WASHINGTON — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig defended his sport's hardline stance with cable companies over access to out-of-market games, and received a measure of support from NBA commissioner David Stern on Thursday.

Members of Congress and others have criticized Major League Baseball for its $700 million deal with satellite provider DirecTV to air the league's "Extra Innings" package, which allows fans to watch up to 60 out-of-market games a week for an annual subscription of $160 to $200.

The deal requires cable companies to match the terms offered by DirecTV, including a commitment to carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009.

So far the cable companies have refused to do so, though negotiations continue. If a deal is not reached, it means about 230,000 cable customers who previously subscribed to the Extra Innings package will lose access unless they switch to DirecTV.

Selig spoke during a panel discussion sponsored by the American Society of Newspaper Editors that also included Stern, NASCAR chief executive Brian France and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Selig said nearly every customer will have the option of either switching to DirecTV or subscribing to a similar package over the Internet offered by baseball through its MLB.TV product.

"I agonized over" the decision to go with DirecTV, Selig said. "Obviously our objective is to get our product in front of as many people as possible ... But the number of people who can't get DirecTV is very, very small."

Stern ridiculed Congress for holding a hearing on the deal this week.

"As a taxpayer, I think the most important thing the Senate should be doing is holding hearings on Bud's DirecTV package," Stern said sarcastically. "I don't care about health care or ... the war in Iraq."