Looks like Cable is getting MLB EI!

[FlyingJ]

just read this

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10078184

 

[charper1]

I saw it on ESPN about an hour ago, it is only an offer for now and must be approved, and many think it might be a hair under what MLB will consider as "an equal offer"; possibly just low enough to force them (MLB) to deny it and become the REAL bad guys. Basically turning the spin of cable not stepping up in the first place, to MLB denying them full out. It will be interesting to follow.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Maybe not...

Bob DuPuy of MLB stated that the newest InDemand offer "falls short". ---

NEW YORK -- Baseball's "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games might not wind up staying on cable television, after all.

IN Demand said Wednesday it will offer to match the terms of DirecTV's $700 million, seven-year deal with Major League Baseball on behalf its owners, who are affiliates of the companies that own Time Warner, Comcast and Cox cable systems. As part of the offer, iN Demand also said it would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV.

However, Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said in a statement Wednesday that iN Demand's offer wasn't adequate.

"The communication sent to our office today by iN Demand is not responsive to that offer," DuPuy said. "In spite of their public comments, the response falls short of nearly all of the material conditions (among them requirements for carriage of The Baseball Channel and their share of the rights fees for Extra Innings) set forth in the Major League Baseball offer made to them on March 9."

 

[FlyingJ]

Well golly jeepers. It's almost funny, except that its so sad!

 

[Chuck W]

Yea, it looks like this is a spin by In-Demand. They "say" they are gonna match, but in reality, they aren't. However, by MLB rejecting a "close" offer, they(MLB) look even more like an evil empire and will probably garner even more wrath from the government.

 

[jpn]

That's right, it is a spin. MLB wants their channel on a basic tier. InDemand says they'll get it to the same number of viewers as D*, which is not the same as putting it on a basic tier.

Does anybody really consider that "Matching terms of carriage"?

 

[moonman]

Extra Innings: Deal or No Deal?
This afternoon saw a flurry of activity concerning Major League Baseball and its Extra Innings out-of-market baseball package. For starters, cable pay-per-view provider In Demand said it would match the terms of DIRECTV's $700 million, seven-year deal with the league for the offering, including carriage of The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009. However, Major League Baseball released a statement later in the day saying a communication it received from In Demand "is not responsive to that offer." The league added, "The response falls short of nearly all of the material conditions - among them requirements for carriage of The Baseball Channel and their share of the rights fees for Extra Innings." MLB said its deadline for negotiations on the package remains March 31.

 

[iceturkee]

you guys beat me to it, i just read that mlb rejected in demand's offer.