DirecTV acknowledges proposed deal for exclusive Extra Innings rights

There is no good reason for that. There should have been just as much outrage. I know I was.

 

Because when DirecTV got it, no one if anyone had digital cable (1994).
DirecTV was the only digital TV service back then.

 

The other thing is that Sunday Ticket was never available to cable subscribers. It's been exclusive to DirecTV since its inception. And it's true, they sort of quietly re-upped the deal a couple years ago. Not much coverage of that at all. But with Extra Innings, people are losing something they've had previously. Hence, the outcry.

What I'm wondering is if things like this may speed the development of IPTV -- programming delivered to your TV through the Internet. It'll be interesting to see whether the DirecTV-MLB deal leaves a loophole for that. Apparently MLB did upgrade the quality of the video on MLB.TV for this year, but they said that was in the works for a long time. Checked out the demo -- looks good for watching on a computer screen. But you'd have to be pretty desperate for baseball to resort to that.

 

That. Sucks.
My wife has given me the OK to switch from DISH to DirecTV (and them adding the Big 10 Network doesn't hurt either), but I'm pissed about having to eat my early-cancellation fees on my DISH contract and get this done before Opening Day.
Rupert Murdoch can lick my sweaty man-taint. Fuck him.

 

Thank you for THAT mental picture...

 

I aim to please, Slap.

 

BigRed, it is my understanding that the DirecTV exclusive contract for Extra Innings would not start until the 2008 season.

 

If you're right, that's the best news I've heard all day.....

 

Think about it: There is not enough time since they have not actually signed a deal to do it this season.

 

This would be for 2007 season:

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.


In other words, we're gonna make everyone else look like the bad guys here.

 

Buy an XM radio and get all the games, hey, we all know baseball is better on the radio.

 

Any complaints to Comcast are met with a boilerplate response claiming that the deal is exclusive to DIrectTv and that I should be pleased to get my local team, ESPN and the Braves. I replied to the message from "Jeff" and received the same message right back.

So, it's either to the dish, or squinting at my laptop if I want to watch Pirates games.