Extra Innings Exclusively on DirecTV

[Frayed Knot]

]This is, quite frankly, crap. It's not duplicitous to raise a relevant point under consideration while not debating an already-answered question.

How is MLB's (potential) contract with an exclusive provider something to be subject to gov't regulations while the NFL's identical arrangement is "an already answered question"?
Simply because the one deal has been ignored up to now hardly means it's been legally sanctioned or that it should continued to be ignored.

[Guest ABG]

Edgy DC wrote: Mmmm.... I don't know. It's not like Vietnam is an active situation.

Neither is the consideration of the NFL's contract with DTV.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The contract is active (and "consideration" can take place at any time). The Vietnam War is not.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

This article in the Los Angeles Times suggests that the deal may be in jeopardy because of the backlash, but I'm skeptical.

] Baseball TV deal contested MLB is trying to move Extra Innings package exclusively to DirecTV, but there's resistance. By Larry Stewart Times Staff Writer February 3, 2007 Red Sox Nation has spoken. A pending deal by Major League Baseball to put its Extra Innings pay package exclusively on DirecTV may have to be put on hold now, buffeted by an uprising involving baseball's most ardent fans, spearheaded by those who live and die with the Boston Red Sox. MLB expected to announce the deal as early as next week, but that was less certain after Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) on Thursday asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the matter. For five seasons, MLB's Extra Innings has offered up to 60 regular-season, out-of-market games a week on cable, through the In Demand service, as well as DirecTV and Dish Network. Under terms of the new deal, DirecTV reportedly would pay $100 million a year over seven years for the rights to the package. In Demand reportedly had offered $70 million a year to retain Extra Innings. The crux of the deal apparently centered on MLB's plans to launch its own channel in 2009, similar to NFL Network and NBA TV. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, MLB unsuccessfully used Extra Innings as a negotiating wedge to get cable to put the new channel on a basic tier rather than a pay tier so it could get the widest exposure possible. Cable companies, including Time Warner in L.A., often seek to place such niche offerings on a pay sports tier so that only the customers who want them have to pay for them. Last year, a similar carriage dispute took NFL Network off Time Warner. Sports television consultant Neal Pilson said Friday it is his understanding that, indeed, the baseball channel "was a component" in the negotiations. But, he added, "Baseball is almost religious in its financial analysis before making any deal and you can be sure there has been a lot of deliberation and a lot of research that has gone into this." That didn't matter to fans, who have been voicing their displeasure since news of the pending deal broke two weeks ago. Michael Abramowicz, 34, of Arlington, Va., is a law professor at George Washington University who gets Extra Innings on cable. He talked about the pending deal in a blog last week. "My reaction to this has been genuine sadness," he wrote. "Watching baseball games is my No. 1 hobby, and my house can't get DirecTV because of nearby trees. It did occur to me that if I chopped down my neighbors' trees, I would probably do a year in jail, which would leave me six years to enjoy the games." Reached by phone Friday, Abramowicz said he would switch to DirecTV to keep Extra Innings if he could. Ryan Hecht, 34, of Queens, a Time Warner Cable subscriber and a die-hard Dodgers fan, is in the same situation as Abramowicz. Reached by phone Friday, he said, "I'd switch to DirecTV if I could, but my landlord will not let me install a satellite dish." The issue gained national attention when Kerry on Wednesday said he would question FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin at a previously scheduled Senate Commerce committee hearing the next day. Kerry left the hearing early, though, and instead faxed a letter to Martin, citing concerns about the deal and contending that Extra Innings has been available to 75 million subscribers but would be available to only 15 million if DirecTV has it alone. Of the 500,000 subscribers to the Extra Innings package last season, 270,000 were with DirecTV, according to sources. Going by those numbers, 230,000 would be left out this season. DirecTV has a disproportionate number of Extra Innings subscribers because it caters to sports fans. NFL Sunday Ticket, by far the most popular pay sports package, has always belonged to DirecTV exclusively, and the rights fee is now a whopping $700 million a year. That package's exclusivity never caused much of an uproar among fans because it was never available on cable. Kerry, in his letter, said, "In the case of my hometown team, Red Sox Nation stretches all across our country from coast to coast. I am concerned that this deal � will separate fans from their favorite teams." Kerry could not be reached by phone Friday, but Vince Morris, a spokesman, said the senator is taking up the fight not only because he is a Red Sox fan but because people had been approaching him, seeking answers. "He wants to find out more facts and find out what the FCC can do," Morris said. An FCC spokesman would not comment on Kerry's letter. The agency has some authority over cable and satellite television but generally stays out of programming issues that don't involve local content. The FCC has allowed NFL Sunday Ticket to be offered exclusively on DirecTV since 1994. However, News Corp. has filed a request for permission from the FCC to transfer its controlling 38.5% stake in DirecTV to Liberty Media Corp in a swap of assets, and any complaints about baseball's Extra Innings deal could come up in that review. Those involved in the deal declined to comment, but baseball executives have privately suggested that fans with cable can subscribe to the broadband package, which cost $79 last season, $100 less than what Extra Innings cost. But Hecht, for one, isn't buying it, saying, "There is no substitute to kicking back on a couch and watching a game on a TV screen."

[Guest Edgy DC]

Be skeptical. But keep lashing back.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

From Baseball Digest Daily. Apparently people who complain to MLB are getting some pretty unsatisfactory responses.

="Craig Brown"] DirecTV and MLB Extra Innings - Part II Contributed by Craig Brown Friday, 09 February 2007 Since my article about the pending marriage between MLB and DirecTV, the responses have been flying into my in box. I�ve literally heard from all sides on this story: Long-time Extra Innings subscribers, DirecTV subscribers and people who have never bought the package. And not a single person thinks this is a good idea. Here�s a sampling. Bryan disagrees with my assessment that Extra Innings was for the �hardcore� baseball fan. But we can agree on one thing� �(W)hat this deal is taking away (is) the ability of the long time fan to watch their hometown team while living in another part of the country. And if this deal goes through I for one will miss it for I am a Dish Network subscriber and they have given me nothing but great service for the 10 years I have had them, so I for one am rewarding them for their service and loyalty to me. Maybe Bud should do the same to the fans.� That paragraph neatly sums up the majority of the emails I�ve received in the last week. First, this deal is going to disenfranchise a ton of fans who live out of their team�s market. And second, there is a loyalty from consumers to their cable or satellite provider. Most of us are actually happy with how we receive our television, and we�re not going to change. Nicole feels our pain. �I am a DirecTV subscriber in my 6th year this month. I have always had the MLB Extra Innings package. As a DirecTV subscriber I feel bad for those who don't have and can't get it. I think it is unfair for MLB to make a deal to shut out their fans.� She also made a point about the lack of choice for the games and it�s a good one. Why can�t viewers choose between the home and the away feed for the games in the Extra Innings package? Myself, I like to listen to the opposition announcers because that tends to give me a better feel for what others around the country think of my team. (I�m a Royals fan, so it�s not that difficult to guess what other people think about my team.) But more than any other sport, baseball unfolds on a daily basis and the team�s announcers provide continuity to the story. If MLB is looking to enhance the package (and find a way to charge a little more money) this could be a way to do it. Jeanette wrote our friend Bud and even got a reply! �I've even written to the Commissioner, and received a hand-signed response back. But I'm not sure he really read my plea, especially since he told me that I could watch Red Sox games in place of my beloved Yankees. This was a little galling given that I had expressed that I was a diehard, out-of-market Yankees fan living in the heart of Red Sox Nation. And then he went on to tell me that DirecTV is available, even after I had written the reasons why it is not an option for me. Oh well, what did I expect, really?� No wonder Bud has gone on the record and said he hasn�t heard much in the way of negative responses from the fans. Everything in his world is backward. Yankee fans want to watch Red Sox games, people that can�t receive DirecTV should buy it and negative comments are actually in support of his plan. I said in my previous column (and still believe) that Bud isn�t the main culprit in all of this. But he doesn�t make it easy, does he? And this is the man in charge of our game. Actually, the way MLB has handled this whole issue reeks of fiasco. Early on, people who wrote in protest were issued a form email that included phone numbers to call to order DirecTV. Unreal. It never ceases to amaze me when a major corporation (and that�s what MLB is) fumbles PR 101. How difficult would it be to send a form response stating they understand our concerns and then lay out a couple of reasons of why this could be good for baseball? We wouldn�t have to agree, but don�t send us canned responses that will only increase our frustration. Taking the time to send a note to MLB explaining that this is a bad deal because you can�t get DirecTV, and then getting this response? From: MLBAMCS - Customer Service Date: Feb 1, 2007 8:57 AM Subject: RE: no on direct TV To: (removed for privacy) Call For existing DIRECTV® service Home service: 1-800-494-4388 Hearing impaired customers (TTY): 1-800-779-4388 Business service: 1-888-200-4388 Hotel/dorm/hospital service: 1-800-388-2505 For new DIRECTV service Home service: 1-888-777-2454 At your business: 1-888-388-4249 DIRECTV dealers 1-800-323-1994 Supposedly, this has been fixed. If you�re looking for somewhere to fire off an email, try feedback@mlb.com . I don�t know if it will accomplish anything, but there is an online petition against the proposed deal. As of Wednesday morning there were 810 signatures. Hurry over and get your name on there. Maury Brown at the Biz of Baseball points out we probably won�t hear anything from MLB on the deal this week because several of the key players are out of town. Is there any possibility we can buy them one-way tickets for next week? A resolution has to come in the next week or two. It�s a longshot, but it doesn�t hurt to keep fighting until the bitter end. Keep the faith.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

] FCC investigating reported "Extra Innings" deal between DirecTV, MLB Washington, DC (AP) - The government is investigating a proposed deal between Major League Baseball and DirecTV Inc. that has had fans in a tizzy. MLB reportedly seeks to strike an exclusive deal with the satellite television provider to offer its "Extra Innings" baseball package. Disclosure of the Federal Communications Commission's investigation of any such deal came in a letter from FCC chairman Kevin Martin that Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., released Thursday. The programming option allows baseball fans who live outside the markets of their favorite teams to watch them play for an extra fee. It is currently available to a number of cable and satellite television providers. Kerry had asked Martin to investigate the "proposed $700 million television deal that could deny many consumers the ability to watch their favorite teams." Martin, in reply, wrote Kerry: "I share your concerns regarding this proposed deal." The chairman added that he understood the package had been available to 75 million cable and satellite viewers for the past several years, and would only be viewable by DirecTV customers if a deal were signed. "I am concerned whenever consumers cannot purchase the programming they want or are forced to purchase programming they don't want," Martin wrote. DirecTV has never confirmed that the widely reported deal even exists. Robert Mercer, director of public relations for DirecTV, declined to comment late Thursday. Martin wrote that the agency has "contacted the parties and requested additional information about their proposed arrangement. Once we have this information, we will report to you on the deal's implications for consumers and any recommended changes to the law to ameliorate any harms to consumers."

[Guest ABG]

Anything to slow it down...

[Guest KC]

Don't want to slow it down too much. If they block it, then a deal has to be
negotiated with the other service providers. I'm not optimistic that we will be
able to get the package this year ... but I'm holding out hope.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

From TVPredictions.com:

] Bud Selig Boosts DIRECTV MLB Deal Baseball's commissioner says criticism of the proposed agreement is "ridiculous." By Phillip Swann Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2007) -- Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig yesterday appeared to give his okay to an exclusive deal with DIRECTV to broadcast out of market games. DIRECTV is close to landing the exclusive rights to air MLB's 'Extra Innings' package, which includes up to 60 games each week. The satcaster is likely to broadcast many of the games in High-Definition TV as part of its plan to expand high-def coverage. However, the proposed deal has sparked protests from lawmakers and media critics who say it would deny cable viewers an opportunity to see the games. Selig yesterday called that criticism "ridiculous" and characterized the controversy as "slight." Speaking to reporters before a spring training game in Arizona, the commissioner said cable viewers would still be able to see hundreds of games on networks such as ESPN, TBS, WGN and local channels. "I've heard for years we have too much product out there," Selig said. "Everywhere I've gone...there's no market that has less than 350 to 400 (games on TV) and some have quite a bit more than that. We have an enormous amount of product out there." Selig also echoed an argument made by DIRECTV CEO Chase Carey in a recent letter to the Federal Communications Commission. Carey told the FCC that that only 5,000 current (cable and EchoStar) subscribers to the Extra Innings package would not be able to subscribe to DIRECTV. "As for this deal, what fascinates me is I have spent a lot of time going over it and trying to find out who can't get (DIRECTV)," Selig said. The commissioner said the DIRECTV deal is "close" to being completed.

Looks like Comcast will lose my business to DirecTV in the next few weeks.

The only thing that really sucks about this for me is that I can't get most of the Phillies games on DirecTV. (I'll get the over-the-air games, but not the ones on cable.) So I'll see very few of the 19 Mets-Phillies games, and some of the ones in September might be very important.

I don't care about any of the other Phillies games, though. Just the 19 against the Mets.

[Guest cooby]

"As for this deal, what fascinates me is I have spent a lot of time going over it and trying to find out who can't get (DIRECTV)," Selig said


Dear Mr. Selig:

That is not the friggin point.

Love,
cooby
A former baseball game watcher who refuses to keep paying more and more money to watch games.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Rumor has it the deal will be officially announced this afternoon.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Major League Baseball, DIRECTV to Host 4:15 P.M. (EST) Conference Call Today

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Major League Baseball and DIRECTV will make a major joint announcement on a 4:15 P.M. (EST) conference call this afternoon. Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Major League Baseball President & Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy, MLB Executive Vice President for Business Tim Brosnan and DIRECTV President & Chief Executive Officer Chase Carey will be among the representatives who will be available on the call.

Members of the media may join the call by dialing (877) 560-2269 and stating their affiliation. Callers outside North America may dial (706) 643-0091. Participants will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

[soupcan]

"Hi, um this is Soup Cann, representing the Crane Pool Picayune Times."

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sue Pecan.

[soupcan]

Couldn't pull it off - I'm a baritone.

[Guest KC]

Pox on them and their ancestors. I hope they all get big
warts on their johnsons.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I don't blame DirecTV in this at all. They're not doing anything that will adversely affect their clients. It's MLB who are the bad guys here, showing disregard for their clients (that is, fans.)

I've never liked Bud Selig, but now my regard for him has sunk to unprecedented depths.

If only George W. Bush had become Commissioner of Baseball instead of President.

[metirish]

Of course Selig has the owners to think about....fuck us fans.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I read that the San Diego owner wasn't happy about this. Padres games aren't available on satellite in San Diego. That means that anyone who lives in that market and gets DirecTV won't be able to watch Padre telecasts.

Same is true in Philadelphia, but I haven't read any comments on this deal from the Phillies owners. I live in the Phillies market, so once I get DirecTV, I'll only be able to see a limited number of Phillies games. (They play a small fraction of their games on broadcast television. Most of the games are on Comcast SportsNet.)

[Guest KC]

How much was MLB.TV last year? This year it's $90, which seems a little
steep for a four inch picture (or can you make it bigger somehow?). The one
that lets you watch 6 games at once would make me dizzy and the screens
are less than an inch (or can you click on one to make it full screen if some-
thing is happening?).

I know nothing about the PC version offered by mlb.com. I know a few of
you use it ... enlighten me, por favor.

[metirish]

So what was the announcement ?

[Guest KC]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2792214

Sounds like the speculation was wrong.

[Guest KC]

Well, no one says that InDemand or whoever is gonna come through, but
at least they are given the opp ...

Baseball Signs Deal With DirecTV, Lets Cable Match (Update2)

By Danielle Sessa

March 8 (Bloomberg) -- DirecTV Group Inc. and Major League Baseball relented to political pressure and signed a seven-year deal that lets rival pay TV services continue to broadcast out- of-market games.

DirecTV, the largest U.S. satellite television service, also agreed to invest in and carry MLB's Baseball Channel on its basic tier starting in 2009, MLB President Bob DuPuy said today on a conference call. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Lawmakers including U.S. Senator John Kerry had criticized the anticipated $700 million agreement based on reports it would cut off out-of-market games to millions of subscribers to cable TV and the Dish satellite network. Under today's pact, companies including Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp. and Dish owner EchoStar Communications Corp. have until the end of the month to match the deal.

``Baseball occupies a somewhat different status with the American public than does any other sport,'' said Neal Pilson, a former president of CBS Sports who runs Pilson Communications. ``The political scene is frankly different for baseball.''

DirecTV, based in El Segundo, California, had defended its plan to sign an exclusive agreement with Major League Baseball, saying in a letter to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that consumers wouldn't be harmed by such an arrangement.

Today the company signaled it would be paying less for those games if they're also available to competitors.

Non-Exclusive

``Whatever we are paying for these rights, it is a significantly different number in a non-exclusive arrangement than it is in an exclusive arrangement,'' Chase Carey, chief executive officer of El Segundo, California-based DirecTV, said today on a conference call.

To continue offering baseball's ``Extra Innings'' package, which features 60 games a week, cable companies must agree to carry the baseball channel on their basic tier when it starts up in two years.

Extra Innings was available to 75 million cable and satellite customers last year. If the rival services are unable to reach a deal with baseball, fans would have to subscribe to DirecTV to continue receiving the games. The company has almost 16 million subscribers.

`Broader Access'

``I'm encouraged that Major League Baseball may be willing to provide broader access to their games than what was initially proposed,'' Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, said today in a statement. ``I will be watching closely to ensure the league works in good faith so that America's pastime is available to all fans.''

Shares of DirecTV fell 1 cent to $22.70 at 4:19 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have declined 9 percent this year. Englewood, Colorado-based EchoStar, second to DirecTV with 13.1 million customers, gained 49 cents to $44.43.

Kathie Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for EchoStar, didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Cable providers criticized the agreement, saying DirecTV and baseball included conditions they can't meet.

``Major League Baseball has chosen to cut a de facto exclusive deal -- including conditions for carriage that MLB and DirecTV designed to be impossible for cable and DISH to meet,'' Robert D. Jacobson, chief executive officer of the cable industry's In Demand network, said in a statement.

In Demand, owned by Comcast, Time Warner and Cox Communications Inc., the largest cable companies, is the biggest supplier of pay-per-view programming and distributes the Extra Innings package.

``This decision represents the height of disrespect and disregard for their loyal baseball fans,'' Jacobson said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Danielle Sessa in New York at dsessa@bloomberg.net

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

KC wrote: ...are less than an inch (or can you click on one to make it full screen if some- thing is happening?). I know nothing about the PC version offered by mlb.com. I know a few of you use it ... enlighten me, por favor.

I haven't used it since 2005, but you were able to make it full screen, but the picture wasn't too clear. I had to push my chair back from the PC so I wouldn't notice the pixels so much.

[Guest cooby]

Unbelievable.

If I were DirectTV, I'd be pissed.

If I were cable TV or DishNetwork, I'd also be pissed.

I am cooby, and I already was pissed.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

That sop to cable is just to get Congress off their backs.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: ="KC"]...are less than an inch (or can you click on one to make it full screen if some- thing is happening?). I know nothing about the PC version offered by mlb.com. I know a few of you use it ... enlighten me, por favor. I haven't used it since 2005, but you were able to make it full screen, but the picture wasn't too clear. I had to push my chair back from the PC so I wouldn't notice the pixels so much.

It's improved, in picture quality and in delivery.

Not perfect.

[Frayed Knot]

]DirecTV Group Inc. and Major League Baseball relented to political pressure and signed a seven-year deal that lets rival pay TV services continue to broadcast out- of-market games.

Well, sort of.

What they're doing is offering the Cable systems an opportunity to match the deal DirecTV signed ... but the kicker is that they'll need to agree to place the yet-to-be launched MLB channel on a basic tier.
That - to most if not all of the cable systems - is akin to a poison pill. They don't want program suppliers dictating to them where and how to market their packages and I can't see there being that big a demand for the channel (not available until 2009) for them to swallow this. On a grand scale there simply weren't that many subscribers to the 'Extra Innings' package to make that worth that bargain.

]If I were DirectTV, I'd be pissed

Why? For DirecTV and their viewers nothing has changed.

[Guest cooby]

I just mean that what was supposed to be an exclusive deal for DirectTV has suddenly been possibly compromised