MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL), better known as Minor League Baseball, announced today that its member clubs have taken the actions of centralizing all digital rights in a wholly-owned subsidiary, the Baseball Internet Rights Company LLC (BIRCO), and agreeing to a new long-term partnership agreement with MLB Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball. The deal had been on the ropes earlier this year when the NAPBL called for a mid-September vote (See: "Keep Your Ball on the I," SZ, 09.04.08). The NA has been pushing for this deal for years, and has slowly eroded substantial resistance from its member clubs.

Financial terms of the agreement with MLBAM, which supersedes the original agreement between the two parties signed in January 2005, were not disclosed.

“The formation of BIRCO and our agreement with MLBAM represents a great opportunity for Minor League Baseball to grow our online presence exponentially in the coming years,” said Frank Burke, BIRCO Board of Directors Chairman. “MLBAM is a pioneer in the industry and we look forward to working together with them to maximize the opportunities for the member franchises of BIRCO.”

This agreement, which runs through 2012, maintains that MLBAM will remain the exclusive provider of interactive media services to Minor League Baseball. MLBAM will continue to handle ticketing, content and advertising and sponsorship while maintaining the exclusive online rights for use of NAPBL, league and team trademarks, names, logos, mascots, player likenesses, photos and game video. In addition, MLBAM remains the official statistician for Minor League Baseball and manages statistical syndication.

“MLBAM is pleased to have played a role in building a strong foundation for growth in the online business of Minor League Baseball over the past three years,” said Bob Bowman, President & CEO, MLBAM. “We look forward to continue doing so and firmly believe this unified commitment from the Minor League clubs, led by Pat O’Conner and Frank Burke, will further the growth through a comprehensive online experience for fans and a revenue-generating platform for the leagues and clubs.”

Here are highlights of the MLBAM-NAPBL online partnership since January 2005:
· 162 clubs and leagues are currently participating

· 135 million visitors to MiLB.com and participating club sites

· 840 million page views on MiLB.com and participating club sites

· 25,000 live games streamed to MiLB.com network