MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

[bravosfan]

Major League Baseball announced today that iN DEMAND has entered into a seven-year agreement in principle to carry the MLB EXTRA INNINGS subscription package of out-of-market games and will distribute the MLB Channel, which is scheduled to launch in January 2009.

The MLB EXTRA INNINGS subscription package of out-of-market games is currently available to DIRECTV subscribers. iN DEMAND owners Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable have agreed to carry the package, effective immediately. iN DEMAND also will offer to make the MLB Extra Innings subscription package available to other cable companies across the U.S. Like all distributors of MLB Extra Innings, these cable operators would also be required to carry the MLB Channel once it is launched.

The MLB Channel will be the first and only network dedicated to providing baseball programming to MLB fans 24 hours a day, seven days a week on a year-round basis. Major League Baseball's partnerships with DIRECTV and iN DEMAND mean the MLB Channel is expected to launch in 40 million homes.

"Our chief goal throughout the process was to ensure that fans would have access to as many baseball games and as much baseball coverage as possible," said MLB President and Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy. "With this agreement, the MLB Channel will launch with an unprecedented platform. We are pleased with the launch of the MLB Channel to so many homes coupled with our agreement to extend the distribution of MLB Extra Innings with iN DEMAND."

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070404&content_id=1879904&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[rdeyes]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

there is a god! i hope it comes soon

[bryan_05]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

I'm glad it took an act of Congress to finally get this done. Stupid MLB owners.

Oh well, better than exclusivity

[dunnie]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

What about dishnetwork.

[Jimplication]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

Is this effective immediately?

e.g. Can I call Comcast tomorrow and order it?

I'm not sure I'm going to, as I may subscribe to the MLS package instead, but it's great news that the package will not be exclusive!

[JStro]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

I am so happy to hear this. I can now get this package for the 4th year in a row. I was very, very close to purchasing the MLB.TV package online. I am happy that I waited.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

YES!!!!!

[wxkid23]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

great!! Im going to keep my computer hooked up and subscribe game-by-game to MLB.TV when a game isn't covered by EI (a few) but by far and away watching digital cable blows away the MLB.TV stuff.

[aukevin]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

I wonder how many out of market fans ditched cable and got a dish because of almost losing their Extra Innings package?

[racerx]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

I actually work for Comcast so I am really psyched to see my Cards here in CT. I think we should have all the codes in the system tomorrow(Friday) so it should start being available then!!!

[Pierzynski 12]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

I have WOW digital cable and they said i won't have it, until next year.

[Jackdog]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

Charter says they are still working on a deal. I smell no EI for Charter customers.

[UMass03]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

Here is what DISH is now saying in regards to Extra Innings:

DISH Network customers have been able to enjoy out of market baseball with the Extra Innings package for several years. Major League Baseball has decided to strike a deal that prevents America’s pastime from being available on your TV service provider of choice --- disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of baseball fans nationwide.

• Over the past several weeks, DISH Network diligently tried to reach a fair agreement with Major League Baseball to keep the Extra Innings package on DISH Network without having to pass on huge cost increases to customers.
• DISH Network made many concessions and offered numerous solutions, including extending a current agreement until a resolution could be reached. Major League Baseball refused.
• The US Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing and invited DISH Network, Major League Baseball and other industry representatives to testify. The president of DISH Network testified on your behalf and said we needed a fair deal that kept your Extra Innings on DISH. At that hearing, Democratic and Republican leaders urged Major League Baseball to come to an agreement with us so that customers would not lose their Extra Innings games.
• Major League Baseball’s demands are blatantly anti-consumer – and they refuse to budge.

DISH Network remains interested in the Extra Innings package but we are not optimistic that Major League Baseball will propose a fair deal for our customers.

[BigRed]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

Is there anyone who signed up for mlb.tv because of the exclusive rights thing and now have tried to cancel and had any luck?

Was wondering if it's even worth the phone call since I signed up for mlb.tv for the sole reason I couldn't get it through Comcast.

[Qrusher14242]

Re: MLB reaches agreement with iN DEMAND, Extra Innings back on cable

i just cancelled it. I emailed them and then called them up and left a message with my info. I dunno which one did it, but i was cancelled the next day.