ESPN programming on NASN?

I'm sure those of you that subscribe to NASN (not me, i don't sub when the baseball is off-season) will have noticed that there have been some issues with ESPN programmes. Reading various articles and the NASN site itself, seems the contract ran out, wasn't going to be renewed, but now a 3 month deal has been reached to continue with ESPN progs. However, on the NASN site under the MLB section header it has the following:

- Direct coverage from local US networks
- MLB's This week in Baseball

That doesn't fill me with too much hope! Firstly, I have to admit to preferring ESPN's coverage when compared to the local networks, like YES or NESN, which are often so biased that it spoils the game (i remember putting the volume down on one local broadcast of the Cubs last year - can't remember the network - as it was just so ridiculously one-sided) Secondly, whilst TWIB is an ok programme, the loss of Baseball Tonight would be a blow to NASN too

There have been rumours about ESPN starting their own channel, etc, etc - don't know if there is any truth in this, but i don't think anything that further dilutes the coverage of live Baseball on British screens could be a good thing. At the moment we have our 'entry level' terrestrial coverage that five do a decent job with, and if you want more, you can get NASN on Sky or Cable. Having two seperate pay channels diluting the coverage wouldn't be a good move ... so hopefully NASN can, as they hope to do, renegotiate a further contract with ESPN in the new year - whilst i don't think it will put me off subscribing during the ball season, i think it would taint the product slightly ... fingers crossed!