MLB Network

It was gravy to the EI deal, I get that...but thats about all thats been stated thus far.

Its not gravy...Its part of the deal...its all or nothing. Dish passed on it and now they dont get diddley....

and I highly doubt Charlie can convince MLB to change their rules 2 years into this CONTRACT ;)
 
...but whats not been stated or proven thus far is whether or not it was ever made clear that MLB Network would not be available as an individual channel in and of itself. Everything thus far, including your recent testimony, indicates it was 'implied' . That it was gravy to the EI deal whether you agree to the term or not, and I get that...but thats about all thats been stated thus far.

its soulds like selective vision is not a disease of one, but an epidemic to many...

Besides, is MLB going to be called 'strikezone' as stated in many of those talks? Just curious...
 
...but whats not been stated is whether or not it was ever made clear that MLB Network would not be available as an individual channel in and of itself. Everything thus far, including your recent testimony, indicates it was 'implied' . That it was gravy to the EI deal, I get that...but thats about all thats been stated thus far.

It was in the contract..plain and simple. spin it how ever you want but the CONTRACT states that they go together. Nothing has been "implied". It was the CONTRACT that was agreed to and DIsh passed on it.

testimony? Since when was I in court???

So MLB Channel isnt coming to Dish unless Charlie somehow can change a contract that is 2 years into it (and posted a few pages back)
 
You tell me if the following is implied or specific:

In a deal that may be copied by other sports league owned channels, MLB tied carriage of the MLB Network to the ability to carry the popular out of market MLB Extra Innings package. In return, cable and satellite providers were offered a minority share of the new network.

I can still read this two different ways...

The first way is that carriage of the MLB Network and MLB Extra Innings truly are completely tied together and it's not possible to have one without the other.

The second way is that MLB knew that the MLB Extra Innings package was in high demand and therefore wanted to use it to secure carriers for their new channel, since the goal of a major cable network would be to have as broad a subscriber base as possible. They basically said "If you want to be able to carry the Extra Innings package, you have to agree to carry our new network", which would help to avoid a launch fiasco like what happened with Comcast and the Big 10 Network. It would be a 1-way tie, still allowing other providers to carry their network without the entire Extra Innings package.

I don't know which of these two is correct. #2 makes more sense, but #1 is entirely possible. I sent an email to the Public Relations contact on the MLB Network website requesting any information on the stipulations for carrying MLB Network and am not expecting a detailed response but I'll post here if I get anything meaningful.
 
It was in the contract..plain and simple. spin it how ever you want but the CONTRACT states that they go together. Nothing has been "implied". It was the CONTRACT that was agreed to and DIsh passed on it.

testimony? Since when was I in court???

So MLB Channel isnt coming to Dish unless Charlie somehow can change a contract that is 2 years into it (and posted a few pages back)

Lets see the contract...

They go together does not mean they can't be sold apart. No spin. Reality...

I just want to see where MLB says in that original contract that MLN Network would not be available UNLESS you have EI?

I just want to see the exclusion, not just the inclusion. THats all...

Just because you get a deal with the value meal, doesn't mean the big mac or the fries aren't available on their own.

Please, I understand your point here...but I'm not sure you understand mine...the is becoming a more difficult conversation that it needs to be...
 
The first way is that carriage of the MLB Network and MLB Extra Innings truly are completely tied together and it's not possible to have one without the other.

The second way is that MLB knew that the MLB Extra Innings package was in high demand and therefore wanted to use it to secure carriers for their new channel, since the goal of a major cable network would be to have as broad a subscriber base as possible. They basically said "If you want to be able to carry the Extra Innings package, you have to agree to carry our new network", which would help to avoid a launch fiasco like what happened with Comcast and the Big 10 Network. It would be a 1-way tie, still allowing other providers to carry their network without the entire Extra Innings package.

Everything Ive read has been matching your 1st point. You carry both or neither

But I dont know how the 2nd point doesnt match the 1st. They are just worded differently

1st point
carriage of the MLB Network and MLB Extra Innings truly are completely tied together and it's not possible to have one without the other

2nd point
If you want to be able to carry the Extra Innings package, you have to agree to carry our new network

ISnt that one in the same??
 
They go together does not mean they can't be sold apart. No spin. Reality...
you find where they can sell it separately...because everything that has been posted here numerous times clearly states they go together. If it could be sold separately then there should have been an example shown by now.

Please, I understand your point here...but I'm not sure you understand mine...the is becoming a more difficult conversation that it needs to be...

obviously you don't because 3 people today alone have posted the info and yet you do apparently what you do best and not believe what is posted.
 
Lets see the contract...

They go together does not mean they can't be sold apart.
To use another baseball example, I look at this situation as similar to Cubs/Sox ticket sales from a few years ago. The White Sox "tied" ticket sales to the Cubs series with tickets to other low-demand games, requiring that in order to buy Cubs tickets (Extra Innings) you also had to buy tickets to x number of other select games (MLB Network). They essentially used their highest demand item to increase sales as a whole. That doesn't mean someone still couldn't have chosen to buy individual tickets to Sox/Royals.
 
you find where they can sell it separately...because everything that has been posted here numerous times clearly states they go together.



obviously you don't because 3 people today alone have posted the info and yet you do apparently what you do best and not believe what is posted.

Yes, everything posted in regards to the contract two years ago states they are available together. NOTHING stated with regards to the contract two years ago states that they can never be made available apart. And thats ALL Thats been posted by ANYBODY....

I want to see where the contract specifically says the fries can't be purchased without buying the value meal. Thats all...otherwise, its just implied and has no real merit to proving or disproving my point....
 
To use another baseball example, I look at this situation as similar to Cubs/Sox ticket sales from a few years ago. The White Sox "tied" ticket sales to the Cubs series with tickets to other low-demand games, requiring that in order to buy Cubs tickets (Extra Innings) you also had to buy tickets to x number of other select games (MLB Network). They essentially used their highest demand item to increase sales as a whole. That doesn't mean someone still couldn't have chosen to buy individual tickets to Sox/Royals.

Yup, I remember that...and if you only believed that which was implied...you would assume that to be the only option available. Only in checking out the details further would the truth be known...
 
1st point
carriage of the MLB Network and MLB Extra Innings truly are completely tied together and it's not possible to have one without the other

2nd point
If you want to be able to carry the Extra Innings package, you have to agree to carry our new network

ISnt that one in the same??

No, the 1st point is a 2-way tie and the 2nd point is a 1-way tie. Nothing in the 2nd statment indicates that Extra Innings is required in order to carry MLB Network. See my other example regarding ticket sales.
 
Yes, everything posted in regards to the contract two years ago states they are available together. NOTHING stated with regards to the contract two years ago states that they can never be made available apart. And thats ALL Thats been posted by ANYBODY....

since its a contract it cant really be changed until next go-around and that's what we have to go on. There is nothing out there that says they can be sold separate. Find me where it can be sold separate or even something that disputes what was posted already? Wouldn't you think if it was available alacarte somebody would have picked it up by now? Some cable company that wants to add a channel would have by now.

I want to see where the contract specifically says the fries can't be purchased without buying the value meal.
and why are we talking about food here? The issue is the MLB channel :rolleyes:
 
No, the 1st point is a 2-way tie and the 2nd point is a 1-way tie. Nothing in the 2nd statment indicates that Extra Innings is required in order to carry MLB Network.

I apologize as I misread that.

But everything that has been posted out there says If you carry MLB EI you have to carry MLB Channel and to get the MLB Channel for the customers you have to carry MLB EI. The customer doesnt have to buy MLB EI to get MLB Channel though...If you dont carry MLB EI then you cant carry MLB Channel.

But hopefully Dish decides to carry MLB EI so they can carry MLB Channel. :)
 
I apologize as I misread that.

But everything that has been posted out there says If you carry MLB EI you have to carry MLB Channel and to get the MLB Channel you have to carry MLB EI. If you dont carry MLB EI then you cant carry MLB Channel.

But hopefully Dish decides to carry MLB EI so they can carry MLB Channel. :)
That would certainly be the best of both worlds... but I probably wouldn't bet a value meal on it. ;)
 
since its a contract it cant really be changed until next go-around and that's what we have to go on. There is nothing out there that says they can be sold separate. Find me where it can be sold separate or even something that disputes what was posted already? Wouldn't you think if it was available alacarte somebody would have picked it up by now? Some cable company that wants to add a channel would have by now.


and why are we talking about food here? The issue is the MLB channel :rolleyes:

Thats just it...it was never stated in the contract, only implied...and MLB is making it an issue after the fact in the here and now...thats been my only point.

At no point when the original contract was presented was there EVER anything specificly stating that the MLB Network, aka Strikezone at the time, would be NOT be made available if you DID NOT carry EI, ONLY that it would be included with...as gravy...just like I had made very clear all along.

as for 'food'...lets not diminish the value of a perfectly sound analogy...it makes sense...it really does...
 
If the two were tied together, then why would MLB bother creating the "form letter" for customers to send Dish to request the MLB channel be added? The letter it generates says nothing about the EI package...just the MLB channel.

I'm referring to note generated if you go to their homepage, and use the the "Channel Locator"
 
...but whats not been stated or proven thus far is whether or not it was ever made clear that MLB Network would not be available as an individual channel in and of itself. Everything thus far, including your recent testimony, indicates it was 'implied' . That it was gravy to the EI deal whether you agree to the term or not, and I get that...but thats about all thats been stated thus far.

its soulds like selective vision is not a disease of one, but an epidemic to many...

Besides, is MLB going to be called 'strikezone' as stated in many of those talks? Just curious...


Thats just it...it was never stated in the contract, only implied...and MLB is making it an issue after the fact in the here and now...thats been my only point.

At no point when the original contract was presented was there EVER anything specificly stating that the MLB Network, aka Strikezone at the time, would be NOT be made available if you DID NOT carry EI, ONLY that it would be included with...as gravy...just like I had made very clear all along.

as for 'food'...lets not diminish the value of a perfectly sound analogy...it makes sense...it really does...
You're reading it wrong. The Strikezone channel is not the same channel as MLB Net. The strikezone channel has been available for a couple of years now and IS part of the EI SP package exclusive to DirecTV. The only way a sub can get the Strikezone channel is to sign up for the EI SP package and the strikezone channel is only available during the package season.

MLB Net is a seperate 24/7 channel available to ALL subs of the provider that carries it within a certain base package. A sub does not need to sign up for EI to have MLB Net. The provider does, however, have to carry EI in order to carry MLB Net.

DirecTV said:
MLB, DIRECTV Extend, Expand Multi-Year Agreement

Deal Includes Launch of The MLB Channel, Carriage Rights to MLB EXTRA INNINGS Package


NEW YORK--March 8, 2007--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 does 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, The Official Site of Major League Baseball | MLB.com: Homepage, offering upgraded picture quality this season.
About DIRECTV, Inc.


DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 16 million customers in the United States, through exclusive content, industry-leading customer service (which has surpassed cable for six years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound; exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming available anywhere including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), and MLB EXTRA INNINGS(TM). DIRECTV (NYSE:DTV) also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan(TM), US Open Interactive and YES Network Interactive and will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 channels in HD. For the most up-to-date information on the Company, please visit directv.com.


CONTACT: DIRECTV
Darris Gringeri, 212-462-5136
Robert Mercer, 310-964-4683
or
Major League Baseball
Richard Levin, Patrick Courtney or Susan Goodenow
212-931-7878
SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.
The Strikezone channel is a DirecTV exclusive channel that they have started and created as an add on to EI Superfan.
 
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thanks for clearing that up. earlier in the thread, a comment on MLBN was sited with an article referencing StrikeZone and...well...it didn't make a whole lot of sense. :)
 
just to be clear... the article does not say MLBN would be 'exclusive too' current EI carriers, just that it would be 'available too' current EI carriers. This coincides more with what cubswin was saying about MLB securing distribution of the channel than anything else.