So as of right now, Extra Innings will be on Comcast correct? This is the time of year I usually make the call Comcast to order Extra Innings

So as of right now, Extra Innings will be on Comcast correct? This is the time of year I usually make the call Comcast to order Extra Innings

 

The season is only a month away. Maybe the 2007 season will remain on cable then switch over to Directv (if it does) in 2008?

Can't lose anything by calling them and seeing what the deal is.

 

If you pay the full season price and they don't provide a full season of service, they owe you money.

Can't lose anything by calling them and seeing what the deal is.

 

If you pay the full season price and they don't provide a full season of service, they owe you money.

Odds of me getting someone who doesn't know what they're talking about? 1:1

 

 

 

Agreed. Customer service @ Comcast is amongst the worst I have ever experienced. One experience I had with them is my all time worst ever customer service experiences.

 

 

And when I called to order Extra Innings last year they had to put me on hold to go get a manager because they didnt know what I was talking about.

well is anyone going to try and call comcast or their local cable provider?

well is anyone going to try and call comcast or their local cable provider?

I might break down tomorrow and do it if I remember.

 

I checked on cox (my provider) website and it said stay tuned for more info. There is less than a month to go.

I just called Comcast and they said "they are still working on that contract" and might have it available in April!!! At least there is hope.... :confused

I just called Comcast and they said "they are still working on that contract" and might have it available in April!!! At least there is hope.... :confused

 

Whats probably going to happen is that cable companies will carry it but no one will sign up because they assume that directv has it.

I just called Comcast and they said "they are still working on that contract" and might have it available in April!!! At least there is hope.... :confused

 

Whats probably going to happen is that cable companies will carry it but no one will sign up because they assume that directv has it.

 

To be honest, I don't think your average consumer is aware one way or another.

MLB, DIRECTV expand multi-year agreement Major League Baseball and DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite provider, today announced a seven-year agreement that continues carriage rights to the MLB EXTRA INNINGS subscription package of out-of-market games and includes the launch of the MLB Channel as part of DIRECTV's basic package. Included within the agreement, DIRECTV will be a minority partner in the MLB Channel, and will work with MLB to develop the network, which will launch in 2009.

 

Additionally, in keeping with MLB's desire to provide as much MLB programming to as many baseball fans as possible, MLB and DIRECTV have agreed to include a provision that allows MLB EXTRA INNINGS to be offered to other incumbents - In Demand and DISH Network - at consistent rates and carriage requirements with a deal to be concluded before the baseball season begins. The provision also requires the incumbents to agree to carriage rights to the MLB Channel proportionally equivalent to DIRECTV's commitment. Should the incumbents decide not to match DIRECTV's commitment, the MLB EXTRA INNINGS package will be exclusive to DIRECTV. All out of market games continue to be available on MLB.com.

 

"With the advent of The MLB Channel, our new agreement with DIRECTV will result in more MLB programming being available to more fans than ever before," said Major League Baseball President Bob DuPuy. "The deal complements our deals with FOX, Turner and ESPN for network game coverage and furthers MLB's initiative to continue to enhance fans' viewing experience and reinvigorate our telecasts with unique and innovative features."

 

"Just as we did with NFL SUNDAY TICKET and NASCAR HOTPASS, DIRECTV will invest millions of dollars to deliver a spectacular fan experience," said Chase Carey, President and CEO of DIRECTV. "DIRECTV will offer more games in HD and apply its award-winning technology to MLB EXTRA INNINGS broadcasts on an unprecedented scale, taking fans deeper inside the game than ever before."

 

DIRECTV, continuing its 10-year relationship with MLB and its fans by providing MLB EXTRA INNINGS, will bring new innovations that will enhance the fan experience. 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.

 

DIRECTV will expand the MLB EXTRA INNINGS options to include a game mosaic channel, a Strike Zone Channel that takes viewers to live cut-ins of MLB games in progress at key points; detailed player and team stats, real-time scores and live updates from other games; and other innovations that complement the sport of baseball, entertain viewers and provide fans with a great entertainment value. Beginning in 2008, DIRECTV will provide most, if not all, of the package in High Definition.

 

Major League Baseball will continue to make available more games by far than any other sport on national and local over-the-air broadcast, basic cable, and satellite. On average, approximately 400 game telecasts are available in each market every season. Fans will continue to be able to watch their home club's games in their home markets. This agreement will not affect MLB's national agreements with FOX, TBS, and ESPN, nor local game telecasts.

 

The MLB Channel will launch in 2009 on DIRECTV, ensuring that the Channel is immediately available as part of DIRECTV's basic service. DIRECTV's commitment to carry the Channel as a basic service to more than 15 million homes was a major factor in the long-term agreement between the provider and MLB.

 

"We are quite pleased with the commitment DIRECTV has made to MLB and our fans, and in the coming weeks will continue our efforts to secure corresponding commitments from our incumbent distributors," said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President/Business, Major League Baseball.

 

Last year, more than half of the subscribers of MLB EXTRA INNINGS were DIRECTV customers. MLB.TV, MLB's broadband package, will continue to be available to all consumers through the Major League Baseball website, www.mlb.com, offering upgraded picture quality this season. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/press_...sp&c_id=mlb

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Atji...o&type=lgns

 

Extra Extra Innings

By Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports

March 8, 2007

 

Major League Baseball will allow the In Demand cable provider and the Dish Network satellite service a chance to match an agreed-upon deal with DirecTV to sell MLB's Extra Innings package, temporarily quelling fears that thousands of fans would barred from receiving out-of-market games.

 

MLB Executive Vice President Tim Brosnan said In Demand and Dish have until March 31 to accept a deal that allows them Extra Innings so long as they place the MLB Channel, which expects a 2009 launch, on the same basic subscription tier as DirecTV agreed to in its contract.

 

"The incentive to them is so they can participate and so their fans can obtain the product," Brosnan said. "There certainly was an incentive for DirecTV, and we can assume the incentive is the same for the cable company."

 

While Brosnan would not detail other specifics of the deal, the placement of sports-only channels on basic tiers has been a sticking point in past sports negotiations. When placed on basic tiers, channels can charge far higher rates for advertisements because the number of subscribers is significantly greater.

 

"Should MLB and Dish Network or In Demand ? which would distribute Extra Innings to Time Warner, Cox and Comcast cable operators ? not reach a deal, there is a seven-year contract in place for Extra Innings to exclusively run on DirecTV."

 

"We got to an arrangement that works for us on either front," said Chase Carey, DirecTV's president and CEO. "If you're asking which I'd prefer, I'd say the exclusive. That would be the preferred path."

 

The uproar over an exclusive deal enraged fans across the country and prompted Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to write a letter asking the Federal Communications Commission to investigate.

 

"This should help enormously in that area," commissioner Bud Selig said.

 

Extra Innings allows subscribers to watch broadcasts of most MLB games for a flat rate each year. Because of blackout restrictions, however, some cities without major-league teams are barred from viewing up to six games each night.

 

Selig said at the All-Star Game last season he would look into changing the blackout rules. An MLB spokesman recently said there has been little progress in the matter.

So it means its off comcast and other providers? In demand and dish dont have anything to do with regular cable do they?

I could be wrong but I thought the sports packages offered by Comcast were by In Demand