MLB and DirecTV

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:47 am

...But those High Def games/Superfan/8 way-spit screen each Sunday makes it worth every penny!!!

~Lance

Dirt Dogs · Post by **Dirt Dogs** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:01 pm

Hey Greg!

Can you record all the games for me this year. I'm stuck with comcast so let me look at my options:

1) get direct tv ONLY to watch extra innings.

2) get MLB.com and watch games on my 15 inch crappy monitor

3) have greg tape them for me

HMMMMMM.

RODGER · Post by **RODGER** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:18 pm

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

What don't you understand? I agreed with you that MLB is the primary culprit, but business deals happen all the time that may be good for that business while bad for consumers or the public at large. Why is it that you think someone shouldn't be upset with a company for making a deal that is bad for the public at large? I disagree with your premise that this deal is bad for consumers and the public at large. If you want to purchase the baseball package, switch over to DirecTV.

And while I agree with Greg that the NFL and MLB packages were friendlir in the past when cheaper, I have also been saying for years that the NFL Sunday Ticket would be well worth $1000 per year.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:37 am

Originally posted by Dirt Dogs:

Hey Greg!

Can you record all the games for me this year. I'm stuck with comcast so let me look at my options:

1) get direct tv ONLY to watch extra innings.

2) get MLB.com and watch games on my 15 inch crappy monitor

3) have greg tape them for me

HMMMMMM. The only games I'd be able to tape for you are the ones after the kids go to sleep. During the early games, the TV is locked on The Disney Channel or Nickelodeon!!

If you don't mind a Spongebob Squarepants lead-in to the West Coast games, I'm your man!!

Nutty Scrats · Post by **Nutty Scrats** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:39 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Dirt Dogs:

Hey Greg!

Can you record all the games for me this year. I'm stuck with comcast so let me look at my options:

1) get direct tv ONLY to watch extra innings.

2) get MLB.com and watch games on my 15 inch crappy monitor

3) have greg tape them for me

HMMMMMM. The only games I'd be able to tape for you are the ones after the kids go to sleep. During the early games, the TV is locked on The Disney Channel or Nickelodeon!!

If you don't mind a Spongebob Squarepants lead-in to the West Coast games, I'm your man!!

[/QUOTE]Are you sure your kids aren't programming my son's tv? ROFL

[ March 28, 2007, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Nutty Scrat ]

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:54 am

Originally posted by RODGER:

quote:Originally posted by KJ Duke:

What don't you understand? I agreed with you that MLB is the primary culprit, but business deals happen all the time that may be good for that business while bad for consumers or the public at large. Why is it that you think someone shouldn't be upset with a company for making a deal that is bad for the public at large? I disagree with your premise that this deal is bad for consumers and the public at large. If you want to purchase the baseball package, switch over to DirecTV.

[/QUOTE]I had DirecTV and I dumped it because I didn't like it. You apparently have no qualms over being forced to buy something you don't want just to get something you do want.

Which leads me to believe that either: (a)you work for DirecTV or MLB, (b) you are a proponent of socialism, (c) you are a member of Congress, or (d) are otherwise corrupt and/or mentally challenged. Sorry for being so harsh, but seriously, are you listening to what you're saying?

[ March 28, 2007, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:31 am

Just an FYI: I did order MLB Extra Innings yesterday and it was $159 until March 31st, which is up only $20 from last year. I was pleasantly surprised that DirecTV didn't raise that package proportionately to what it did with the NFL Sunday Ticket after its latest renewal with the NFL.

I also was surprised Kevin that in the latest issue of The Sports Business Journal, that the editors wrote an editorial siding with MLB and saying this is all part of American enterprise. They faulted the cable companies for not being more aggressive in pursuing this package and doing more to promote it in previous seasons. I think it's more about putting MLB's new TV network on its basic tier when it debuts in 2009, but that wasn't addressed in the article.

I'm not sure anything is going to change anytime soon on this, even with Kerry jumping on the bandwagon, but we'll see.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:06 am

Today for lunch I wanted pizza. I had a choice of Papa John's (bad) and the local pizzeria (good). While Papa John's offers bread sticks with their pizza, the local pizzeria is a better overall value and, well, just tastes better.

Cable and especially FIOS are better than DirecTV in so many ways. Yes, I am sacrificing the NFL Sunday Ticket and (apparently) the MLB Extra Innings packages, but why would I accept a downgrade in my overall entertainment experience just to get those two sports channels? I guess that's exactly what DirecTV is banking on: that those two product offerings will make people accept their inferior product.

Sorry DirecTV -- I'm not buying your crappy pizza.

viper · Post by **viper** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:43 am

Originally posted by Dirt Dogs:

Hey Greg!

Can you record all the games for me this year. I'm stuck with comcast so let me look at my options:

1) get direct tv ONLY to watch extra innings.

2) get MLB.com and watch games on my 15 inch crappy monitor

3) have greg tape them for me

HMMMMMM. Since trees block my ability to get DirecTV even if I wanted to, my options are fewer.

Interestingly, Cox Cable is my provider and they sent a letter offering to pay for up to $90 of my cost to get MLB.TV. I need to see how it looks from a PC to my Plasma HiDef TV and i have a spare PC that could be dedicated. I fear it will be bad but I use my PC for other things while I have games on. I guess Cadilac Bud and his DirecTV cronies never considered that issue.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:12 am

Originally posted by viper:

quote:Originally posted by Dirt Dogs:

Hey Greg!

Can you record all the games for me this year. I'm stuck with comcast so let me look at my options:

1) get direct tv ONLY to watch extra innings.

2) get MLB.com and watch games on my 15 inch crappy monitor

3) have greg tape them for me

HMMMMMM. Since trees block my ability to get DirecTV even if I wanted to, my options are fewer.

Interestingly, Cox Cable is my provider and they sent a letter offering to pay for up to $90 of my cost to get MLB.TV. I need to see how it looks from a PC to my Plasma HiDef TV and i have a spare PC that could be dedicated. I fear it will be bad but I use my PC for other things while I have games on. I guess Cadilac Bud and his DirecTV cronies never considered that issue. [/QUOTE]I'll take the liberty and step in for RODGER here ... Viper, why don't you just move to another house, or cut down all the trees so you can get DirecTV. I don't see the problem here.

[ March 28, 2007, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

RODGER · Post by **RODGER** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:12 am

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

I had DirecTV and I dumped it because I didn't like it. You apparently have no qualms over being forced to buy something you don't want just to get something you do want.

Which leads me to believe that either: (a)you work for DirecTV or MLB, (b) you are a proponent of socialism, (c) you are a member of Congress, or (d) are otherwise corrupt and/or mentally challenged. Sorry for being so harsh, but seriously, are you listening to what you're saying? No, I can honestly say that none of your a, b, c or d apply to me, but neither does your statement which precedes them.

I am not being forced into anything because having a package like MLB Extra Innings results from a choice and not a necessity.

Additionally, I consider cable television to be an awful product owned and managed by a bunch of short-sighted simpletons.

If you want a brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee, do you go to a Ford dealer? Of course not... they'll offer you an SUV, but they don't sell Jeep vehicles.

If you want to go on a ski trip for vacation, do you book reservations in Hawaii (and I mean snow skiing

? No... you go to Colorado or Vermont.

If you like listening to Howard Stern, do you buy an XM subscription or keep looking for his show on your old fashioned radio dial? No... you sign up for Sirius.

When you want a specific product, and the way to acquire it is clearly identified, you either go get it or make the choice not to.

I finally made the switch to DirecTV six years ago and would never even dream of going back. I find the product to be superior, the cost is cheaper and the company actually treats its customers with some respect.

This entire episode is just the most recent example of three decades filled with instances where the cable companies have shown a total disregard for the interests of their paying clients. Why would I want to deal with them at all?

viper · Post by **viper** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:18 am

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

quote:Originally posted by viper:

quote:Originally posted by Dirt Dogs:

Hey Greg!

Can you record all the games for me this year. I'm stuck with comcast so let me look at my options:

1) get direct tv ONLY to watch extra innings.

2) get MLB.com and watch games on my 15 inch crappy monitor

3) have greg tape them for me

HMMMMMM. Since trees block my ability to get DirecTV even if I wanted to, my options are fewer.

Interestingly, Cox Cable is my provider and they sent a letter offering to pay for up to $90 of my cost to get MLB.TV. I need to see how it looks from a PC to my Plasma HiDef TV and i have a spare PC that could be dedicated. I fear it will be bad but I use my PC for other things while I have games on. I guess Cadilac Bud and his DirecTV cronies never considered that issue. [/QUOTE]I'll take the liberty and step in for RODGER here ... Viper, why don't you just move to another house, or cut down all the trees so you can get DirecTV. I don't see the problem here.

[/QUOTE]Those are very good options.

To cut down the trees I would have to buy my neighbors house as they are his trees. Since I currently have my mortgage paid off, I'm sure you would pay any additional costs I would incur in buying that house. I figure his house would go for about $750,000.

RODGER · Post by **RODGER** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:30 am

Originally posted by viper:

Since trees block my ability to get DirecTV even if I wanted to, my options are fewer.

viper-- Have you considered using a pole? Have you had a DirecTV rep or local store guy visit your home to give you some possible options which may exist for your situation? I initially had to deal with some circumstances regarding the ability to capture their signal, and they sent a guy over for free just to figure out if and how I might position the dish successfully. They have developed a lot of tricks to install the equipment for people living in locations where they might assume they are obstructed.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:50 am

Originally posted by RODGER:

quote:Originally posted by viper:

Since trees block my ability to get DirecTV even if I wanted to, my options are fewer.

viper-- Have you considered using a pole? Have you had a DirecTV rep or local store guy visit your home to give you some possible options which may exist for your situation? I initially had to deal with some circumstances regarding the ability to capture their signal, and they sent a guy over for free just to figure out if and how I might position the dish successfully. They have developed a lot of tricks to install the equipment for people living in locations where they might assume they are obstructed. [/QUOTE]Viper, so HAVE you considered a pole? And yes, I think he is serious.

Odds on RODGER working for DirecTV, either directly or through an affiliation past or present. 1:1

We can agree on one thing, and one thing only, the cable companies are run by morons; and that is the only reason DirecTV is even in existence given their inferior product offering.

[ March 28, 2007, 04:51 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

RODGER · Post by **RODGER** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:06 am

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Viper, so HAVE you considered a pole? And yes, I think he is serious.

Odds on RODGER working for DirecTV, either directly or through an affiliation past or present. 1:1

We can agree on one thing, and one thing only, the cable companies are run by morons; and that is the only reason DirecTV is even in existence given their inferior product offering. Of course I was serious... a pole was one of the options I almost went with. It's not like you need to dig a hole and build some contraption yourself. They provide and install all of that stuff and they do a pretty good job of keeping things as hidden as possible.

Just because I know about some of the techniques DirecTV uses doesn't mean I'm an employee. Do you really think I'd bother trying to swing a few people if I worked for this corporation? How would that even benefit an employee of theirs? And if I did have a stake... like if I was an owner... I don't think I'd be sweating over a few more subscribers on a small message board campaign

Part of why I didn't get DirecTV earlier than six years ago was because I didn't think I would be able to. Thankfully, I made a phone call, had it checked out, and a simple solution was presented.

And if we disagree on which service is better --cable or DirecTV -- that's fine. We are both entitled to our opinions on such a subjective matter as that.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:09 am

RODGER, the only reason that we're even having this discussion is because of the anti-trust exemptions that the National Football League and Major League Baseball have enjoyed for the past few decades. Take that away, and you have a monopolistic situation that the FCC would almost certainly strike down.

Cooperstown · Post by **Cooperstown** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:27 am

I don't know how much DirecTV paid for the rights, but I'm sure they'll need XXXX new subscibers to justify the cost. If they don't get it, it will be back on cable, or wherever. And we'll get this thing fixed the American way, Capitalism!

In the mean time it does suck, because I won't get DirecTV and I'll miss the Extra Innings.

KOQ is right, Baseball is to blame.

mdz129 · Post by **mdz129** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:45 am

I live in a Condo and can not have a dish(by laws) and I'm stuck with either buying a better monitor 20" or better vs my 54" DLP HD TV that's already hooked up to cable.

MLB, with it's anti trust exemption and many tax dollars for stadiums, should make it's product available to all fans at a reasonable cost-- not exclusive to one carrier-- Direct TV. It's greed at it's best.

RODGER · Post by **RODGER** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:44 am

Originally posted by mdz129:

I live in a Condo and can not have a dish(by laws) I have a similar situation where I live. I never asked about getting permission to install a dish because I had heard that they were not allowed.

Because the FCC passed the law which prohibits condo and co-op boards from preventing people like us from having personal dishes (within certain limitations), I just went ahead and had it installed.

When I was told by the board that I needed to remove the dish, I informed them of the FCC law and provided them with a link to it.

That was 6 years ago, and while I know a few people aren't happy about the situation, time has proven that there is nothing they can do to make me remove it.

By never giving them the opportunity to say NO before installing the dish, I took away their power, and they now recognize that the law will stand in my corner if they attempt to force me to remove the dish.

If you really want it, there's a pretty good chance you can get it.

The rules of the law are detailed at: ****://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

[ March 29, 2007, 02:13 PM: Message edited by: RODGER ]

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:32 am

RODGER, just go ahead and change your name to Mr. DirecTV - I'm sure that's what all your neighbors call you anyway.

Or maybe RODIRECTV.

[ March 29, 2007, 03:34 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

RODGER · Post by **RODGER** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:44 am

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

RODGER, just go ahead and change your name to Mr. DirecTV - I'm sure that's what all your neighbors call you anyway.

Or maybe RODIRECTV. If you wanted DirecTV, but you lived in a condo and were told that you were not allowed to get the dish, wouldn't you want to know that Federal law actually prohibits your condo association from enforcing such a rule?

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:14 am

Originally posted by RODGER:

quote:Originally posted by KJ Duke:

RODGER, just go ahead and change your name to Mr. DirecTV - I'm sure that's what all your neighbors call you anyway.

Or maybe RODIRECTV. If you wanted DirecTV, but you lived in a condo and were told that you were not allowed to get the dish, wouldn't you want to know that Federal law actually prohibits your condo association from enforcing such a rule? [/QUOTE]Absolutely. If anyone ever asks me a question about DirecTV or DirecTV accessories, I'll refer them straight to you.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:11 pm

Originally posted by RODGER:

quote:Originally posted by mdz129:

I live in a Condo and can not have a dish(by laws) I have a similar situation where I live. I never asked about getting permission to install a dish because I had heard that they were not allowed.

Because the FCC passed the law which prohibits condo and co-op boards from preventing people like us from having personal dishes (within certain limitations), I just went ahead and had it installed.

When I was told by the board that I needed to remove the dish, I informed them of the FCC law and provided them with a link to it.

That was 6 years ago, and while I know a few people aren't happy about the situation, time has proven that there is nothing they can do to make me remove it.

By never giving them the opportunity to say NO before installing the dish, I took away their power, and they now recognize that the law will stand in my corner if they attempt to force me to remove the dish.

If you really want it, there's a pretty good chance you can get it.

The rules of the law are detailed at: ****://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html [/QUOTE]If someone from your co-op removes your dish while you're away on vacation, which government agency would you call to complain? We're talking about a federal offense here -- I would guess you should contact your local FBI field office.

Could make for a great episode of 24!

ssmarsh · Post by **ssmarsh** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 7:52 am

Well, the end of March has come and gone and no announcement one way or the other regarding Extra Innings beinging on cable or not. I'm assuming not, but I'd love some sort of official word on the subject.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:48 am

I must admit that yesterday I took a long lunch and went home to check out my MLB Extra Innings once all NFBC lineups were set. To my delight, DirecTV added MLB Game Mix, which is one channel that can carry up to eight games at one time. It was too early for a beverage, but I must admit that I felt like opening a Corona at that point, putting my feet up and spending the rest of the day doing nothing but watching baseball games. I have seven fantasy teams this year and it seemed like every at-bat included one of my hitters or pitchers. Finally, I could enjoy baseball again.

I have a feeling that DirecTV is just teasing me with the Game Mix for the first two weeks and that I'll need to spend another $40 for it soon, but once again they've caught me. How could I NOT order that addition? My kids may not like it ("dad, which game are you watching?" my 5-year-old asked), but when everyone is asleep and I have all the games on one channel, I'll gladly pop open that beverage and enjoy America's Pastime. I'm not sure it gets much better than this.

Sorry to all those who can't get MLB Extra Innings anymore as I wish EVERY baseball fan had the choice to get this over 26 weeks of the season. It truly is worth it. Maybe baseball will realize that offering this to EVERYONE will help grow the game well beyond the price that one carrier has decided to pay.