Posted on ESPN. com earlier today:
MLB to look into iN Demand's 'Extra Innings' offerAssociated Press
NEW YORK -- Baseball's "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games might wind up staying on cable television.
IN Demand said Wednesday it will offer to match the terms of DirecTV's $700 million, seven-year deal with Major League Baseball on behalf of its owners, who are affiliates of the companies that own Time Warner, Comcast and Cox cable systems.
As part of the offer, iN Demand also said it would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV.
"As the current home for 'Extra Innings' for more than 200,000 cable subscribers, we have extended ourselves to do our best to be able to continue to provide this package to baseball fans and our customers," iN Demand president Robert Jacobson said. "This offer meets all the conditions set forth by MLB last week.
Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said he would have to find out details of iN Demand's offer before commenting.
"Extra Innings" had more than 500,000 television subscribers last year plus about 60 percent more on MLB.com, the sport's Web site.
EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network also has carried the "Extra Innings" package. There was no immediate word whether Dish also would match the offer.
IN Demand is owned by Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Comcast iN Demand Holdings Corp and Cox Communications Holdings Inc.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Pres
MLB Extra Innings To Stay On Cable?
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King of Queens
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MLB Extra Innings To Stay On Cable?
Originally posted by SES:
As part of the offer, iN Demand also said it would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV.My guess is that if there is any hold-up, it will be due to this. MLB wants their channel on basic service, which has untold millions more subscribers than DirecTV. It doesn't look like cable is prepared to do that, and really, why should they?
As part of the offer, iN Demand also said it would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV.My guess is that if there is any hold-up, it will be due to this. MLB wants their channel on basic service, which has untold millions more subscribers than DirecTV. It doesn't look like cable is prepared to do that, and really, why should they?
MLB Extra Innings To Stay On Cable?
Originally posted by King of Queens:
quote:Originally posted by SES:
As part of the offer, iN Demand also said it would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV.My guess is that if there is any hold-up, it will be due to this. MLB wants their channel on basic service, which has untold millions more subscribers than DirecTV. It doesn't look like cable is prepared to do that, and really, why should they? [/QUOTE]Even if MLB tries to turn the offer down, this is a great move by InDemand because it shifts the political pressure back on MLB, which is likely the only reason that clause ended up in the agreement in the first place. I like it. DirecTV management might be blowing a gasket right about now, too.
quote:Originally posted by SES:
As part of the offer, iN Demand also said it would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV.My guess is that if there is any hold-up, it will be due to this. MLB wants their channel on basic service, which has untold millions more subscribers than DirecTV. It doesn't look like cable is prepared to do that, and really, why should they? [/QUOTE]Even if MLB tries to turn the offer down, this is a great move by InDemand because it shifts the political pressure back on MLB, which is likely the only reason that clause ended up in the agreement in the first place. I like it. DirecTV management might be blowing a gasket right about now, too.
MLB Extra Innings To Stay On Cable?
Yeah, I was really psyched to see this, I truly hope it goes through. Not so easy to get DirecTV living in a Co-op in Manhattan.
MLB Extra Innings To Stay On Cable?
Too early to celebrate, Dupuy said InDemand's offer wasn't good enough.
...
MLB Extra Innings To Stay On Cable?
Here is MLB's response:
NEW YORK -- Cable television said it offered to match DirecTV's deal for the "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games, but Major League Baseball said the proposal fell short.
When baseball announced its $700 million, seven-year deal with DirecTV on March 8, it gave the other incumbent carriers until the end of the month to match the deal.
IN Demand, owned by affiliates of the companies that own the Time Warner, Comcast and Cox cable systems, said Wednesday it was agreeing to the terms and that its partners would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV.
"As the current home for 'Extra Innings' for more than 200,000 cable subscribers, we have extended ourselves to do our best to be able to continue to provide this package to baseball fans and our customers," iN Demand president Robert Jacobson said. "This offer meets all the conditions set forth by MLB last week."
Not so fast, said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer.
"The communication sent to our office today by iN Demand is not responsive to that offer," he said. "In spite of their public comments, the response falls short of nearly all of the material conditions (among them requirements for carriage of The Baseball Channel and their share of the rights fees for Extra Innings) set forth in the Major League Baseball offer made to them on March 9."
DuPuy said the March 31 deadline to match remains.
"Extra Innings" had more than 500,000 television subscribers last year plus about 60 percent more on MLB.com, the sport's Web site.
EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network has also carried the "Extra Innings" package. Dish spokeswoman Kathie Gonzalez did not return a call seeking comment.
IN Demand is owned by Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Comcast iN Demand Holdings Corp and Cox Communications Holdings Inc.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Cable television said it offered to match DirecTV's deal for the "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games, but Major League Baseball said the proposal fell short.
When baseball announced its $700 million, seven-year deal with DirecTV on March 8, it gave the other incumbent carriers until the end of the month to match the deal.
IN Demand, owned by affiliates of the companies that own the Time Warner, Comcast and Cox cable systems, said Wednesday it was agreeing to the terms and that its partners would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV.
"As the current home for 'Extra Innings' for more than 200,000 cable subscribers, we have extended ourselves to do our best to be able to continue to provide this package to baseball fans and our customers," iN Demand president Robert Jacobson said. "This offer meets all the conditions set forth by MLB last week."
Not so fast, said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer.
"The communication sent to our office today by iN Demand is not responsive to that offer," he said. "In spite of their public comments, the response falls short of nearly all of the material conditions (among them requirements for carriage of The Baseball Channel and their share of the rights fees for Extra Innings) set forth in the Major League Baseball offer made to them on March 9."
DuPuy said the March 31 deadline to match remains.
"Extra Innings" had more than 500,000 television subscribers last year plus about 60 percent more on MLB.com, the sport's Web site.
EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network has also carried the "Extra Innings" package. Dish spokeswoman Kathie Gonzalez did not return a call seeking comment.
IN Demand is owned by Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Comcast iN Demand Holdings Corp and Cox Communications Holdings Inc.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press