INDemand reaches deal for MLB Extra Innings Package!

[moorecg]

I talked to another American around the same time last night who told me that "On Demand" was not negotiating with Charter in good faith but that they were still hopeful an agreement could be reached.

 

I'm choosing to believe the guy you talked to. :lol:

 

That's funny...everyone else has said they are negotiating with MLB....I'm very tempted to write a letter to each and every member of the Charter Board of Directors just to complain how HORRIBLE their customer service is.

[moorecg]

For those interested in Charter, see below. This is an e-mail chain I've had with an actual human at Charter's actual headquarters here in St. Louis. He sent me an e-mail this morning saying that Charter would indeed have MLB-EI starting this week. I'll believe it when I see it on my own TV, but this time I'm actually optimistic. :D

 

I will send you more information as I get it…

 

 

 

Doug Kappauff

 

TAC Supervisor

 

Office: 636-207-5140 EXT: 33140

 

Cell: 314-393-2101 Nextel: 46*11139

 

Email: Doug.Kappauff@chartercom.com

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

From: Kappauff, Doug

Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:38 AM

To: Kappauff, Doug; cmoore@ArmstrongTeasdale.com

Subject: RE: cmoore@ArmstrongTeasdale.com

 

 

 

We got it!!!

 

 

 

I got an email late last night that an agreement was reached. It will be a day or two before codes can be adding to our system… The details I got were minimal as the finer points will be worked out Monday. But I wanted to come in this morning and get you the details since you’ve been waiting!

 

 

 

 

 

Doug Kappauff

 

Charter Communications

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

From: Kappauff, Doug

Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 5:31 PM

To: 'cmoore@ArmstrongTeasdale.com'

Subject: RE: cmoore@ArmstrongTeasdale.com

 

 

 

Hi Craig,

 

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to write to us regarding your concern. Regarding the MLB package Charter is actually still in negotiations with MLB. As this was not the only request regarding this issue – I have had my ear to the negotiations pretty closely all week to get updates. We are expecting a definitive answer regarding the results of the negotiation early this coming week.

 

 

 

I am going to keep your information, and I will email you directly as soon as I get the results and when we can start adding it to accounts again.

 

 

 

If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact me direct at doug.kappauff@chartercom.com or 636-207-5140. Either way I will follow up with you this week.

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

 

Doug Kappauff

 

Charter Communications

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

From: Craig Moore [mailto:cmoore@ArmstrongTeasdale.com]

Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 3:56 PM

To: Charter Communications

Subject: Charter Service

 

 

 

Mr. Trippe,

 

I just read the 4-20-07 article in the Post Dispatch regarding Charter's customer service issues and I must say, I found it quite timely. As an avid baseball fan I've in the past been a subscriber to the MLB-Extra Innings package that Charter has provided through its OnDemand service. I was quite disheartened this off season to hear that DirecTV was negotiating to make that package a DirecTV exclusive and was elated to hear when that turned out not to be the case and that it would indeed be made available to cable customers…that's when my displeasure with Charter began. For well over a month now I've been lied to, strung along, hung up on, and generally abused by Charter customer "service" representatives. Having been told "yes we will have it", "No we won't" "Yes, we've already got it, go order it on your remote", "the deal is done were just working out the billing it will be available tomorrow or the next day" and "Sir, I don't know what you're talking about, I'm in (Insert SanPaulo Brazil, The Philippians, several other foreign countries), I've found getting a straight answer from Charter more difficult that digesting the federal tax code.

 

At this point I’m beyond frustrated, we're almost a month into the season and I’m looking for someone at Charter to give me just ONE reason why I shouldn’t switch to DirecTV. Could you PLEASE give me a straight answer on the status of this package, if you'll get it, or even some just plain honesty and admission that Charter is refusing to go the extra mile to provide this service to its customers, the run around has been going on for too long.

 

I appreciate your willingness to put your contact info in the paper, that shows some courage considering the number of disgruntled Charter customers out there. Please see what you can do to make some of us happy…an answer on this front (and while your at it, access to the NFL Network too) would go a long way to keeping this customer.

 

Craig G. Moore

ArmstrongTeasdale LLP

One Metropolitan Square, Suite 2600

St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2740

Tel: 314-259-4723

Fax: 314-552-4814

[BigbadB]

Glad to hear it.

 

It just absolutely amazes me that MLB allowed DirecTV to negotiate exclusive rights so late in the offseason and therefore created an absolute mess, which for some folks is now more than a month into the baseball season.

 

Absolute stupidity.

[kujay]

Charter is confirming the deal now.

 

http://www.charter.com/mlbupdates

 

I am shocked they came through. And with the Cubs turning things around, I will be paying up so I can watch the games tomorrow and Weds night.

[mul21]

Charter is confirming the deal now.

 

http://www.charter.com/mlbupdates

 

I am shocked they came through. And with the Cubs turning things around, I will be paying up so I can watch the games tomorrow and Weds night.

 

I just called them this morning and was told it will be available for order tomorrow (5/8). I inquired about the price and was informed it would be the full season price of $159.96 to start right away and $129 for the half season package available starting July 9. What a load of crap that they're charging the full season rate after missing a month and a half of the season.

[moorecg]

Charter is confirming the deal now.

 

http://www.charter.com/mlbupdates

 

I am shocked they came through. And with the Cubs turning things around, I will be paying up so I can watch the games tomorrow and Weds night.

 

YEah, I'm amazed it actually came through, once we went past week 2 I figured they were just stalling to tell us that they couldn't do it...

 

I'm already a "triple play" customer, so I'll get mine for $119...not bad...I know I'm doing it before tomorrow's game so I can watch it....I am SOO happy this got taken care of.

[kujay]

Charter is confirming the deal now.

 

http://www.charter.com/mlbupdates

 

I am shocked they came through. And with the Cubs turning things around, I will be paying up so I can watch the games tomorrow and Weds night.

 

YEah, I'm amazed it actually came through, once we went past week 2 I figured they were just stalling to tell us that they couldn't do it...

 

I'm already a "triple play" customer, so I'll get mine for $119...not bad...I know I'm doing it before tomorrow's game so I can watch it....I am SOO happy this got taken care of.

 

I was wondering about that. I already have Digital and HSI with them. Does that mean I get it for $139, or are the $139 and $119 prices only for new "double play" and "triple play" subscribers?

[moorecg]

Charter is confirming the deal now.

 

http://www.charter.com/mlbupdates

 

I am shocked they came through. And with the Cubs turning things around, I will be paying up so I can watch the games tomorrow and Weds night.

 

YEah, I'm amazed it actually came through, once we went past week 2 I figured they were just stalling to tell us that they couldn't do it...

 

I'm already a "triple play" customer, so I'll get mine for $119...not bad...I know I'm doing it before tomorrow's game so I can watch it....I am SOO happy this got taken care of.

 

I was wondering about that. I already have Digital and HSI with them. Does that mean I get it for $139, or are the $139 and $119 prices only for new "double play" and "triple play" subscribers?

 

I'd about think that we'd HAVE to get the lower price (however, this IS charter)...I can't imagine there are too many out there that would sign up for MLB-EI, who don't already have one or more services from them...I'd be a bit ticked off if I was told it was only for "new customers"

[Soul]

Charter is confirming the deal now.

 

http://www.charter.com/mlbupdates

 

I am shocked they came through. And with the Cubs turning things around, I will be paying up so I can watch the games tomorrow and Weds night.

 

YEah, I'm amazed it actually came through, once we went past week 2 I figured they were just stalling to tell us that they couldn't do it...

 

I'm already a "triple play" customer, so I'll get mine for $119...not bad...I know I'm doing it before tomorrow's game so I can watch it....I am SOO happy this got taken care of.

 

I was wondering about that. I already have Digital and HSI with them. Does that mean I get it for $139, or are the $139 and $119 prices only for new "double play" and "triple play" subscribers?

 

I'd about think that we'd HAVE to get the lower price (however, this IS charter)...I can't imagine there are too many out there that would sign up for MLB-EI, who don't already have one or more services from them...I'd be a bit ticked off if I was told it was only for "new customers"

 

I would hope they take a little off the top, but I don't know.

 

Glad the deal eventually got done. I might actually have to order EI now that the Cubs are starting to play some ball. In April it wasn't worth it just to watch us get beat every night.

[Mizzou]

160 bucks is way too expensive for 5 months of baseball.

[moorecg]

160 bucks is way too expensive for 5 months of baseball.

 

I would pay twice that to avoid having to listen to Al Herbrosky every night.

[Soul]

160 bucks is way too expensive for 5 months of baseball.

 

I would pay twice that to avoid having to listen to Al Herbrosky every night.

 

If the Cubs are good, I'll do it. Otherwise, it's just paying for pain.

[moorecg]

FINALLY!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

 

I just got off the phone with my real person here in St. Louis...he confirmed for me that I now have MLB-Extra Innings added to my service package for the yearly rate of $119 and that I will be able to watch it when I get home tonight.

 

Happy day...

 

\:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/

[moorecg]

FINALLY!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

 

I just got off the phone with my real person here in St. Louis...he confirmed for me that I now have MLB-Extra Innings added to my service package for the yearly rate of $119 and that I will be able to watch it when I get home tonight.

 

Happy day...

 

\:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/

 

It worked. Wish it wouldn't have...I sat through all 15 innings of that crap...

[kujay]

FINALLY!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

 

I just got off the phone with my real person here in St. Louis...he confirmed for me that I now have MLB-Extra Innings added to my service package for the yearly rate of $119 and that I will be able to watch it when I get home tonight.

 

Happy day...

 

\:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/

 

It worked. Wish it wouldn't have...I sat through all 15 innings of that crap...

 

No joke. Got home from the Cards game (rooting for Rockies, of course) only to stay up half the night watching that non-clutch display. Yuck.

[moorecg]

I can't believe how dumb I am for really wanting this package....now I feel obligated to watch this god forsaken team on games I otherwise would have been mercifully prevented from watching....

[macuser2]

I can't believe how dumb I am for really wanting this package....now I feel obligated to watch this god forsaken team on games I otherwise would have been mercifully prevented from watching....

 

Don't feel too bad. I decided to also get mlb.tv so that I wouldn't miss any games while traveling. :oops:

 

Oh yea, I also have XM iin my car. :(

[moorecg]

I can't believe how dumb I am for really wanting this package....now I feel obligated to watch this god forsaken team on games I otherwise would have been mercifully prevented from watching....

 

Don't feel too bad. I decided to also get mlb.tv so that I wouldn't miss any games while traveling. :oops:

 

Oh yea, I also have XM iin my car. :(

 

I've got XM too...although I feel bad for you...with Mlb.tv, XM, and EI...its like the three horsemen of badbaseball following you around at every turn.

[Rob]

Freaking Insight communications wont be selling the EI package cause they don't want to have to carry that MLB Channel. :evil:

 

I hate the thought of going to dish after I get a job, but I'm not gonna put up with this subpar crap. I should at least have the choice of whether or not I want to throw $150 their way.

[Derwood]

I continue to be happy with my decision to not order EI this year

[gerby23]

Been talking to DISH for awhile regarding this. Looks like no EI for us. MLB wants them to carry the baseball channel on their lowest tier channel package and that is their breaking point apparently. Oh well, they did tell me that they are allowed to keep negotiating, no table closings or deadline. Anyway, back to XM for me I suppose.

[Soul]

Been talking to DISH for awhile regarding this. Looks like no EI for us. MLB wants them to carry the baseball channel on their lowest tier channel package and that is their breaking point apparently. Oh well, they did tell me that they are allowed to keep negotiating, no table closings or deadline. Anyway, back to XM for me I suppose.

 

At this point I'd wait before shelling out any cash for Cub games. This team is tanking right now and what's the point of spending hard earned cash to watch crap night after night?

 

There's absolutely no guarantee the Cubs will pull out of it. I don't care what pythag or anyone else says. They very well might just continue to blow games all year long.

[J.R.]

Since when is EI a "Cubs" package?

 

I enjoy seeing all the games, though it is a better value when the Cubs are doing well.

[moorecg]

Since when is EI a "Cubs" package?

 

I enjoy seeing all the games, though it is a better value when the Cubs are doing well.

 

Good point...5-6 games of Vin Scully makes it all worth it...getting to watch real baseball teams (my local market STL is the NL Central too) also helps kill the pain of the carnival ride that is Cubs baseball.

[gerby23]

Yeah, its a baseball package for me really. And anyway, its my wife's hard earned cash, not mine. :lol: