Starts up Jan 1st...Comcast is already showing baseball hilights on the channel...

Comcast will presumably make it available on the same sports tier that they've placed the NFL and NHL networks and other such channels. Here's an AP writeup about it.



That was part of the deal when they tried to move the MLB Extra Innings package exclusively to DirecTV -- the cable companies had to agree to add MLB Network in order to keep Extra Innings.



So it's like ESPNEWS but all-baseball.

I never miss NHL On The Fly each night, so I'm hoping it will be as good....

FINALLY!!!!!
MLB Network is on. The set looks great. Can't wait for Matt Vasgersian to get on air....GRRRRR.

Comcast has it on their digital cable stations, which is kinda the basic digital cable thing that comes with a cable box. But it's not on the same package with the NFL Network, NBA channel and NHL channel. Those 3 are in the sports tier that has an extra 5 dollar fee to get...at least that's how it is here in Fort Myers, Fla. But, without the sports tier, MLB would still be available.

I already have the sports tier package and since they placed MLB network in the same channel number range as the others (NBA-273, NFL-275, NHL-276, MLB-280) I assumed it was going to be part of that plan.

For those who have DirecTV, which has a significant stake in this new network, it's on channel 213 (HD & SD). Looks very nice in HD!

From what I recall reading, it's available in DirecTV's basic packages. One need not have a high-level package to receive it. This is probably partly because MLB does not charge anything to DirecTV to carry it, which is unusual, due to DirecTV's involvement in helping to get this channel launched.

It's channel 272 here in Minneapolis on comcast. It's not part of the NFL network package as I still don't have authorization for that channel.
I'd say it's free, but I just opened up by cable bill today and those greedy pricks just raised by bill $6.50, so MLB wasn't technically free even though I'm not really paying extra for it.

josh

I thought you moved to Chicago, Josh. Anyway, maybe you can dump cable and go with DirecTV. We can both get refer a friend credits, you know.

Originally, the MLB network was to be started by and available on DirecTV, which also would have gotten a major ownership position.

When some of the big cable companies complained, and threatened not to carry it, DirecTV allowed MLB to cut an ownership deal which also included TWC, Cox and Comcast.

Those who didn't pick up MLB Extra Innings starting last season (and agree to wide carriage of MLB Net) were supposed to be locked out of MLB EI for a number of years (I believe six.)

So DirecTV apparently COULD have helped the cable guys, but although it lost its exclusive ownership position, did get the channel and access to Comcast's HD Philadelphia Phillies coverage and Cox's HD San Diego Padres coverage via MLB EI. Neither had been available prior to last year.

In addition, DirecTV, while advertising it would broadcast "more than 10" HD games a week in its MLB EI package, actually provided about 80% in HD, with far more than half available in HD from each team's broadcast.

In return for giving up its exclusivity, it finally broke through and got Comcast and Cox content previously unavailable.

Chicago was always a possibility but last year when we were deciding, my boyfriend and I went with Minneapolis instead.

I figure when I get my own place, I'll look into directTV (and of course keep you in mind for the refer a friend)...it just doesn't seem worth it to do all that satellite junk while renting!

josh

I can see choosing the Twin Cities due to a job or something, but other than that, it pales compared to Chicago. I don't live in the city and go there rarely--traffic, parking, and expense are the biggest reasons--but I must admit that Chicago offers much more than Minneapolis.

BTW, I rent and have been a DirecTV customer for 11 years. In fact, I've got numerous receivers connected in my place. I don't know what you mean by junk, either. The receivers are much better than anything cable can come up with, and the number of HD channels I have blows away Comcast here. Plus, with the NFL Sunday Ticket in HD and MLB's Extra Innings in HD, well, I'm set.

Saw about 15 minutes of the "Hot Stove" show last night; dullsville, maybe even worse than ESPN. "Analysts" Harold Reynolds and Mitch Williams are still idiots.

Hopefully there'll be a show featuring seamhead writers around 1 a.m.? Someday?

Joe Magrane is fantastic though... sad to see him gone from the Rays broadcast, but it's great he'll get to show the rest of the nation his amazingness.

The problem is there's not enough going on. There are no games, obviously. And if there isn't that much other news to talk about, it's a waste. How much can they talk about which team might sign Manny Ramirez?

There's plenty of room for cogent analysis -- Baseball Prospectus runs a full complement of articles all winter. Unfortunately, "HR" applauding the pickup of Willy Taveras just qualifies as comedy.

Newly-retired Sean Casey is joining the MLB Network as an analyst.

I'm sure he will join the other dozen ex-jock analysts they have in telling us who's "great in the clubhouse." (Al Leiter is usually an exception, being smarter than average.)

MLB Network is doing its first live game broadcasts this week -- the Caribbean World Series. I saw the beginning of both games yesterday and got the impression that the announcers may be in the MLB studios and not actually at the ballpark in Mexicali, Mexico (the same way NBC covered Olympic baseball last year). I assume they won't do that when they actually show MLB games.

The last thing I read about their coverage of regular-season MLB games is it will be limited to one game a week, using one of the participating teams' telecast feed. So, no.

Now that they've signed Bob Costas, at least some of their games won't be using the teams' feeds -- at least not the audio portion.

Their prime-time coverage is a low-cost alternative to Extra Innings (at least on my cable system).

Downsides: Harold Reynolds, and that ubiquitous f***ing "Forever Young" Pepsi commercial.