Maybe I'm not seeing this right, and I am trying to be objective. I would like to see EI available everywhere - that gives me the most options going forward also.
That being said, and as I stated, there is a contract NOW IN PLACE for carriage rights between D* and MLB. I would have to believe that there are specific terms that are being asked of for additional providers - if a provider meets those terms, they will get the package.
I can't see why MLB WOULDN'T want additional providers to buy the rights. After all, the more people that can receive it, the HIGHER the ad rates are - that is a HUGE amount of additional revenue for MLB and the different teams.
And as for the comment that MLB said they wouldn't negotiate in the media - wasn't it InDemand that made the FIRST public statement? MLB is responding in public, AS IT SHOULD to an already publicly made statement and press release.
It's all part of the identical negotiations that seem to go on in this industry ALL of the time IMO.