Major League Baseball and satellite provider DirecTV announced a seven-year agreement to continue carriage rights to the MLB Extra Innings subscription package of out-of-market games, and include the launch of the MLB Channel as part of DirecTV’s basic package, DirecTV announced March 8.

Included in the agreement is DirecTV’s becoming a minority partner in the MLB Channel and working with MLB to develop the network, which will launch in 2009.

MLB and DirecTV included a provision allowing MLB Extra Innings to be offered to other broadcasters – In Demand and Dish Network – at consistent rates and carriage requirements with a deal to be concluded before the baseball season begins, the companies said. That provision would requires the others to agree to carriage rights to the MLB Channel proportionally equivalent to DirecTV’s commitment; otherwise the MLB Extra Innings package will be exclusive to DirecTV with all out-of-market games also available over the Internet on MLB.com.