Senate Attempts to Negotiate with Major League Baseball

President of MLB Refuses to Concede

The March 31st deadline for negotiations between Major League Basebeall and cable and DISH providers is closing in. If something doesn't change in the next few days, DirecTV customers will be the only viewers with access to games that take place outside the subscriber's local area. DISH and cable subscribers will be forced to watch their local team, should they be lucky enough to have one, or the occasional games that are broadcast over ESPN or other cable networks.

In an effort to prevent this exclusive deal from being finalized, Democratic Senator John Kerry from Massachusetts convened the hearing of the Commerce Committe which initiated talks with Major League Baseball's President Bob DuPuy. By the end of business on Tuesday, the Senate was not able to achieve the desired outcome. This means that approximately 230,000 fans will be unable to subscribe to the Extra Innings package which provides up to 60 games per week during the regular baseball season which officially starts on Sunday, April 1. Republican Senator Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania warned President DuPuy, "When the fans react, Congress may react. You may be well advised to act before we do." But DuPuy doesn't look scared. He is said to be excited about the upcoming Baseball Channel, which will be launched in 2009 by DirecTV.

At one point there was discussion of allowing a pay package provider named IN Demand (owned by Comcast, Time Warner and Cox cable companies), to allow Extra Innings to be on cable for two years--until the Baseball Channel launch. DuPuy expressed little interest in that offer, although Senator Kerry favored it. "We believe that DirecTV has the right to begin to help us build the channel," DuPuy said in response.