GatewayRedbirds.com

jim wrote:fan - you have some cheapskates for cable providers. Comcast is giving $50.

$15.00 per month- April, May, June, July, August and Sept- 6 months=$90.00

jim wrote:

PHILLYCARD wrote:Anything new this morning from Biz of baseball? Updates much appreaciated...

Very much appreciated!

The good news is the Cards are on TV tonight(ESPN2), and off tomorrow. I would like to see some other games, but I'm holding off until Friday. Kind of stunk keeping tabs on the game last night with gameday, that thing is a joke.

I had to listen to the game lastnight on XM, which is ok,but I can't get the XM satellite feed in my basement. That sucks because that's where I watch/listen a majority of my sports. I'm holding out hope that I can get the EI in time for Friday's game.

fanforever wrote:

jim wrote:fan - you have some cheapskates for cable providers. Comcast is giving $50.

$15.00 per month- April, May, June, July, August and Sept- 6 months=$90.00

So you get it for free basically. Looks like Comcast are the cheapskates.

jim wrote:

fanforever wrote:

jim wrote:fan - you have some cheapskates for cable providers. Comcast is giving $50.

$15.00 per month- April, May, June, July, August and Sept- 6 months=$90.00

So you get it for free basically. Looks like Comcast are the cheapskates.

I've seen Comcast giving $89. I think the $50 was preliminary.

http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=52

Extra Innings: Are You One of the "5000"?

Written by Maury Brown
Wednesday, 04 April 2007

During last week's hearing entitled Exclusive Sports Programming: Examining Competition and Consumer Choice. Chase Carey Chief Executive Officer for DIRECTV Group, Inc., said in his opening statement, “DIRECTV estimates that there are relatively few viewers – no more than three percent of the cable segment (approximately 180,000 Extra Innings subscribers) – who cannot receive DIRECTV service,” Carey said. “This translates to roughly 5,000 subscribers – each of whom can access the games over the Internet.”

"5000"...

We thought it would be interesting to conduct an unscientific study to see whether there really is, what is now being called, "Selig's 5000".

The Biz of Baseball wants to hear your story.

Tells us if you can't get DirecTV, be it through the inability of line-of-sight to the southern sky, or some other reason.

Lastly (and this is outside Carey's statement, but we feel relevant) tell us any other story that makes switching more than difficult. Tied into a long-term contract with your provider? Tell us. Live in Philadelphia and can't pay to get both cable and DirecTV so you can continue to watch the Phillies? Ditto.

The concept? Give you visibility to the media, MLB, DirecTV, DISH and iN Demand.

I'm one of the 5000! These SOB's better think of me as a huge supporter of the MLB. I give them thousands of dollars a year or something like that. I don't want to be blown off as one of the 5000. I can't get DirecTV because there are hundreds of tall trees directly south of my house and I CAN'T get DirecTV. Now I'm pissed! :axe: [-X :thumbdown: :thumbdown: [-( :jawdrop: :blowup: :blowup: :blowup:

I read on the Press Box that someone spoke to a In Demand agent and they said they look for things to go "very favorable" by the end of this week. This isnt the greatest source on the matter but it still gives me hope. I mean, you would think the longer this thing goes the better chance we have of watching games on cable. Its gotten to the point now where they have to come up with a deal dont they? Am I right??? Somebody tell me I'm right???

They have to be close to something. But my question is why would InDemand even want it now? How many potential subscribers have already invested in other things? You call Comcast, and they say they absolutely are not carrying it this year (as recently as Tuesday), and you get a letter from Comcast telling you they can't carry it this year but they give you money to go to another route. How many customers have they lost? Why would they even want it this year at this point?

jim wrote:They have to be close to something. But my question is why would InDemand even want it now? How many potential subscribers have already invested in other things? You call Comcast, and they say they absolutely are not carrying it this year (as recently as Tuesday), and you get a letter from Comcast telling you they can't carry it this year but they give you money to go to another route. How many customers have they lost? Why would they even want it this year at this point?

My guess is there is to much money to be made in the next 7 years of this deal. Then if they get the MLB channel theres more revenue. It isnt just about this year its all about the life of the contract... at least thats what I keep telling myself.

I get the feeling a deal will be struck.
Why would MLB lift the deadline? I think that the congressional hearings ended with a stern (albeit not public) warning to MLB that they better give the cable companies a "fair" shake.

There has been what, 2 occasions in the past months where indemand hasn't "met" MLBs requirements yet they're still negotiating after the start of the season? Sounds rather compulsary to me

If MLB and cable do negotiate a compromise --- i.e., something short of cable "matching" DirecTV's terms --- that would mean that MLB will be violating the deal it already struck with DirecTV. The problem is that MLB has completely painted itself into a corner and is looking for a way out so thye will not lose their antitrust exemption IMO.