MLB Extra Innings On Deck

The 2008 Major League Baseball season has already kicked off, with Boston and Oakland playing two games in Japan to get things started. If you are a true fan of America’s pastime, there is nothing better than the MLB extra innings package to follow all of the action in 2008.

So what is the MLB Extra Innings Package? The Extra Innings package gives you up to 80 Major League games every week. These games are not the normal games broadcast on network or cable systems in your area, so this package is ideal for a fan who wants to see a particular team, but does not live in that local broadcast area.

Thus, MLB Extra Inning games are in addition to games on ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, TBS, and any local or regional broadcasts in the area you live in, such as on the Fox Regional networks.

How many games per day can you expect to see? For a full schedule, click here. Generally there are more games on weekdays, as Fox and ESPN have national broadcast rights on Saturdays and Sunday evenings. Here is additional information on the national broadcast restrictions and blackouts.

Where can you get MLB Extra Innings? Currently the package is available through DIRECTV and a number of cable TV providers including Comcast, Cox Cable, and Time Warner Cable. Costs are slightly different depending on your provider, so be sure to check the price before ordering. At this time, it does not look like DISH Network will offer the Extra Innings package in 2008.

What about games in HD? High definition broadcasts are another variable to consider. DIRECTV is offering games every week in HD, but only if the subscriber buys the SuperFan add-on package. The SuperFan package is an additional $50, and includes up to 40 HD games each week on channels 722-737. The SuperFan package also includes the Game Mix channel on 720, where up to 8 live games are broadcast simultaneously. Also included is the Strike Zone channel on 721, broadcasting the best of MLB.

HD broadcasts on cable vary by provider. Currently Comcast will not offer any HD for the Extra Innings package, while others have yet to comment on whether they will carry the “up to10 games a week in high definition” promised by iN DEMAND.