INDemand reaches deal for MLB Extra Innings Package!

[cubweiser03]

This looks like the cable company's are penalized because they have a larger customer base than DTV.

 

"The DirecTV agreement gives the satellite-television provider exclusive television rights to the Extra Innings package unless another entity matches all of the conditions of the agreement by month's end. The deal calls for the Baseball Channel to be made available to all of its customers; iN Demand's offer, however, limited that number to match only that of DirecTV's customers."

 

For this condition it sounds like they are 'matching' it to me. Wonder what the other conditions they failed to match were.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

My apologies on this bump, I assume cable is not going to show MLB the money, huh? Deadline looming and no news that I am aware of.

[BigbadB]

My apologies on this bump, I assume cable is not going to show MLB the money, huh? Deadline looming and no news that I am aware of.

 

Depends on who your carrier is, I suppose. Cox (my cable company) is offering to pay 100% of my tab for MLB.TV.

 

I prefer that over switching carriers.

 

It sounds like the cable companies were in a no-win situation. DirecTV (whether you like their dealings with MLB or not) offered up a big package for EXCLUSIVE rights to MLB EI. While MLB did give the cable companies an opportunity to match what DirecTV was offering, as soon as they did, DirecTV would have turned around and pulled their offer off the table, since their exclusivity was no longer true.

 

I haven't been following this as closely as I probably could have, but from what I gather, MLB is the only one who wins with all of this.

 

Option A:

DirecTV has exclusive rights to MLB EI

Cable has nothing

MLB gets basically the same amount of money from DirecTV that they received last year from everyone combined, and MLB.TV subscriptions increase dramatically.

 

Option B:

Cable matches DirecTV's proposal

DirecTV reconstructs their deal because the exclusivity offer is no longer on the table, virtually changing nothing except a bigger profit for MLB (cable offer being much higher than previous year), though not nearly as much as MLB.TV subscription won't dramatically increase.

 

Option C:

DirecTV has exclusivity

Cable refuses to pay the ridiculous matching price for MLB EI, but offers to pay 100% to their cable subscribers if they would like to purchase MLB.TV.

 

Option C isn't ideal, but it attempts to keep their customers from switching to DirecTV. No matter how you slice it, all of these options help MLB profit big time. Preventing DirecTV from profiting is at least attempting to keep the competition (DirecTV) from profiting on the exclusivity deal.

 

I'm going to go with MLB.TV. I can't place blame on my cable carrier for being in a no-win situation. And I appreciate that they value me enough as a customer to want to help me continue getting baseball games somehow. They didn't have to offer up anything at all. The amount of subscribers for out of market baseball games really isn't all that overwhelming that they would lose all that many customers to DirecTV if they did nothing. A high percentage of those people would have gone MLB.TV instead of switching carriers anyway. I still would have gone MLB.TV if they weren't offering to pay for it.

 

In a perfect world, fans from everywhere could get out of market games on any cable or satellite system or via MLB.TV. We all know this world ain't even close to being perfect, so I guess Option C isn't the worst possible outcome.

[BeerHere]

I've never had MLB EI in the past because I travel a lot for my job. However that was going to change this summer as I won't be on the road as much and I thought I'd pony up. I have DishNetwork and they've treated me very well for the 5 years that we've had the service.

 

This sucks. I blame MLB for selling to the highest bidder without any concern for their fan base (again). DirectTV is acting on behalf of their customers while doing what is best for their competitive position.

[dalgreen]

My apologies on this bump, I assume cable is not going to show MLB the money, huh? Deadline looming and no news that I am aware of.

 

Depends on who your carrier is, I suppose. Cox (my cable company) is offering to pay 100% of my tab for MLB.TV.

 

I prefer that over switching carriers.

 

It sounds like the cable companies were in a no-win situation. DirecTV (whether you like their dealings with MLB or not) offered up a big package for EXCLUSIVE rights to MLB EI. While MLB did give the cable companies an opportunity to match what DirecTV was offering, as soon as they did, DirecTV would have turned around and pulled their offer off the table, since their exclusivity was no longer true.

 

I haven't been following this as closely as I probably could have, but from what I gather, MLB is the only one who wins with all of this.

 

Option A:

DirecTV has exclusive rights to MLB EI

Cable has nothing

MLB gets basically the same amount of money from DirecTV that they received last year from everyone combined, and MLB.TV subscriptions increase dramatically.

 

Option B:

Cable matches DirecTV's proposal

DirecTV reconstructs their deal because the exclusivity offer is no longer on the table, virtually changing nothing except a bigger profit for MLB (cable offer being much higher than previous year), though not nearly as much as MLB.TV subscription won't dramatically increase.

 

Option C:

DirecTV has exclusivity

Cable refuses to pay the ridiculous matching price for MLB EI, but offers to pay 100% to their cable subscribers if they would like to purchase MLB.TV.

 

Option C isn't ideal, but it attempts to keep their customers from switching to DirecTV. No matter how you slice it, all of these options help MLB profit big time. Preventing DirecTV from profiting is at least attempting to keep the competition (DirecTV) from profiting on the exclusivity deal.

 

I'm going to go with MLB.TV. I can't place blame on my cable carrier for being in a no-win situation. And I appreciate that they value me enough as a customer to want to help me continue getting baseball games somehow. They didn't have to offer up anything at all. The amount of subscribers for out of market baseball games really isn't all that overwhelming that they would lose all that many customers to DirecTV if they did nothing. A high percentage of those people would have gone MLB.TV instead of switching carriers anyway. I still would have gone MLB.TV if they weren't offering to pay for it.

 

In a perfect world, fans from everywhere could get out of market games on any cable or satellite system or via MLB.TV. We all know this world ain't even close to being perfect, so I guess Option C isn't the worst possible outcome.

 

Yeah, I got my letter from Cox last week. We have to pay the $89 for MLB.com and then we'll get reimbursed in 6-8 weeks. So far, I have held out hope for the television package since we have until June to get the deal for MLB.com. The problem is what happens over the next six years because I don't think they'll give us this same deal.

[cbbryan]

Thankfully, I already have DirecTV and the EI package. This is a mess, though!

[Abe Frohman]

I have DishNetwork and they've treated me very well for the 5 years that we've had the service.

 

This sucks. I blame MLB for selling to the highest bidder without any concern for their fan base (again). DirectTV is acting on behalf of their customers while doing what is best for their competitive position.

 

I totally agree with what you say. I have also been a very happy Dish Network customer for the past 6 years (almost) and I hated to do it - but I cancelled my plan and DirecTV was installed yesterday. I have purchased the MLB EI package for the past 2 years, and I want it that bad. Unfortunately, I am on a 2 year contract with DirecTV now, but I will go back to Dish Network when it is up, and if they have the EI package.

 

I can't blame DirecTV, Dish Network, or anyone except MLB. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that the brass in MLB have no regard for the fans of the game, the very people who make them rich. I blame all of this on MLB greed. Thank you Mr. Selig and crew for being selfish P.O.S.

 

Once again, you goons have done the fans a major disservice.

[BigbadB]

Yeah, I got my letter from Cox last week. We have to pay the $89 for MLB.com and then we'll get reimbursed in 6-8 weeks. So far, I have held out hope for the television package since we have until June to get the deal for MLB.com. The problem is what happens over the next six years because I don't think they'll give us this same deal.

 

Yeah, I've been waiting and holding out hope as well. But, sometime this weekend, I want to be up and running with MLB.TV for the start of the season.

[BigbadB]

I can't blame DirecTV, Dish Network, or anyone except MLB. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that the brass in MLB have no regard for the fans of the game, the very people who make them rich. I blame all of this on MLB greed. Thank you Mr. Selig and crew for being selfish P.O.S.

 

Once again, you goons have done the fans a major disservice.

 

Well stated. MLB is to blame for this, and while I doubt it comes back to bite them in the butt, I'll hold out hope. Meanwhile, they'll still be getting my money. And actually probably more of it than when I ordered MLB EI through my cable carrier.

[Vinestal]

I can't blame DirecTV, Dish Network, or anyone except MLB. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that the brass in MLB have no regard for the fans of the game, the very people who make them rich. I blame all of this on MLB greed. Thank you Mr. Selig and crew for being selfish P.O.S.

 

Once again, you goons have done the fans a major disservice.

 

Well stated. MLB is to blame for this, and while I doubt it comes back to bite them in the butt, I'll hold out hope. Meanwhile, they'll still be getting my money. And actually probably more of it than when I ordered MLB EI through my cable carrier.

 

It sucks. I'll be seeing only the WGN games this year. The rest I'll just be listening to on XM I guess. I guess I should be thankful that I have that though Im sure they will find some way to strip us of that as well over the coming years. Im hoping I can get into a new home that has cable so I can get highspeed internet and watch the games that way next year. I actually checked in to DirectTV but as soona s they said I had to sign a 2 year contract I hung up on them. Cant believe I was even considering it.

[Laura]

Sports Business Daily[/url]"]

Cable and MLB still are negotiating over Extra Innings and a planned MLB channel with one day before a baseball-imposed deadline to match DirecTV’s terms, and both sides are now characterizing the talks as extremely serious. The discussions now include some senior level dealmakers from Comcast's Philadelphia headquarters to supplement InDemand’s presence. Baseball sources say chances of a deal are 50-50; cable sources are slightly more pessimistic.

 

The key outstanding issue is InDemand’s pursuit of equity in the forthcoming channel. DirecTV gained a 20% stake in its deal, and with MLB all but certain to retain its 80% share, the satellite carrier would need to agree to a dilution of its equity.

[E.J.]

Just got a thing in the mail from Comcast (my cable provider) which said they'd pay $50 of the cost of MLB.TV if I signed up for the full year subscription. That's not bad. I might have to do that.

[Buford T Justice]

Wow Comcast will only eat 50 dollars?

[HenryBlanco]

any idea on when a final announcement will come today?

[KyHen]

Extra Innings: Deadline Extended for Cable & DISH

 

As Biz of Baseball reported earlier this evening, the deadline for iN Demand and EchoStar will be pushed out till tomorrow in an effort to allow cable and DISH Networks to continue to show Extra Innings, MLB's out-of-market package for television. As reported by Richard Sandomir of the NY Times:

 

Tim Brosnan, M.L.B.’s executive vice president for business, said that the deadline would expire at the end of today.

 

“We continue to talk,” he said, “and we wouldn’t have extended the deadline if we didn’t think we could bring everybody in.”

 

If a deal cannot be reached, DirecTV will carry Extra Innings exclusively. DirecTV has agreed to make the MLB Channel available to 15 million subscribers in 2009; the league and InDemand have differed over the terms of making the network available to its digital cable subscribers.

 

InDemand and Dish would like a stake in the channel; for being the first to agree to carry it, DirecTV owns 20 percent.

 

Strap in, boys, because this is far from over.

 

LET'S GO CABLE! *clap, clap, clap clap clap*

[KyHen]

OK, it sounds like they're making progress.

 

The hangup before was cable matching the "80% of households will have The Baseball Channel" quota that DirecTV has in place; Cable has now agreed to this.

 

The sticking point now is ownership over The Baseball Channel. MLB has an 80% share of the channel, and they don't appear to be willing to own anything less than that. DirecTV, if the exclusivity deal were to go down, would own the rest of the 20%. Now Echostar and iN Demand want a cut of that. Instead of giving them part of MLB's 80%, the three (DirecTV, Echostar, iN Demand) would each receive a portion of the 20% that DirecTV would have via an exclusive deal. That, from my understanding, is what they are negotiating over now.

 

Does that make sense? I'm sure I made it a lot more confusing than it had to be.

[Abe Frohman]

OK, I got DirecTV last week, and notice that we actually have the Fox Sports channels for the areas (Fox Sports Chicago, Detroit, etc...). On Dish Network, the EI package simply showed the games, and cut off after each game became final.

 

With DirecTV, do we get the channel around the clock? Do we get to see pre and post game interviews, etc? That would be awesome.

 

I have also noticed that with DirecTV, when there is a dark background on the channel, it is very digitalized. Maybe that is just my TV, but I didn't have that problem with Dish Network.

[NCCubFan]

With DirecTV, do we get the channel around the clock? Do we get to see pre and post game interviews, etc? That would be awesome.

You just get the game, no pregame or postgame show. You'd need their sports pack subscription to get those channels 24-7.

[BigbadB]

OK, it sounds like they're making progress.

 

The hangup before was cable matching the "80% of households will have The Baseball Channel" quota that DirecTV has in place; Cable has now agreed to this.

 

The sticking point now is ownership over The Baseball Channel. MLB has an 80% share of the channel, and they don't appear to be willing to own anything less than that. DirecTV, if the exclusivity deal were to go down, would own the rest of the 20%. Now Echostar and iN Demand want a cut of that. Instead of giving them part of MLB's 80%, the three (DirecTV, Echostar, iN Demand) would each receive a portion of the 20% that DirecTV would have via an exclusive deal. That, from my understanding, is what they are negotiating over now.

 

Does that make sense? I'm sure I made it a lot more confusing than it had to be.

 

Thanks for this update. Let us know when you hear something new.

[dalgreen]

OK, it sounds like they're making progress.

 

The hangup before was cable matching the "80% of households will have The Baseball Channel" quota that DirecTV has in place; Cable has now agreed to this.

 

The sticking point now is ownership over The Baseball Channel. MLB has an 80% share of the channel, and they don't appear to be willing to own anything less than that. DirecTV, if the exclusivity deal were to go down, would own the rest of the 20%. Now Echostar and iN Demand want a cut of that. Instead of giving them part of MLB's 80%, the three (DirecTV, Echostar, iN Demand) would each receive a portion of the 20% that DirecTV would have via an exclusive deal. That, from my understanding, is what they are negotiating over now.

 

Does that make sense? I'm sure I made it a lot more confusing than it had to be.

 

Thanks for this update. Let us know when you hear something new.

 

I'm still holding out hope, BBB!

[BigbadB]

I am to. I did purchase MLB.TV already, but I get 5 days of free trial. If no deal is done within those 5 days, I'll just go ahead and allow MLB to charge my credit card for computer baseball.

[KyHen]

DuPuy on Extra Innings Talks: "It won't go on indefinitely"

 

New, via the AP:

 

Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, had set a March 31 deadline but said Sunday that the parties were still negotiating.

 

"It won't go on indefinitely," he said of the talks.

 

The Hollywood Reporter adds:

 

"Talks are still ongoing," a MLB spokeswoman said mid-afternoon Sunday. She declined to detail the talks further.

 

Another source said the parties hoped to wrap up a deal by Monday but that there were "no assurances."

 

 

These updates are from Biz of Baseball (bizofbaseball.com); I check it a lot so I will continue to post updates on the situation.

 

In any event, we should know what's going to happen soon.

 

I can't believe the season has started and we still don't know if Extra Innings is available or not. If the deal goes down, how long do you think before games will actually be watch-able? I'd imagine it would take them a while to get everything set up. Or maybe they have everything in place already, and are just hoping/waiting for a deal to go down? That sounds like too big of a financial risk, though.

[Bergy92]

anybody have any sort of update on this? I am still waiting for DISH Network to come through - am I waiting hopelessly? How will I be able to find out?

[Bergy92]

okay, I found it myself...thanks...

 

http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=960&Itemid=52

[Bruno7481]

I have MLB through DirecTV. I love the new feature they have added this year. They have a Game Mix channel which shows up to 8 games. But also, when watching an individual game, the box score is just a click on the remote away. You can also access standings, scores, and league leaders.

 

Its pretty cool.