Poll: Extra Innings Consumers

[haltz]

Update from Biz o' Baseball today (like he says, more of a recap actually):

Welcome to Opening Day 2007!

As you sit down and get ready for the season, many a fan that has moved away from their beloved team is looking for any way they can to catch them on television. If you're on The Biz of Baseball, it's most likely because you have done so watching Extra Innings, MLB's package that allows you to watch out-of-market games.

As we reported yesterday, MLB extended the deadline with iN Demand and EchoStar to try and see if they can work a deal to keep Extra Innings on cable and DISH Networks. If they do not work out a deal, Extra Innings will be exclusively available on DirecTV as part of a 7-year, $700 million deal.

Biz of Baseball has been tracking the negotiations extensively, so much so that we have a dedicated section of the site, just for it. Selecting the link to this article, and looking at the navigation tier to the left will show DirecTV/Extra Innings as a sub-section under Media News.

If you don't want comb through the archive, here's a recap of where we stand:

* One of the key sticking points prior was matching the same number of households that DirecTV has signed on to do. iN Demand has said it will meet that provision via 80% of their digital households.

The sticking point now is the ownership equity component of The Baseball Channel. Recall that MLB has offered DirecTV a 20% ownership stake, but that is based on exclusivity. If iN Demand becomes a player, DirecTV's equity in ownership would need to be diluted.

* EchoStar, who runs DISH Networks, appears to be in the same position, and last week it was reported by the Sports Business Daily, "EchoStar's Dish Network appears much closer than cable's InDemand to striking a deal with MLB to carry Extra Innings and the planned MLB Channel, marking a potentially significant breakthrough in the distribution logjam that has lasted for months."

Like iN Demand, they too will not work a deal without ownership equity.

* MLB will continue to keep the 80% ownership in The Baseball Channel, thus negotiations are now around splitting up the 20% stake between 3 parties (DirecTV, EchoStar, and iN Demand).

Stay tuned.

[Bo Hart]

DuPuy on Extra Innings Talks: "It won't go on indefinitely"

New, via the AP:

Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, had set a March 31 deadline but said Sunday that the parties were still negotiating.

"It won't go on indefinitely," he said of the talks.

The Hollywood Reporter adds:

"Talks are still ongoing," a MLB spokeswoman said mid-afternoon Sunday. She declined to detail the talks further.

Another source said the parties hoped to wrap up a deal by Monday but that there were "no assurances."

[jim]

Found this on the Comcast site:
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Due to a decision by Major League Baseball, Comcast, as well as many other cable operators will not be able to distribute the 2007 MLB Extra Innings out-of-market package.

If you are a current Comcast customer and subscribed to Comcast 2006 MLB Extra Innings, you should receive correspondence from Comcast no later than April 11, 2007 with an offer to help make up for the loss of MLB Extra Innings, with an opportunity to subscribe to MLB.TV. With MLB.TV you can use your computer to view all the same games you would see on TV with MLB Extra Innings.

If you do not receive notification by April 11, 2007, please call: 1-800-631-0258, and have your Comcast account number available for 2006 MLB Extra Innings subscription verification.

If you are a current Comcast customer and have subscribed to the 2007 MLB Extra Innings package, we will refund your payment in the form of a credit to your monthly bill.

In 2007, Comcast will be providing a great selection of up to 400 national, regional and local live televised baseball games, many in high-definition. We hope the combination of the MLB.TV offer and the large live televised schedule make up for the loss of MLB Extra Innings.

Again, should you need any assistance in signing up for MLB.TV after receiving your special offer in the mail, please contact: 1-800-631-0258.
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Has this been out there a while? Any news?

[ghostrunner]

Found this on the Comcast site:
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customer and subscribed to Comcast 2006 MLB Extra Innings, you should receive correspondence from Comcast no later than April 11, 2007 with an offer to help make up for the loss of MLB Extra Innings, with an opportunity to subscribe to MLB.TV. With MLB.TV you can use your computer to view all the same games you would see on TV with MLB Extra Innings.

I posted about this a couple of pages back - they sent me an offer to reimburse me $50 if I buy MLB.tv.

This was a few days before the most recent round of talks. We'll see what happens.

[haltz]

Didn't want to start a new thread, just thought I would let DirecTV subscribers know that Extra Innings is free from today until April 8th.

[jim]

Any new news?

[stlmark]

Ok, I just got home from St.Louis and I was hoping to hear some news one way or another. I want to watch the game tomorrow. What's up?

[jim]

Good question. The Cards are on ESPN2 Wed. night, and I have something tomorrow, so I basically have until Thurs.

[stlmark]

Good question. The Cards are on ESPN2 Wed. night, and I have something tomorrow, so I basically have until Thurs.

At least I get to watch them on Wednesday night. Thanks for the info jim.

[jim]

I called Comcast, they said they aren't carrying it. I just got my $50 rebate thing in the mail for mlb.tv. If they are still negotiating, they haven't told the people that work there.

Well, if nothing else I get mlb.tv for $70. That's less than 1/2 of the cost of EI, and I get archived games.

There I go trying to talk myself into liking it again.