DirecTV’s controversial monopoly over Major League Baseball’s out-of-market baseball package ended up not even lasting the season’s first week. MLB announced Wednesday night that it had agreed to terms with the InDemand cable consortium on a deal to keep the package on cable as well.
The deal went into effect immediately, with some games joined in progress Wednesday night.
Baseball had previously announced a $700 million deal to allow DirecTV the exclusive rights to carry the “MLB Extra Innings” package of out-of-market games, which are popular among fans who live away from the city where their favorite team plays.
However, an outcry by fans and attention from Congress led MLB to reconsider and allow the other providers the chance to keep carrying the package. Baseball Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy told the Associated Press that “the concern expressed by our fans… was something we tried to be responsive to,”
InDemand is a consortium owned by cable giants Time Warner, Comcast, and Cox. EchoStar, owner of DishNetwork, had also previously carried the package, but DirecTV’s president indicated to the AP that he anticipates DirecTV will remain the package’s exclusive satellite provider.
It’s about freaking time! I can’t believe how ridiculous it was to have monopolized the package in the first place or that the idea even went through. Im so sick of this vapid consumeristic, client first, backpocket, secret hand shaking society we live in to begin with and then you took away the holiest of holies by taking away baseball.
Thank God someone had the sense to rectify this. Of course it happened the day after I bought the online version at MLB.com so they better give me a refund.
I would have never gone to another MLB ball game again… The People of the USA has given MLB so much in the last 100 years that they had to respond to Congress… Thank you so much Sen Kerry.
Oh the insanity contunus… My Cable "provider" has not got its act together and may not offer it at all… Thanks Charter Comunitcatioins.
Yea!!!! It’s about time somebody stood up for the fans. Not everyone is wealthy CEO’s of direct tv can’t get enough!! Thanks for helping the fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!