MLB Network to launch on January 1, 2009

Tony Petitti is named as President and Chief Executive Officer of the MLB Network on Thursday. He has been serving as CBS Sports executive vice president and executive producer and was responsible for the CBS College Sports Network. MLB Network, which is scheduled to be launched on January 1, 2009, Tony Petitti will oversee all the day-to-day operations of the network. MLB is planning to broadcast baseball programming 24 hours a day, which will include 26 live Saturday night games during the regular season. Baseball Commissioner Allan H. Selig said "Tony has extraordinary experience in the television field and we are pleased that he will lead the MLB Network and prepare for its 2009 launch.