NBC West Coast Division President Don Ohlmeyer said the
network should "get out" of its five-year, $400M contract with
MLB because the game's ratings continue to underperform,
according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. Although NBC
Sports President Dick Ebersol made the MLB TV deal, Sandomir
notes Ohlmeyer is "a huge force at NBC." Ohlmeyer: "I'm not
sure if Dick shares my opinion if there's a way to get out, we
should get out. I wish we hadn't made this deal. I looked at the
baseball deal as something that fit into a larger scheme of
things that didn't come to pass." While World Series ratings may
give a boost to network newcomer Fox, Ohlmeyer adds "it will go
down as one of the lowest in history, with two of the best teams
available." Ohlmeyer: "Baseball's lack of ratings exceeded our
expectations and were lower than what we'd normally get in prime
time. ... I'd love to reduce our commitment to baseball." NBC
was also upset with MLB for not shifting a divisional series
Yankees-Rangers game to an NBC prime-time Saturday telecast.
Ohlmeyer: "These people in baseball don't have their act
together. I'd feel differently about them if they did" (N.Y.
TIMES, 10/25).
REAX: MLB Dir of PR Rich Levin: "We're shocked by Mr.
Ohlmeyer's comments. We very much want to work with NBC."
Sandomir notes NBC could try to sell some of its game package to
Fox. Fox Sports President David Hill: "It all depends on the
price" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/25). NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol:
"We're disappointed in the cooperation we got from baseball for
the division series., but we're entertaining no thoughts of
selling off the baseball" (USA TODAY, 10/25).
