• Mediaweek, Monday, February 26, 2007 11:15 AM

Federal regulators intend to eyeball a $700 million deal between the nation's top satellite TV company and Major League Baseball, according to Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.. Kerry, a diehard Red Sox fan and former presidential candidate, is pushing the FCC to look into the "Extra Innings" package because it might restrict fans' ability to see their favorite games on TV.

In a letter to Kerry, FCC chairman Kevin Martin says he has requested additional information from the two about the agreement. "Once we have this information, we will report to you on the deal's implications for consumers and any recommended changes to the law to ameliorate any harm to consumers," Martin writes.

Kerry says he is pleased that the commission is looking into the deal and "it's good to know that [Martin] also has concerns about a deal that has the potential to deny choice to so many consumers -- all apparently in the interest of a short-term profit for Major League Baseball." Under the terms of the deal, MLB's "Extra Innings" package would be available only to people with DirecTV.

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