FAQ -- inDemand Deal for Out of Marketers

by ttagaris on Apr 5, 2007 11:21 AM CDT Comment 19 comments

I have searched for the answer to this question here, and have yet to find it. I have scoured the net with no success. Even Comcast can't seem to give me a straight answer.

One question.

I have Comcast Cable. I live in Connecticut. With the new deal, will I be able to watch Cubs games?

(If there are many questions, I can update this post with them and their appropriate responses. I have a feeling I am not the only one struggling right now)

Bonus question(s).

1.) The Comcast rep says it won't be like ordering NHL Center Ice ... the games will be on the inDemand channel. He seemed to insinuate that you can order them on a game-by-game basis.

Is that how this will work?

2.) I pressed him about ordering the whole package so I can see as many baseball games as inDemand presents. He said I had to do that through MLBTV.

Can I order that entire package through my Cable provider.

3.) By way of update, my Comcast in Connecticut says it will be available starting SUNDAY.

When will the games start becoming available?

4.) How much will the total package cost?

5.) What is the cost per game if you are forced to purchase individually?

6.) If you have subscribed monthy to MLB.TV premium, does that give you access to inDemand games on your cable box?

7.) If you have subscribed for the entire season to MLB.TV premium, does that give you access to inDemand games on your cable box?

What other questions are there?

This whole thing is confusing the hell out of me. And what makes it worse is that Comcast CT doesn't even carry WGN.

Little help.

Tim

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I have some answers.

The price is going to be $159.95 until April 15, then probably higher.

I think the Comcast rep is wrong -- he/she probably confused "inDemand" with "On Demand", which is Comcast's pay-per-view system. EI isn't a pay-per-view system. If you pay the freight, you should get all the games.

MLB.TV is completely separate from EI. If you paid for it, you have to pay again for EI.

And yes, I don't see any reason you shouldn't be able to get whatever Cubs games are on EI, in Connecticut.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 5, 2007 11:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As long as the deal goes through

You should get the vast majority of Cub games.Youd won't get about 10 and the Saturday afternoon games because of the Fox deal The cost should be $160 with perhaps a rebate for the missed week You get everything that EI package has, same as Direct TVYou do NOT order games individually.

At least this is how it HAS worked

"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Apr 5, 2007 11:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Anyone's Comcast Extra Innings Working Today?

They said Sunday for me.

And Al, I am friends with Markos & Jerome (I come from the political world). You guys have put together something real great in this network.

Waiting for the Hold 'Em scoop site ... which I think would also be wildly popular.

Tim

by ttagaris on Apr 5, 2007 11:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It really sounds

like you got a CSR who doesn't know what they're talking about.

Yes, you should be able to watch all Cub games in CT except the ones on Saturday afternoon. Sometimes you'll get the feed of the other team, but you should be able to see the game.

It may be that the CSR haven't been briefed on the new deal. And they WON'T be doing it on a per game basis.

I'd try again tomorrow or over the weekend and try to order again. You might want to even check around and see if the Cubs game is on right now in free preview mode, and they should have ordering information on there. Some people are reporting they're finding the MLB games on the NHL channels, so try there if you don't see it.

by Josh77 on Apr 5, 2007 12:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Should amend that

Extra Innings won't carry feeds in Chicago that are on WCIU. If the Cubs are on WCIU in Chicago and the other team isn't televising the game (or they're playing the Phillies or the Padres, who get none of their feeds on EI), then there's no Cub game on EI.

That's, at most, two games a year not on Saturday.

by Josh77 on Apr 5, 2007 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

that's why FSN Ohio was on mlb.tv Wednesday night.
I think we only missed about 10+ games all of last year on WGN, ESPN, or EI.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 5, 2007 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Comcast...

... in my area on the North Side of Chicago, does not have it on the NHL channels, at least not yet.

Those are the channels that had EI last year, so I'd expect to see the games there whenever they do appear, whether in free preview mode or full-pay mode.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 5, 2007 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

comcast in SF

just told me i should have a free preview all weekend, then can order it starting sunday.
they say it's up right now, but i'm not home to check...

by billywan on Apr 5, 2007 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not up yet

on Time Warner Los Angeles although I was told by customer service we get a free WEEK of viewing here.

by JFCubFan on Apr 5, 2007 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

...Comcast

...in Palm Beach County is showing MLB on the channel listing from the web site ...as the same as the NHL channels ... 771-780 ... on the Comcast web site.

771-780 are showing up as NHL game channels ONLY on the Television/Guide from the Cable box......no preview yet.....

by kcjones on Apr 5, 2007 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

TW San Diego

Has the games on -- the phone rep says this is the free preview. She was reading from an E-Mail -- 'pricing to be announced in a couple of days.'
She said, sorry, I can't sign you up just yet.

If you did see the games in your market today, you'll note there was no appeal to call -- which is a highlight of any free preview -- the constant pitch to call (probably) 1-888-SPORTS-IN.

Since the entire cable system isn't ready to sell yet -- no pitch. So, just be patient.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 5, 2007 2:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

NC

They announced their price of $159 which I just purchased online.

Check out Road To Wrigley, my NEW Cubs Minor League System website: Road To Wrigley

by jonpyardi on Apr 5, 2007 3:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Who is your carrier?

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 5, 2007 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Time Warner Cable

Check out Road To Wrigley, my NEW Cubs Minor League System website: Road To Wrigley

by jonpyardi on Apr 5, 2007 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Comcast

I'm up in Michigan, with Comcast, and the same applies here, $159.95 for the year. EI generallyu gives free previews at the beginning of the year and right after the All Star game.

I just wish that Comcast does what some of the satellite dish programs do, give you an out of market sports package, e.g., I could pick Comcast SportsNetChicago. Now, that would be sweet.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. -- George Santayana (1863-1952)

by cubfred on Apr 5, 2007 3:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You do realize

that all the Cubs games on CSN Chicago in the DirecTV sports pack are blacked out unless you get Extra Innings. In fact, pretty much all professional sports are blacked out. Pre-season games you get, but that's about it. You also get the pregame and postgame shows and a whole lot of reruns of The Best Damn Sports Show Period.

You do get some college games though. I had it for the college football season and managed to get every Iowa football game except one without paying for the $99 ESPN GameDay package. But living in Michigan, I'd imagine you already get most of the Big Ten sports that you'd get in the sports pack.

by Josh77 on Apr 5, 2007 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Charter...

..is my cable provider in southern Michigan. I talked to two different customer service reps who didn't know anything - they were reading from a week old script.

I called the corporate office in St. Louis, and after an hour on hold (I was watching Dice-K on MLB.TV so the time went by fast), the person there said they are in negotiations with Indemand now. So after waiting for Indemand and MLB to finally reach an agreement, now I have to wait for Charter to come to terms with Indemand.

My five day free trial with MLB.TV might have to become a permanent thing. Boo Charter!!

by 08 Cubs on Apr 5, 2007 5:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Charter

is not part of the deal with iN Demand, only Cox, Comcast and Time Warner. If they want the package, they'll have to agree to carry the MLB channel, but they won't get any equity in it like the big three got.

It's going to be interesting negotiations on that. We'll see if iN Demand, who was screaming about the unfairness of all of this, is going to be fair to the cable companies who aren't part of their consortium.

by Josh77 on Apr 5, 2007 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Time Warner in Green Bay

I am officially signed up! The programming shows as the free trial, but I was signed up at 4 monthly charges of $39.99. I'm doing a little dance. As soon as I got home I turned on the Diamondbacks vs. the Nationals. Why? Because I can!

Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean...

by eamuscatuli1881 on Apr 5, 2007 9:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs