MLB TV; Panthers' TV cameras
Major League Baseball’s $700 million, seven-year deal with DirecTV doesn’t appear to have quieted critics who argue that for all the nice language about non-exclusivity, the package will ultimately end up only on DirecTV.
After fans and member of Congress complained that moving the Extra Innings subscription package to DirecTV was a slap to fans who’d been receiving the programming on their cable systems, MLB announced a deal Thursday that offers InDemand and Dish Network an opportunity to opt in. But that opportunity, which expires March 31, requires the other providers offer “consistent rates and carriage requirements” to DirecTV, including carrying the MLB Channel, which is planned to launch in 2009, as part of their basic packages.
InDemand has already lashed out at the offer. The DirecTV still might end up being the exclusive home for Extra Innings.
BETTER VIEWING
After a two-game experiment trying television cameras on the 100 level of BankAtlantic Center rather than the 300 level, the Panthers and their local broadcaster, FSN Florida, have decided to make the move permanent, the team announced this week.
Comments
Cash is king and as long as the sports fan keeps paying, there will be no end to the greed. A free market economy allows the market to drive the price. The question becomes, what price are you willing to pay and where do you draw the line and just say no to your beloved sports team. I have to laugh a bit, even at myself by the way, for feeling as though any sports franchise is “my” team. Sorry, but the reality is it’s not my team. I don’t own the team, I don’t know the owner or the players, they are not my friends, they only want my money, and they really don’t care about me or any other so-called sports fan. That is the reality we have to face. If you are tired of paying the prices, just say no! I know I am!
Posted by: Michael garrett | March 10, 2007 9:15 PM
I am absolutely outraged that the solons of baseball are so willing to dump on their most loyal fans around the country. Apparently, our support of their industry by purchasing the Extra Innings package these last few years was some kind of test or focus group to prove that we would pony up enough bucks for the service to make them even richer by moving it to the satellite TV services. And for what? So they can afford to pay even more outrageous salaries to the players? The money lust is just unbelievable. I live far away from my Red Sox and the only way I can really follow the team as intensively as I want to is through the Extra Innings package. I am a cable subscriber, and in fact my provider, Comcast, is a tough customer when it comes to accommodating baseball fans. Because of a contract dispute, they made Washington Nationals fans wait two years before allowing an adequate number of games to appear on their system. Only after loud and persistent fan reaction and editorials by big newspapers did the dispute get settled. Comcast is certainly not going to lay out one extra dime to MLB to get Extra Innings away from the satellite people. Bottom line: This is yet another slap in the face at the fans who do more for baseball than anyone else -- the diehards who view the sport as a national treasure, a major element of our collective consciousness that must never be taken for granted. Congress should take a good hard look at the problem and make serious noise about taking away the antitrust exemption. It's a damned shame, but it seems that the legislative branch of our government is the only institution that can ever get the attention of the lords of baseball because it is the only one with any leverage over it. The fans just don't matter -- even the ones willing to pay $169 a year for this service.
Posted by: henry | March 10, 2007 12:31 PM