More than five months from its Jan. 1 debut, Major League Baseball's new cable channel already is assured of being seen in more than 50 million of the nation's 113 million TV households, according to the channel's CEO, Tony Petitti. Major operators Comcast, Cablevision and Time-Warner will offer the network on a digital basic package. DirecTV also will offer it on basic.

By comparison, NFL Network (which launched in 2003) is in 40 million homes, and NBA TV (which launched in 1999) is in 15 million. Petitti, who joined the new network last month after 11 years at CBS, shared his vision in a phone chat:

• At least initially, MLB Network plans to air only one live major-league game per week, on Saturday nights, because it realizes most fans want to watch their local teams. On most nights, expect a multihour block of live studio programming, with scores, highlights, analysis and cut-ins to games.

''We will have the definitive highlights show in the last hour of the studio each night,'' Petitti said. But luring viewers from ESPN's Baseball Tonight will be challenging. ''ESPN has very good talent, and we will need a strong team that people see as entertaining and credible,'' Petitti said. ``Maybe being on a little more will help us.''

No announcers have been hired, but it wouldn't be surprising if MLB Network pursues broadcasters from ESPN. (Remember, NFL Network hired former ESPN anchor Rich Eisen as its signature studio voice when it launched.)

• Petitti said there is ''some interest in replaying games'' hours after they happen, perhaps as overnight or morning programming. Also under consideration: a package of minor-league games and games from Japan and Latin America.

• Offseason programming will include a live studio show with news (''at least a couple of hours in prime time,'' Petitti said) and lots of programming from MLB's archives, including rebroadcasts of classic games. ''We don't want to be a classic channel -- we want to be current,'' Petitti said. ``But we want to do a lot about the history of the game. We'll develop series, do some theme-week programming.''

The channel -- which will be based in Secaucus, N.J., and available in high definition -- has only 10 employees, but ''a year from today, we'll be between 165 and 175,'' Petitti said. ``You're building this from scratch, and it's a great challenge.

``Because we'll be so widely available from the start, you want to get it right as soon as possible.''