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

BASEBALL'S PROPOSED PARTNERSHIP WITH DIRECTV WOULD SHUT OUT MANY FANS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Michael McCarthy]
Baseball fans potentially affected by Major League Baseball's proposal to move its pay-per-view package exclusively to DirecTV are voicing their frustration and unhappiness about the plan. Past Extra Innings customers who don't have, can't get or won't get DirecTV are crying foul. They note many housing developments and apartment complexes ban satellite TV dishes. Potential DirecTV customers also need a clear view of the Southern sky. If their view is blocked by trees or buildings, they can't receive the DirecTV signal. "It's terrible. People like me are going to be penalized," says David MacGill, an 81-year-old retiree from Indianapolis. He says he has gotten Extra Innings through his cable operator because his community doesn't allow dishes. If the deal goes through, current or potential Extra Innings customers have a fallback option: watching the games via MLB.com's broadband service at $79 a year. Approximately 29 million U.S. homes have high-speed Internet connections, says the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. (Pitchers and catchers report in five days.)
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-02-08-directv_x.htm?csp=34