After rejecting a bid by cable companies to keep the premium package of games called "Extra Innings" a couple of weeks ago, saying that they fell short of meeting the conditions expected by the league, Major League Baseball has now entered into a seven-year deal with Comcast (CMCSA), Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable (TWC) for the subscription package, according to a press release on the MLB Web site.
The iN DEMAND distribution arm of these cable companies will offer other cable companies in the U.S. an opportunity for the subscription package as well. Any distributor will also be required to carry the MLB Channel once it is launched in 2009.
"Our chief goal throughout the process was to ensure that fans would have access to as many baseball games and as much baseball coverage as possible," said MLB President and Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy. "With this agreement, the MLB Channel will launch with an unprecedented platform. We are pleased with 
the launch of the MLB Channel to so many homes coupled with our agreement to extend the distribution of MLB Extra Innings with iN DEMAND."
The MLB Channel will be the only network that will offer MLB fans the opportunity to see baseball programming 24/7. The new channel will launch in about 40 million homes.
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