❗Let's close the gap: We still need your help to raise $40,000 by April 1. Donate now

Will baseball network hit a home run?

Jeremy Hobson Jan 1, 2009
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Will baseball network hit a home run?

Jeremy Hobson Jan 1, 2009
HTML EMBED:
COPY

TEXT OF STORY

STEVE CHIOTAKIS: There’s another channel being added to many cable TV lineups tonight. The MLB network — as in Major League Baseball. But can a startup cable network survive in this economy? Here’s Marketplace’s Jeremy Hobson.


JEREMY HOBSON: The MLB Network is doing one thing very differently than its football counterpart, the NFL network: It’s giving an equity interest to various cable and satellite providers — in order to get on the air in more homes right away. Sports Consultant and former CBS Sports President Neal Pilson says that means if the MLB Network is successful…

NEAL PILSON: They’re going to have to share their revenues with a number of other partners. On the other hand, if the NFL channel achieves success, they will keep 100 percent of their revenues.

The MLB Network will not be airing many live games. It’ll be a mix of classic matchups and original programming, including a daily 8-hour baseball highlight show once the regular season starts.

PILSON:
Their effort is going to be to make the channel the place to go first for baseball news and information 24/7.

As for starting up in the middle of a recession, Pilson says there’s never really an easy time to start a cable channel.

In New York, I’m Jeremy Hobson for Marketplace.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.