Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
April 05, 2007
MLB M.O.

Deadspin presents the best headline on the new MLB iNDemand deal. What's interesting to me is that we now see a clear tactic that works for MLB in negotiating a deal. They threaten to take something away, act very seriously about it, and then trade it for what they really want. In the previous contract negotiations with the MLBPA, they did this with contraction. This year, it was exclusivity and the threat of cable losing subscribers. After 30 years of ineptitude, someone at MLB finally got smart.

These are not bluffs. I have no doubt MLB would have closed down two teams in 2003 if they could. I have no doubt they would have given DirecTV the exclusive if the cable deal didn't work out. And by not bluffing, they keep this strategy viable.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:33 AM | Broadcasts | TrackBack (0)
Comments

i think part of the reason this keeps working is that the owners and MLB have such a reputation for shooting themselves in the foot. they lost so many labor battles by holding to too extreme a position and not compromising that when they threaten to do the same now, everyone believes them

Posted by: amos at April 5, 2007 11:09 AM

I hope everyone who was so vocal in complaining signs up for this now.

Posted by: Ben K. at April 5, 2007 11:32 AM

Being a baseball fan is like being in an abusive relationship... maybe next time Selig won't hit me so hard if I just show him I love him enough.

Posted by: robustyoungsoul at April 5, 2007 12:05 PM

As soon as I can, Ben. Buckeyecablesystem still hasn't put the word out. And if they opt out of giving me EI, then I will switch.

Posted by: rbj at April 5, 2007 12:08 PM

As someone who switched from Dish Network to DirectTV I have to say as far as Extra Innings in concerned DirectTV offers a better service then I had with Dish Network.

Last night I was able to watch my first game on the new service and I noticed this "menu" option in the lower left cornet. Being somewhat curious I checked it out. It is accesses an interactive system where I can check out the box score for the game, players stats, scores for other games, etc. I never saw anything like this on Dish Network.

DirectTV also has a game mix channel where you can check out what's going on in several (8 I think) games and easily switch to what you want to watch. Again, not something I saw on Dish Network.

I'll admit I might have missed these features on Dish Network, but I subscribe to Extra Innings for two tears there and never saw them.

YMMV

~Mark

Posted by: Mark at April 5, 2007 01:15 PM

Mark,

Those are new features this season. They are only available on DirecTV, however.

Posted by: David Pinto at April 5, 2007 01:25 PM
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