MLB Extra Innings Deadline Sunday: Will Cable Play Hardball?

[DToTheJ]

Recently, MLB signed an exclusive deal with DirecTV for their "Extra Innings" package, previously available on cable. Shortly after, MLB extended an offer to the cable companies that make up iN Demand, Time Warner, Comcast and Cox, to which they vowed to match, but MLB said it did not meet their expectations. This led the cable folks to say that MLB knew they would not accept their offer. So now, a new proposal is pending.

Just a thought: If cable ends up shutout of the deal, and DirecTV, as expected, will be the exclusive home of Extra Innings, is it anywhere in the realm of possibility that the cable companies that form iN Demand will arbitrarily black out local MLB games on their cable systems? I don't think Time Warner and Comcast would black out the Mets on their own SNY, but they might, say, black out Yankee games on principle...

I'm sure the cable folks wouldn't want to lose all that revenue - but in response to MLB giving them the ol' bait and switch, and the dirty tactics cable companies have pulled in the past with RSN's, anything is possible.

 

[Joe_Capitano]

Legally, the cable gods cannot arbitrarily black out baseball telecasts on the channels they carry - broadcast or cable. The best "revenge" cable and dish Network can exact is to make DIRECTV pay the whole damn $700 million. If Baseball doesn't want to come to terms, so be it. MLB (most of it) wanted the cash over the coverage. Let them wallow in it. The rest of the world will be fine with ESPN, Fox, WGN, WPIX, TBS and the local RSNs. Personally, that's already more than enough baseball for me to handle.

To the few that aren't happy with this, we do understand how you feel.

 

[JeeperOne]

Hi everyone:

Legally, the cable gods cannot arbitrarily black out baseball telecasts on the channels they carry - broadcast or cable. The best "revenge" cable and dish Network can exact is to make DIRECTV pay the whole damn $700 million. If Baseball doesn't want to come to terms, so be it. MLB (most of it) wanted the cash over the coverage. Let them wallow in it. The rest of the world will be fine with ESPN, Fox, WGN, WPIX, TBS and the local RSNs. Personally, that's already more than enough baseball for me to handle.

Not only that, but look at how much pressure the NFL has been under the last several years to get its Sunday Ticket package onto cable and Dish Network.

What MLB is doing is NOT in their best interests, especially considering that it hasn't even been 15 years since the last strike (Some folks still have that fresh in their memories). MLB had better snap out of it if they know what's good for 'em.

Otherwise, you just might see Comcast pony up the $$$ themselves and make those channels available to Digital Sports tier subscribers like myself

Just my opinion

Cheers

 

[DToTheJ]

Not only has the deadline been extended, there's a (extremely low) possibility that cable may have reached a deal with MLB and DirecTV:

Extra Innings Deal Close?

 

[DToTheJ]

UPDATE:

Deadline Removed for Extra Innings Deal

The deadline, now overdue, has essentially been lifted and according to MLB President/COO Bob Dupuy, "We will continue discussions until we reach a deal or it becomes apparent we cannot."

Okay, so for example (cuz let's face it there probably will be no deal) say they reach a deal in July, midway through the season. That's normally around the time the package price is slashed in half and reoffered to subscribers. Given how stingy the MLB is with money for this deal, I doubt that would happen.

Meanwhile, Cablevision - one of the cable systems with no presence in the iN Demand partnership (read: they probably really don't care that much) is offering prior subscribers a rebate for the mlb.tv package - more info here.

BUT there's a catch - at least according to the message I received yesterday, they'll agree to foot the bill for the mlb.tv subscription IF you upgrade to their "Triple Play Package" (cable, phone and internet service).

I love this quote from the article: In an e-mail to customers, Cablevision promised to continue "to work tirelessly to reach an agreement with Major League Baseball as quickly as possible." As I just mentioned, they are NOT involved with the iN Demand partnership so what exactly are they doing?

 

[ShawnHill1]

Cablevision is still probably a bit pissed that they lost the Yankees and Mets broadcasts rights in a matter of 3-4 years time.

About the package itself...unless they'll add the over-the-air local games and Fox's regional Saturday telecasts, MLB Extra Innings is flawed. I know they make pretty much every televised game available (OTA and cable) on MLB.tv, but I'm not keen to watch games on my computer on a constant basis. I mean, if the NFL, NHL, and NBA can make all of their televised games available, why can't MLB?

 

[DToTheJ]

Play Ball! MLB, Cable Agrees on "Extra Innings" Package With 7-Year Deal

Breaking news:
MLB, consortium reach agreement to match DirecTV deal

I'm shocked - shocked that it was able to get done this soon! I guess the MLB isn't that greedy after all...

And to your point, Shawn, if iNDemand, which also does the NBA League Pass package, can put in local TV broadcasts of games (and editing out the local ads with NBA ads and inserts) how hard can it be to do so for MLB games?