[EaglesFan]

Baseball's proposed partnership with DirecTV would shut out many fans - USA Today

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has called for the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the proposed $700 million, seven-year deal that would shift the Extra Innings package, beginning this season.

Extra Innings offers up to 60 out-of-market regular-season games a week for $179 a season. It is particularly popular with transplants who can follow their favorite teams from anywhere in the country. Households with digital cable or satellite TV have been able to get Extra Innings. There are 63 million homes with digital cable or satellite TV, says Brian Dietz, spokesman for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. DirecTV now has 15.6 million homes.

The MLB-DirecTV deal is expected to include the rollout of a 24-hour baseball channel in 2009 that, combined with network and cable telecasts, could offer viewers more baseball viewing options than ever. MLB and DirecTV declined to comment on the impending deal. Past Extra Innings customers who don't have, can't get or won't get DirecTV are crying foul.

As long as they start adding on to their HD broadcasts, I'll be happy.