Can anyone tell me how the MLB.tv system works? I moved away from my team's home market this year, and this seems like the most affordable and easiest way to get the games. I am planning on hooking my computer up to my TV via s-video-out and watching the games like that, but I'm wondering if the reception sucks or if there is many delays because it's an internet connection....Let me know what you guys think.

Dave - you miss one important category of people who are the real losers in this deal: folks living in different states than their favorite teams. I grew up in MA and am a die-hard Sox fan, but am currently living in Northern Virginia. I subscribe to Extra Innings every year to follow my team - now I won't be able to unless I switch to DirecTV. It really s*cks!

This really only screws 2 types of people. Red Sox and Yankees fans who live outside the veiwer area of NESN and YES. Which is odd because who along with the cubs are the two most followed teams nationally? thats right the Yanks and the Sox.

Why does it suck, Marc? What if DirecTV turns out to be better than your current provider, which is what I found?

Disappointed that you only have brought up this subject again when it favors MLB's exclusivity with Direct TV. Where was the link when Bob Raissman gave MLB his Dweeb of the Week award (NY Daily News?) How about recent columns in Yahoo!, SI.com and even all the comments in Buster Olney's blog. Even Mike & Mike spoke against this today.

It's a fact that this would impair the ability of fans to watch the games they want to see in the format of their choosing. MLB shouldn't be limiting our options to a computer monitor or satellite.

I totally disagree with DirecTV being better than cable, but we've obviously had very different experiences between the two. As adamantly as you say you would "never, never go back to cable", I would never, EVER go back to DirecTV.

There are precisely zero positives that I can see with this move other than MLB getting a few extra bucks. Trying to justify it by saying that one service is "better" than the other is moot anyway... why not just offer it to both and then nobody complains?

By this action, MLB would tell me that I either can forget about watching the Mets (in MD), watch them on my computer monitor (obviously a smaller screen, no surround sound) or get Direct TV (which is at least $35/month more since they charge you for each TV--unlike cable). I love EI, am ready to give them my $169 again so I can enjoy their product... why should they refuse my money?

As much as it pains be to reward direct tv for screwing fans, I'm resigned to the fact that as an out of town fan, there's a good chance I'll be making the switch.

So with that, I have to ask someone with knowledge of direct tv, is there a specific package you have to have just to have the right to purchase extra innings? I know with cable, you can't purchase ei with just basic cable, you need digital. I really wouldn't mind switching to basic direct tv because that's cheaper then the digital cable bill, but there's not a chance I'm paying 60 buck a month for a trillion channels no one will ever watch and the right to purchase ei.

Well, the anti-comments are pretty pervasive. And if you read my post, I do in principle agree with that position. But there are a lot of stupid broadcast rules. Sheehan's piece takes a different view, and to me that makes it more interesting.

The fact is that relative to the overall fan base, this effects a very small percentage of viewers. And in many of those other articles you mention, DirecTV is maligned. The articles give the impression that DirecTV shouldn't be the exclusive carrier because it gives poor service. That is not what I experienced, and I wanted to correct that misconception.

You also neglect the fact that many people live in places where directv is not available even if they wanted it. I live in an apartment building and we are not permitted to install our own personal dishes, this is the norm in most metropolitan areas. Id essentially have to move to get Extra Innings. Also, i believe that there are many people who are like you and subscribe just to have access to all games. I get my local teams games no problem but as a die hard baseball fan i want to be able to watch all of them. I can assure you there are many others like me. (or at least i hope so!)

Right here with you, sam.

Jeff, they charge $5.00 a month for each extra receiver, not the full price for the service.

Ben, I think you just need the basic package to purchase EI. If you want to get the one game a day they show in HD, then you also need the HD package, which I think is $11 per month.

And once you subscribe once, they give you a $20 a year discount on EI for returning.

That's right--$5 for each extra receiver. Right now, I have cable on 6 TVs for the same price as if I had one TV. Plus, if I switched, my internet cost would rise as I get a discount from Comcast for having both services. That's why this would hurt plenty of people economically.

I agree with you Dave. I love DirecTV and would never go back to cable. I have been with DirecTV for about ten years now and have never had a negative experience with them. As for MLB's deal with DirecTV I don't see a problem. If you want the product you get the system that has the product. It's not like MLB made a deal with a company that is not available nationwide.

As for DirecTV not being available, the same thing used to be true about apartment buildings and cable. When I lived in Boston, the cable company said they couldn't hook me up without the landlord upgrading the building. In other words, the landloard would need to rewire all the apartments. That didn't get done.

That was 20 years ago, when most games were still broadcast over the air. But there were a number of games I couldn't see without cable. And I had no choice.

So I feel your pain. Again, I just wanted to point out that I like DirecTV. I know it's not perfect for everyone, but it's much better than the cable company we're stuck with in my town.

I will never forget getting together with a ton of friends to watch football on DirecTV. It was raining.

You know how this story ends. After an hour of the picture fading between freeze frame and "Acquiring Signal...." we left and went to a bar.

Again, this is simply anecdotal evidence and I'm sure service is better in some areas than in others. And that's fine.

The issue I have is, if you can avoid screwing people, even a "small percentage" of people who by definition are die hard fans if they're purchasing the service anyway, why on earth would you go ahead and screw them anyway?

Crud, I probably shouldn't have posted that comment because I don't want this to turn into a debate about cable vs. satellite, because I think that detracts from the real issue, which I outlined in the last paragraph.

Robusty,

I agree with you there. It's strange, too, because over the last few years baseball seemed to be headed in the other direction, especially with it's embrace of the internet. I guess the money is just too good.

I find this Direct TV thing irritating, but very typical of Major League Baseball. In the year twenty aught seven, there really doesn't seem to be any reason (besides corporate profit taking) they couldn't provide all the games people want, without the antiquated rules about Saturday blackouts and so forth. I'm willing to pay for it-- I HAVE been paying for it-- but that's not sufficient for them, now, they've rigged it so you can only get their service through one provider? Why should I have to switch systems for this, when my current provider gives me what I want otherwise, and it will be a pain to change? I'm a Red Sox fan living in California, but I want to see ALL the games, because I love baseball. Since I just wrangled a better deal out of Comcast that goes through June, I really don't wanna switch. And don't even talk to me about mlb.tv right now.

I personally am a very happy DirecTV owner. I've only had one problem with the service when my DVR was having issues. All I had to do was reset the system once and I haven't had an issue since.

The only time I've had an issue with reception is when it snowed a bunch and the snow on the dish blocked the signal. That's it.

Another negative would be there is no 'on demand' programming.

In terms of quality you shouldn't have issues with switching from cable to DirecTV.

I also watched the games using MLB.tv last year. It was simple and straightforward and a lot cheaper.

If you have high speed internet access it shouldn't be an issue. Yes, you won't be able to watch the games in HD or surround sound but you'll be able to watch the games. Being an out of market fan, that's good enough for me.

If this is a case-by-case basis, you can't argue with what David is saying. However, in my case Direct TV has a far inferior HD channel lineup to my cable company, and I am an Indians fan in Maryland, so I'm screwed.

Also, the Direct TV HD package is much more than $11 per month because the equivalent HD/DVR hardware that I pay $15/month for costs $800 through Direct TV. The technology will be obsolete by the time buying that box is worth what the monthly box rental would be through cable (53 months). One more thing....Direct TV does not exclusively offer the $20 off to renew. Cable does the same thing.

Yea, I've got the option that's not being mentioned yet, Dish Network. I got a number (okay, three) people to signup for Dish Network because they could get MLB EI. While I'll at least consider switching (it's a pain in the you-know-what) it's doubtful they all will, so whatever the percentage MLB has lost customers.

However, while it pains me, it's no different then when your favorite store stops carrying the band of soup you want. you either find another brand or switch stores.

~Mark

Jeremy,
it's actually only $299 (right, big difference), plus the $6 a month for the dvr service.

What I'd really like would be the ability to ONLY see one team. I don't care about the other teams. But instead of just paying for NESN, I need to pay for the sports pack, EI, then hope the sox game isn't blacked out on NESN if it's an away game.
BTW, does anyone know why they show some away games but not others on NESN/YES?

Not to beat a dead horse but MarkW2 hit the nail on the head. It's business. Plain and simple. Yes it will be inconvenient for some and others not so much. No one is forced to buy EI. No one is forced to switch providers. You do what you feel is right.

As for Jacques question.....Whenever available EI will use the home team's telecast i believe. Now, not every MLB team televises all 162 games (I'm a Reds fans and FSN Ohio has rights to around 120 games i believe). So for example if the Yankees were playing the Reds (bad example I know) in Cincinnati and FSN Ohio wasn't televising the game (not bloody likely) then EI will pick up the YES feed.

Screw Bud Selig and his evil band of money-whoring trolls.

It's taken MLB more than 40 years to lose me, but they've finally done it. I'm one of those people you'd think MLB would want to keep -- My wife and I've gone to an average of 20 games a year for the past 20 years (usually full price and never in the cheap seats), gotten EI every year it's been offered, and supported the game through strikes, steroids, and skyrocketing ticket prices. I've defended the game against its detractors in the past, but there is no defending this move.

I hope that none of the folks who believe that this is just a "business decision" aren't in charge of anyone's money but their own, because this is incredibly shortsighted and will cause a long-term decrease in viewership. DirecTV isn't available to all, and even though I could change from Dish Network, I won't, because Dish has been good to me for the past four years and because I'm not letting Bud Selig determine who I will use. One of my officemates planned to get EI this year after hearing me talk about it, but he doesn't want to change from his cable system. He's not a huge baseball fan, but he had a chance to become one. There's no chance of it now.

After all these years, I feel like I'm in a relationship with an entity that demands more and more without giving anything more in return. No more.

I'll find other things to do with my time and money.

AMen to that brother, I too am a Dish Network user for the past 10 years. THey have been fantastic to me and mine and I asked them year in and year out about EI and then they finally got it. Now Bud wants me to shell out several hundred dollars so I can continue to follow the game I love. I am a transplanted New Yorker who was thrilled to get EI when I moved to the midwest and get my Yankees again. But I found that my wife and I and my son (hello Bud, read NEW YOUNG FAN) would watch other teams just because we loved the sport!!! My son started cheering for the Oakland A's and we actually went to see them when they were close (chicago). Now I have to push Dish into getting YES, unless Bud wants to pay for my switch from a perfected good TV service provide who has never done anything to make me want to switch.....

One thing I haven't heard mentioned is when this deal will take effect. Has there been any confirmation that the exclusivity will begin in 2007? I saw that DirectTV will not launch their baseball-only channel until 2009, but I'm not sure if they'll get the exclusive rights starting this year.

Anyone?

I'm surprised about how many people are worked up about this. As a consumer, yes, it sucks that choice is now limited. But MLB is a business. And what did everyone do 15 or 20 years ago? If you were an out of town fan, you were out of luck. Now you have two options - DirecTV and MLB.tv.

For apartment/condo dwellers who say they're not "allowed" to install a dish, that's false. Your landlord or homeowner's association cannot prevent you from installing a dish (FCC document -- show this to your landlord/homeowner's association and they will leave you alone and let you do what you want). I've lived in one condo and one apartment where they intially gave me flak about a dish, but eventually gave in based on that link. At one place I installed the dish on my balcony and at the other I had to pay a company to put it on the roof.

I've had the EI package through the dish and cable. I'd rather have it on cable so that I could combine my Internet with cable. Not sure what I'll do this year.

Also, for people who are saying that the $5 charge for another receiver on DTV is an extra fee, I think you usually run into the same issue with cable. I've always had to have digital cable to have EI. That's usually a per box charge. So if you have 6 TVs and want to watch EI on each of them, you have to pay for the digital box on each TV... that's pretty similar to the DTV multi-TV charge to me.

Sorry Dave, I can't disagree more with you on this issue. I'm happy with my cable system, don't want to deal with the hassle of changing over. (Plus the satellite cuts out quicker in thunderstorms.)

There is no good reason for baseball to limit itself just to Directv. And while I am a Yankee fan, I know of lots of other people who have moved around the country and aren't fans of the local team, but rather of their old hometown.

Baseball should be trying to get more people to subscribe -- have both cable & satellite -- rather than just limiting to one, and taking a screw you approach to people with the other system.

And mlb.tv doesn't cut it.

And lastly, I do enjoy watching the occasional AZ-CO. game after the other games have ended.

It is what it is, a business decision. I seriously doubt Mr. Selig had any real input on the decision. And while I don't like it personally I'm 100% sure that whoever it was at MLB EI that thought taking a big chunk of money from DirectTV was better then keeping the service available on Dish Network or cable didn't do it to tick me off.

There were only 750,000 EI customers last season, how many of those were on DirectTV already? They had an exclusive before, so I'd imagine they already have a majority of those subscribers. What's the potential growth? Does DirectTV have more customers then Dish? Cable? I don't know the answers to these or any other question, and in the end it doesn't matter. I'm sure both DirectTV and MLB EI hope I will be willing to go through the pain in the you-know-what it is to switch services.

And that's the bottom line. If you want to watch the games and you're not a DirectTV customer already you either switch or you don't. How much do you want to watch the games? I made the switch from Comcast to Dish because of the cost, and because Dish offered channels I wanted that Comcast didn't at that time. Now it looks like DirectTV will be offering channels I want that Dish isn't going to offer. That sucks, and I think it's a bad decision on the part of MLB EI. But I'm not married to Dish, so if the cost is comparable and DirectTV offers something I want to watch that Dish doesn't? Well, I've switched before.

~Mark

Some people clearly just don't get it.

There are some markets (Philly for example), where just "switching" is not an option that will allow you to watch all the games.

If I want the Phillies I have to have Comcast.

If I want anything else, I apparently now also have to get DirecTV.

I'm not paying for 2 systems, especially when one (DirecTV) is crap around here.

Apartment dwellers and out-of-market fans really get screwed over by this deal. As a member of both of those sets, debating the merits of DirecTV vs. cable is completely beside the point. I couldn't switch if I wanted to. I really enjoyed being able to watch whatever game was on, and now I guess I won't be watching much baseball at all.

Now it's Giants games or nothing for me. Vomit. I choose nothing.

DirecTV may be just fine, in so many ways. But please remember that there are a lot of us avid baseball fans and MLB Extra Innings subscribers who live in condo and apartment complexes where such installations are prohibited. And as for MLB.TV, it's really never worked on our home network, though I realize that they say there are improvements this year. Still I'm extremely saddened and disappointed that MLB may choose to go this route, and that the big cable providers also aren't willing to step up and fight for us. It's going to be a long summer without access to my Yankees up here in the heart of Red Sox Nation.