DirecTV CEO Chase Carey took some big cuts at criticism over the direct-broadcast satellite provider’s seven-year, $700 million bid to acquire exclusive rights to Major League Baseball’s Extra Innings out-of-market package.
Carey, in a letter addressed to Federal Communications Commission Media Bureau chief Monica Shah Desai, wrote that DirecTV, as it has with the NFL Sunday Ticket and NASCAR HOTPASS packages, would offer a better product to consumers with more content and features, notably being offered in HD and with Strike Zone channel offering live cut-ins to other games, as well as scores and statistics.
He noted that if “our experience with NASCAR HOTPASS is any indicator, more people will choose to subscribe to Extra Innings on DirecTV alone than when the product was available on cable nationwide.”
The DirecTV chief also claimed that “no one would be denied access” to the out-of-market games because those consumers switching from cable to the DBS leader will be outfitted with free equipment and installation. He added that the 5,000 people who could not receive Extra Innings will have access to the games via MLB.com.
The exclusive pitch for the package -- which has been characterized by a number of reports as being all but a done deal -- has drawn the ire of TV columnists, bloggers, sports fans and some clubs, not to mention In Demand and EchoStar Communications’ Dish Network, both of which would be shut out should MLB approve DirecTV’s proposal.
Carey also pointed out that while DirecTV would carry The Baseball Channel, which the league plans to launch in 2009, as part of the proposed Extra Innings pact, it would not have exclusive rights to the service -- another bone of contention among critics.
Carey’s letter also placed the number of non-DirecTV Extra Innings subscribers at 230,000. Published reports have estimated DirecTV’s Extra Innings roster at 270,000-300,000.
