The deal to place Extra Innings exclusively on DirecTV could be signed as early as today, with an announcement arriving "within 24 hours," according to John Ourand & Eric Fisher of the Sports Business Journal. MLB executives, however, say no announcement is planned for either today or tomorrow.

A new wrinkle in the deal may be the length of exclusivity on the satcaster. As reported by Ourand and Fisher on today’s Closing Bell of the Sports Business Daily:

[I]ndustry sources said DirecTV's exclusive hold on the package will only last the first three of the seven years of the deal, potentially opening up an opportunity for other carriers to get Extra Innings starting in the 2010 season…. could ease angry fan sentiment surrounding the DirecTV-MLB marriage.

As further mentioned, the move to shorten the window would coincide with MLB’s planned launch of a 24-hour baseball-only channel slated to launch in 2009. “The belief is that MLB would be able to get cable distribution for its channel if it also offers cable operators Extra Innings.”

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