MLB Drops Deadline In Extra Innings Talks With Cable, Dish
By Eric Fisher & John
Ourand
MLB’s negotiations with InDemand and Dish Network over the Extra Innings
package and planned MLB Channel are now operating without a set calendar deadline.
MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy said late yesterday, “We will continue
discussions until we reach a deal or it becomes apparent we cannot.” That
statement would appear to conflict with him saying last week that the league’s
deal with DirecTV for the TV programming prevented him from extending negotiations
with cable and Dish beyond March 31. But DuPuy added, “No deal is possible
without the agreement of DirecTV. We have a contract with them and they have been
fully engaged in the process, including any extensions.” He did not characterize
the discussions, only saying he did not know whether a deal was within sight.
One of the holdups for EchoStar is the lack of a firm proposal on equity ownership
of the MLB Channel, one Dish Network source said. It’s not clear how much
ownership of the channel MLB and DirecTV is willing to give, or whether DirecTV's
20% stake would be diluted.
KERRY: Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), who chaired last
week’s Senate Commerce Committee meeting addressing the issue, released
a statement yesterday saying in part, “The baseball season has begun and
we’re still waiting for the business guys to get the show on the road and
meet their obligation to the fans. Many fans are now denied access to their favorite
team because executives haven’t resolved relatively minor business differences.
That is wrong.”
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