INDemand reaches deal for MLB Extra Innings Package!

[Soul]

Masterful move by MLB. Now they not only get DirecTV's $750 million, but they get to double their pleasure with cable, too.

 

This has to rank as one of the greatest sports broadcasting money-grabs in history. Nice work.

[moorecg]

charter anyone?

How does this affect Charter?

 

i don't know, but i hope it does.

 

I've had a phone call and a web "chat" with them already...they say they are "negotiating" with InDemand....and hope to have it resolved soon...the only thing that really scares me is that Charter wouldn't take the NFL Network because it wanted to be on the main Tier...and not the Sports Package...if the MLB network has the same insistence and Charter takes the same stance, we still may be screwed...I told them I was gone if they didn't get it.

[kujay]

That's encouraging. I've been on the warpath this morning since talking to a Charter CSR (moron) who flatly told me Charter was not carrying EI this year.

 

She sounded stupid, so that gave me hope. I guess we'll see.

[moorecg]

That's encouraging. I've been on the warpath this morning since talking to a Charter CSR (moron) who flatly told me Charter was not carrying EI this year.

 

She sounded stupid, so that gave me hope. I guess we'll see.

 

Yeah, the Charter CSR I talked to said they were negotiating...and that since InDemand just got the deal yesterday they really just started to see what InDemand agreed to...I told them I'd pull everything from them if they didn't get it done...I'm sure they were scared.

[NCCubFan]

Charter sucks. They are my local cable company, and when I decided I wanted Extra Innings they didn't offer it in my market even though they did in others (that was back in 2003). That's the reason I switched to DirecTV in the first place. Charter also didn't offer any of the local digital channels like Time Warner did.

[Soul]

That's encouraging. I've been on the warpath this morning since talking to a Charter CSR (moron) who flatly told me Charter was not carrying EI this year.

 

She sounded stupid, so that gave me hope. I guess we'll see.

 

Yeah, the Charter CSR I talked to said they were negotiating...and that since InDemand just got the deal yesterday they really just started to see what InDemand agreed to...I told them I'd pull everything from them if they didn't get it done...I'm sure they were scared.

 

It's just like Charter to be "just starting to look into" something while games people would be paying for are bleeding away...

[Soul]

BTW, if you have DirecTV they're doing free MLB EI this week........wait for it.........wait for it.......INCLUDING HD GAMES!

 

Last night's slate, I counted 2 HD games besides the ESPN one (which EI also offered in HD from the Fox affiliate for St. Louis).

 

Too cool. I might not be able to resist, though I have been doing a good job so far. I think the first time I see Cubs in HD on the schedule and I can't get it, I'm going to have to cave in and buy the EI package.

[wekse]

i'm trying to order EI but the phones at Comcast are tied up.

[MikeG]

I wonder if InDemand will open it up for free this week too.

[wekse]

i'm trying to order EI but the phones at Comcast are tied up.

 

been on hold for 15 min. now

 

*edit* on hold for FOREVER now

[BigbadB]

I got through okay last night and this morning, but it's still not available for order yet at Cox. So, it's probably not going to be available yet on the smaller cable companies yet, either.

 

My 5 day trial at MLB.TV is up after today. I'm not getting rid of it until I can order EI. It would be a shame if I would have to make Cox pay for it after my trial is up, but I WILL make them pay.

 

I guess they shouldn't have announced to the world that they could be up and running in an hour once the deal went down, eh?

[kujay]

The latest from Charter here in St. Louis is...nothing. I just got another guy on the phone who had no idea what is going on.

 

This is unbelievably bad customer service and communication within the company. They know we're going to be calling, but do nothing to update their point people on the facts.

 

I didn't even feel it was worth it to threaten this guy with switching. I'm sure he was sincere that he knew nothing. It wasn't his fault.

 

Still hacks me off though.

[Magnetic Curses]

Charter sucks. They are my local cable company, and when I decided I wanted Extra Innings they didn't offer it in my market even though they did in others (that was back in 2003). That's the reason I switched to DirecTV in the first place. Charter also didn't offer any of the local digital channels like Time Warner did.

 

they don't carry any sports packages, as of right now. how idiotic. between the NBA, the NFL, and MLB, that's another $500-600 per year from me, if they actually wanted it.

 

not that there are a ton of displaced chicago fans in wisco or anything.

[Magnetic Curses]

The latest from Charter here in St. Louis is...nothing. I just got another guy on the phone who had no idea what is going on.

 

This is unbelievably bad customer service and communication within the company. They know we're going to be calling, but do nothing to update their point people on the facts.

 

I didn't even feel it was worth it to threaten this guy with switching. I'm sure he was sincere that he knew nothing. It wasn't his fault.

 

Still hacks me off though.

 

one of my best friends works in broadband sales. i haven't had a chance to talk to him about this yet. he might know.

[wekse]

still can't get through...starting to get pissed.

[Soul]

still can't get through...starting to get pissed.

 

Can you order on a website or some other alternate to the phone?

[kujay]

The latest from Charter here in St. Louis is...nothing. I just got another guy on the phone who had no idea what is going on.

 

This is unbelievably bad customer service and communication within the company. They know we're going to be calling, but do nothing to update their point people on the facts.

 

I didn't even feel it was worth it to threaten this guy with switching. I'm sure he was sincere that he knew nothing. It wasn't his fault.

 

Still hacks me off though.

 

one of my best friends works in broadband sales. i haven't had a chance to talk to him about this yet. he might know.

 

Thanks. Any solid info would be appreciated. Still hopeful.

[Magnetic Curses]

The latest from Charter here in St. Louis is...nothing. I just got another guy on the phone who had no idea what is going on.

 

This is unbelievably bad customer service and communication within the company. They know we're going to be calling, but do nothing to update their point people on the facts.

 

I didn't even feel it was worth it to threaten this guy with switching. I'm sure he was sincere that he knew nothing. It wasn't his fault.

 

Still hacks me off though.

 

one of my best friends works in broadband sales. i haven't had a chance to talk to him about this yet. he might know.

 

Thanks. Any solid info would be appreciated. Still hopeful.

 

i'll let you know later today.

[Vinestal]

I wonder what this means for DishNetwork customers. I called this morning but I was given the "we are still in negotiations with mlb" line. I thought that DishNetworks programing came from In Demand just like most cable companies so hopefully something gets done soon. If anyone hears anything specific please post it.

[kujay]

http://www.bizofbaseball.com is making it sound like DISH Network people might be screwed the worst of anyone in all this.

[Vinestal]

http://www.bizofbaseball.com is making it sound like DISH Network people might be screwed the worst of anyone in all this.

 

greeeeeaat... :(

[wekse]

still can't get through...starting to get pissed.

 

Can you order on a website or some other alternate to the phone?

 

nope, if you try and order it with the remote it tells you to call and there isn't any place to order it online, that i know of.

[AFCubsFan]

Woohoo! I just ordered mine from Cox Cable. Thx to whoever posted the good news in this thread. The only bad thing is that I don't think any of the games will be in HD :( Oh....and the other bad thing is that the Cubs lost today.

[tulsacubfan]

Woohoo! I just ordered mine from Cox Cable. Thx to whoever posted the good news in this thread. The only bad thing is that I don't think any of the games will be in HD :( Oh....and the other bad thing is that the Cubs lost today.

 

Did you call or find it on line?

[AFCubsFan]

Woohoo! I just ordered mine from Cox Cable. Thx to whoever posted the good news in this thread. The only bad thing is that I don't think any of the games will be in HD :( Oh....and the other bad thing is that the Cubs lost today.

 

Did you call or find it on line?

 

I called. BTW, it turns out that they are already showing the free preview games. My cable company's website doesn't mention that they have a deal....and my program guide doesn't list the channels as MLB Extra Innings. But I called and the first thing I heard was a prerecorded message saying they had the MLB Extra Innings package and there is a free preview. I flipped the channel on my TV while I was on hold and sure enough, the games were on for free (in my case on some of the NHL Center Ice channels.) I ordered the package and got the early bird price (I forget what it was but I believe it was in the $150 or a little lower range.)