Comcast Will Offer 'Extra Innings' In HD
The cable operator reverses its earlier position.
By Swanni
The position is a reversal from the company's stance less than two weeks ago.
In Demand, the company that will distribute the pay package of baseball games to cable operators, is expected to offer up to 10 'out-of-market' games a week in HD as well as up to 80 in standard-def.
But Comcast spokeswoman Jenni Moyer told TVPredictions.com on March 19 that the cable operator would not broadcast the high-def games to its subscribers.
"Only SD," Moyer said.
Asked why on March 19, Moyer said it wasn't because the cable operator didn't have room on its system for the HD games which require more capacity.
"It's most likely because we don't have an agreement to carry it in HD," she said.
However, In Demand spokeswoman Ellen Cooper told TVPredictions.com on Friday (March 28) that every cable operator that carries the Extra Innings package (including SD games) has the rights to also offer the HD games.
Asked about Cooper's statement, Moyer acknowledged in an e-mail Friday night that Comcast does have the rights to offer the high-def games.
She added: "Ellen is in fact correct and I have confirmed that. We do have the rights to offer MLB (Extra Innings) in HD and local systems are deciding whether to offer it...Some of our systems will carry MLB EI in HD this season."
As of Sunday, Moyer had not responded to a follow-up question regarding which local Comcast systems will carry the HD games.
Cable viewers can watch Extra Innings games by ordering the package through their cable operator for a one-time rate of slightly less than $200.
Time Warner and Cox have also said they will offer both SD and HD games, with the latter saying the high-def games will be available in San Diego and Rhode Island.
Cablevision has refused to comment whether they will provide the HD games while Charter Communications has failed to respond to several inquiries from TVPredictions.com.
DIRECTV is offering up to 40 Extra Innings games a week in HD, although the high-def coverage will cost an additional $50 over the standard SD package of $179.
Dish Network did not carry the pay package last year and has announced that it will not do so this year, either.
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Swanni (Phillip Swann) is
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