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March 08, 2007

Bud & DirecTV Do It

From mlb.com -

Major League Baseball and DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite provider, today announced a seven-year agreement that continues carriage rights to the MLB EXTRA INNINGS subscription package of out-of-market games and includes the launch of the MLB Channel as part of DIRECTV's basic package. Included within the agreement, DIRECTV will be a minority partner in the MLB Channel, and will work with MLB to develop the network, which will launch in 2009.

Additionally, in keeping with MLB's desire to provide as much MLB programming to as many baseball fans as possible, MLB and DIRECTV have agreed to include a provision that allows MLB EXTRA INNINGS to be offered to other incumbents - In Demand and DISH Network - at consistent rates and carriage requirements with a deal to be concluded before the baseball season begins. The provision also requires the incumbents to agree to carriage rights to the MLB Channel proportionally equivalent to DIRECTV's commitment. Should the incumbents decide not to match DIRECTV's commitment, the MLB EXTRA INNINGS package will be exclusive to DIRECTV.

Non-DirecTV baseball fans across the country now get to feel what it was like to be a Yankees fan and Cablevision subscriber circa 2002-03. Hopefully, just as it eventually worked out back then, the carriage deal here will be worked out and those non-DirecTV watching Yankees fans will not be shut out (on this deal).

My fingers are crossed for you.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at March 8, 2007 05:19 PM

Comments

I'm moving to Philly soon, so this could affect me if i live in a building that doesn't allow dishes. I'd have to buy the MLB.TV thing. supposedly it can be hooked into a TV somehow, and the quality has improved since last year. but I'd much prefer the real TV deal.

Apparently Comcast has the option to carry EI, but other rumors say that these 'options' are merely for show to deflect heat from MLB.

Posted by: Travis G. [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 9, 2007 01:33 AM

It doesn't affect me, but I think that this deal speaks volumes about MLB management. Very sad. No wonder why Nascar & NFL have become America's favorite past-time... NoMaas.org has an interesting post on this one...

Posted by: Athos333 [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 9, 2007 06:21 AM

This is just Bud's way of saying F.U. to all the baseball fans. Can we get rid of him as commish now. Put Frank Robinson in the job.

Posted by: rbj [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 9, 2007 11:26 AM

http://tinyurl.com/2d8py7

Posted by: Raf [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 10, 2007 10:05 AM