't be a huge impact if they continue to not carry it.

 

DirecTV will want to make up for the 700m they are spending somehow.

[J.R.]

DirecTV is bidding for the exclusive rights primarily as a means of reducing churn, or the constant merry-go-round of providers that many consumers go through. Contrary to the attitude of many here, many, many folks will switch from cable to dish and back over and over, based on who's offering the best deals. The payoff to MLB isn't all that impressive when you consider the cash spent for similar reasons on equipment subsidies, freebie months, mover's connection and the like. A customer who is happy with the service is far more profitable than one who has to be bribed constantly.

 

Sales to sports bars, while lucrative, aren't the motivating force.

[moorecg]

DirecTV is bidding for the exclusive rights primarily as a means of reducing churn, or the constant merry-go-round of providers that many consumers go through. Contrary to the attitude of many here, many, many folks will switch from cable to dish and back over and over, based on who's offering the best deals. The payoff to MLB isn't all that impressive when you consider the cash spent for similar reasons on equipment subsidies, freebie months, mover's connection and the like. A customer who is happy with the service is far more profitable than one who has to be bribed constantly.

 

Sales to sports bars, while lucrative, aren't the motivating force.

 

I doubt this "churn" you talk about is all that significant, considering DirecTV in most instances requires a 2 year commitment, that if you pull out of you end up having to pay several hundred in "fees" that they otherwise dont' charge you for.

 

Also, if people are so willing to leave DirecTV as soon as their commitment is up doesn't that go against your earlier statements that their service and product is so great? Moreover, doesn't them wanting to stop a "churn" really mean they want to stop competition?

 

You're basically saying that they are attempting to keep people tied to them they to eliminate the competitiors ability to compete. That's the very essence of an antitrust violation. They are trying to take away the publics ability to choose alternative products.

[J.R.]

Eh, no.

 

You'll find bottom feeders among the rosters of all the providers. Most stay through the commitment, but the two-year term often times isn't enough time to recoup the investment in subsidies and such, especially with the type of customer we're discussing here, who often buys the cheapest packages.

 

What you as as "anti-competitive," I see as just plain business. Cable companies frequently use similar tactics — even the holy Cox Communications, which withholds the Padres RSN from the dish nets.

[moorecg]

Eh, no.

 

You'll find bottom feeders among the rosters of all the providers. Most stay through the commitment, but the two-year term often times isn't enough time to recoup the investment in subsidies and such, especially with the type of customer we're discussing here, who often buys the cheapest packages.

 

What you as as "anti-competitive," I see as just plain business. Cable companies frequently use similar tactics — even the holy Cox Communications, which withholds the Padres RSN from the dish nets.

 

And these "bottom feeders" as you call them, are the ones out buying up $200 MLB-EI packages?

 

Under Section One of the Sherman Act, combinations in restraint of trade are illegal. Section Two of that Act covers monopolization and attempts to monopolize. I feel pretty comfortable in saying that you could state a claim under either section...whether you'd win or not is a different story and likely dependent on how the relevant market is defined, but I don't see this as a "pro-competitive" move.

 

(and before you ask, aside from being a pissed off former MLB-EI subscriber, and ardent Cubs fan stuck in STL who's only way of getting this is through cable as DirecTV doesn't Work at my house, yes, I'm also an antitrust attorney).

[BigbadB]

Cox Communications does own the broadcasting rights to the Padres. And for a price, other cable companies can pay for the right to broadcast the games as well. Cox is not the only cable company in San Diego. Time Warner is also here. Time Warner buys these rights from Cox.

 

You don't see premium movie channels being exclusive to one provider or another. You can get HBO regardless of what provider you have.

 

Cable providers should have the opportunity to pick up and distribute to their customers whatever programming their customers would like to view.

 

7 years on DirecTV is just long enough to kill MLB EI. I don't exactly understand the whole trickle down effect of this stuff, but would there be an FSN that broadcasts games in towns like Cincy, Tampa, FL if MLB EI wasn't kicking some profits of the 750,000 subscribers luring advertising dollars?

 

Sunday Ticket is absolutely ridiculous in pricing to sports bars. Ask your local sports bar what they pay for the package. And it is very inaccurate to state that all of these venues reap huge rewards for supplying Sunday Ticket. Some do it because they would be dead in the water if they didn't.

 

The place I watch Sunday football games paid over 3 grand for the rights to Sunday Ticket. They also offer free breakfast to everyone because Sunday Ticket can be seen at the bar down the street just as easily. So, 3 grand plus free breakfast for 17 weeks of football (6 hours of broadcasting a week). He loses money every year on this deal. And it will be more expensive for him next year.

[CuseCubFan69]

Cox Communications does own the broadcasting rights to the Padres. And for a price, other cable companies can pay for the right to broadcast the games as well. Cox is not the only cable company in San Diego. Time Warner is also here. Time Warner buys these rights from Cox.

 

You don't see premium movie channels being exclusive to one provider or another. You can get HBO regardless of what provider you have.

 

Cable providers should have the opportunity to pick up and distribute to their customers whatever programming their customers would like to view.

 

7 years on DirecTV is just long enough to kill MLB EI. I don't exactly understand the whole trickle down effect of this stuff, but would there be an FSN that broadcasts games in towns like Cincy, Tampa, FL if MLB EI wasn't kicking some profits of the 750,000 subscribers luring advertising dollars?

 

Sunday Ticket is absolutely ridiculous in pricing to sports bars. Ask your local sports bar what they pay for the package. And it is very inaccurate to state that all of these venues reap huge rewards for supplying Sunday Ticket. Some do it because they would be dead in the water if they didn't.

 

The place I watch Sunday football games paid over 3 grand for the rights to Sunday Ticket. They also offer free breakfast to everyone because Sunday Ticket can be seen at the bar down the street just as easily. So, 3 grand plus free breakfast for 17 weeks of football (6 hours of broadcasting a week). He loses money every year on this deal. And it will be more expensive for him next year.

 

How many Cub games did you get on this last year BbB?

[CubinNY]

Cox Communications does own the broadcasting rights to the Padres. And for a price, other cable companies can pay for the right to broadcast the games as well. Cox is not the only cable company in San Diego. Time Warner is also here. Time Warner buys these rights from Cox.

 

You don't see premium movie channels being exclusive to one provider or another. You can get HBO regardless of what provider you have.

 

Cable providers should have the opportunity to pick up and distribute to their customers whatever programming their customers would like to view.

 

7 years on DirecTV is just long enough to kill MLB EI. I don't exactly understand the whole trickle down effect of this stuff, but would there be an FSN that broadcasts games in towns like Cincy, Tampa, FL if MLB EI wasn't kicking some profits of the 750,000 subscribers luring advertising dollars?

 

Sunday Ticket is absolutely ridiculous in pricing to sports bars. Ask your local sports bar what they pay for the package. And it is very inaccurate to state that all of these venues reap huge rewards for supplying Sunday Ticket. Some do it because they would be dead in the water if they didn't.

 

The place I watch Sunday football games paid over 3 grand for the rights to Sunday Ticket. They also offer free breakfast to everyone because Sunday Ticket can be seen at the bar down the street just as easily. So, 3 grand plus free breakfast for 17 weeks of football (6 hours of broadcasting a week). He loses money every year on this deal. And it will be more expensive for him next year.

 

IMO, this is one of the first steps in the evolution of Pay-Per-Veiw sports. I am absolutely conviced that in 5-10 years all NFL games will be on the NFL Network on a pay-per-view basis. Baseball will follow suit.

[CuseCubFan69]

By the way BbB....try going on to ESPN and see if you can hear the Mike and Mike show that they did today. Greenberg had a lot to say about this topic and some of it may be of interest to you.

[goonys evil twin]

IMO, this is one of the first steps in the evolution of Pay-Per-Veiw sports. I am absolutely conviced that in 5-10 years all NFL games will be on the NFL Network on a pay-per-view basis. Baseball will follow suit.

 

SI predicted that many years ago. You might be right, but I doubt it'll ever go 100% PPV. That would be the surest way to erode the fan base.

[Garwilly]

Cox Communications does own the broadcasting rights to the Padres. And for a price, other cable companies can pay for the right to broadcast the games as well. Cox is not the only cable company in San Diego. Time Warner is also here. Time Warner buys these rights from Cox.

 

You don't see premium movie channels being exclusive to one provider or another. You can get HBO regardless of what provider you have.

 

Cable providers should have the opportunity to pick up and distribute to their customers whatever programming their customers would like to view.

 

7 years on DirecTV is just long enough to kill MLB EI. I don't exactly understand the whole trickle down effect of this stuff, but would there be an FSN that broadcasts games in towns like Cincy, Tampa, FL if MLB EI wasn't kicking some profits of the 750,000 subscribers luring advertising dollars?

 

Sunday Ticket is absolutely ridiculous in pricing to sports bars. Ask your local sports bar what they pay for the package. And it is very inaccurate to state that all of these venues reap huge rewards for supplying Sunday Ticket. Some do it because they would be dead in the water if they didn't.

 

The place I watch Sunday football games paid over 3 grand for the rights to Sunday Ticket. They also offer free breakfast to everyone because Sunday Ticket can be seen at the bar down the street just as easily. So, 3 grand plus free breakfast for 17 weeks of football (6 hours of broadcasting a week). He loses money every year on this deal. And it will be more expensive for him next year.

 

IMO, this is one of the first steps in the evolution of Pay-Per-Veiw sports. I am absolutely conviced that in 5-10 years all NFL games will be on the NFL Network on a pay-per-view basis. Baseball will follow suit.

 

I only got Sunday ticket to watch Kansas City Chiefs games. I'd rather pay $5 per game that I normally wouldn't see, than pay to get every game in the league and waste about 10.

[BigbadB]

Cox Communications does own the broadcasting rights to the Padres. And for a price, other cable companies can pay for the right to broadcast the games as well. Cox is not the only cable company in San Diego. Time Warner is also here. Time Warner buys these rights from Cox.

 

You don't see premium movie channels being exclusive to one provider or another. You can get HBO regardless of what provider you have.

 

Cable providers should have the opportunity to pick up and distribute to their customers whatever programming their customers would like to view.

 

7 years on DirecTV is just long enough to kill MLB EI. I don't exactly understand the whole trickle down effect of this stuff, but would there be an FSN that broadcasts games in towns like Cincy, Tampa, FL if MLB EI wasn't kicking some profits of the 750,000 subscribers luring advertising dollars?

 

Sunday Ticket is absolutely ridiculous in pricing to sports bars. Ask your local sports bar what they pay for the package. And it is very inaccurate to state that all of these venues reap huge rewards for supplying Sunday Ticket. Some do it because they would be dead in the water if they didn't.

 

The place I watch Sunday football games paid over 3 grand for the rights to Sunday Ticket. They also offer free breakfast to everyone because Sunday Ticket can be seen at the bar down the street just as easily. So, 3 grand plus free breakfast for 17 weeks of football (6 hours of broadcasting a week). He loses money every year on this deal. And it will be more expensive for him next year.

 

How many Cub games did you get on this last year BbB?

 

Most of them. The only games that don't show are the WCIU games and black out games occasionally, like Saturday games that air during the Fox game of the week. Even the WGN games show on MLB EI, though I generally just watch them on WGN, because sometimes you get the home team announcers rather than Bob and Len.

[CubinNY]

Cox Communications does own the broadcasting rights to the Padres. And for a price, other cable companies can pay for the right to broadcast the games as well. Cox is not the only cable company in San Diego. Time Warner is also here. Time Warner buys these rights from Cox.

 

You don't see premium movie channels being exclusive to one provider or another. You can get HBO regardless of what provider you have.

 

Cable providers should have the opportunity to pick up and distribute to their customers whatever programming their customers would like to view.

 

7 years on DirecTV is just long enough to kill MLB EI. I don't exactly understand the whole trickle down effect of this stuff, but would there be an FSN that broadcasts games in towns like Cincy, Tampa, FL if MLB EI wasn't kicking some profits of the 750,000 subscribers luring advertising dollars?

 

Sunday Ticket is absolutely ridiculous in pricing to sports bars. Ask your local sports bar what they pay for the package. And it is very inaccurate to state that all of these venues reap huge rewards for supplying Sunday Ticket. Some do it because they would be dead in the water if they didn't.

 

The place I watch Sunday football games paid over 3 grand for the rights to Sunday Ticket. They also offer free breakfast to everyone because Sunday Ticket can be seen at the bar down the street just as easily. So, 3 grand plus free breakfast for 17 weeks of football (6 hours of broadcasting a week). He loses money every year on this deal. And it will be more expensive for him next year.

 

IMO, this is one of the first steps in the evolution of Pay-Per-Veiw sports. I am absolutely conviced that in 5-10 years all NFL games will be on the NFL Network on a pay-per-view basis. Baseball will follow suit.

 

I only got Sunday ticket to watch Kansas City Chiefs games. I'd rather pay $5 per game that I normally wouldn't see, than pay to get every game in the league and waste about 10.

 

If this happens I'd expect that you will pay significanlty more than $5 dollars to watch the games you want.

 

It's not a wholy bad idea. It will be a change though. I bought XM soley because they carry MLB. If Serious gets MLB I will be switching. I guess that makes me a "bottom feeder".

[BigbadB]

IMO, this is one of the first steps in the evolution of Pay-Per-Veiw sports. I am absolutely conviced that in 5-10 years all NFL games will be on the NFL Network on a pay-per-view basis. Baseball will follow suit.

 

This is exactly what will happen eventually. Although, Pay-Per-View hasn't been what they hoped it would.

 

Eventually, the Super Bowl will only be available by Pay-Per-View. One of my best clients has one of the best sports bars in San Diego County, and he expects that to happen very soon.

 

This location also is the very first bar in the country to offer table top pay tv and video games. People can order food and beverages through their table top tv besides watching whatever sport they want or play any of the currently available bar video games. They can browse the internet as well. It's pretty crazy and will soon be available all over the country.

[BigbadB]

By the way BbB....try going on to ESPN and see if you can hear the Mike and Mike show that they did today. Greenberg had a lot to say about this topic and some of it may be of interest to you.

 

Unfortunately, I'm not going to have time to check it out. If anyone can provide a quick synopsis, it would be much appreciated.

[CuseCubFan69]

IMO, this is one of the first steps in the evolution of Pay-Per-Veiw sports. I am absolutely conviced that in 5-10 years all NFL games will be on the NFL Network on a pay-per-view basis. Baseball will follow suit.

 

This is exactly what will happen eventually. Although, Pay-Per-View hasn't been what they hoped it would.

 

Eventually, the Super Bowl will only be available by Pay-Per-View. One of my best clients has one of the best sports bars in San Diego County, and he expects that to happen very soon.

 

This location also is the very first bar in the country to offer table top pay tv and video games. People can order food and beverages through their table top tv besides watching whatever sport they want or play any of the currently available bar video games. They can browse the internet as well. It's pretty crazy and will soon be available all over the country.

 

If the Super Bowl goes pay per view, they can have it.

[BigbadB]

IMO, this is one of the first steps in the evolution of Pay-Per-Veiw sports. I am absolutely conviced that in 5-10 years all NFL games will be on the NFL Network on a pay-per-view basis. Baseball will follow suit.

 

SI predicted that many years ago. You might be right, but I doubt it'll ever go 100% PPV. That would be the surest way to erode the fan base.

 

Agreed. The Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event for a few particular reasons. AVAILABILITY is the main factor. Take away the availability, and it will no longer be the #1 watched sporting event. It is a well produced program as well. There are side attractions like commercials that interest a non-football base.

 

I can take or leave watching the Super Bowl if MY team isn't playing. I do watch it now because of the availability. However, if the Colts and Saints were playing this year and it was on pay-per-view? I'm not going to pay to watch it.

 

It's a bit early to predict how much it would cost to see individual games or even the Super Bowl, but the successful sports bar owner I discussed earlier predicts it would cost him somewhere around 20K to show the Super Bowl. He will do it, even at that cost. He knows he'll lose money on game day, but his hope would be to improve his clientele over the course of the entire year.