Dodgers, Time Warner Cable Announce SportsNet LA
By Jimmy Bramlett
Computer rendering of a renovated Dodger Stadium (LA Dodgers/used with permission)
It's a regional sports network! The Dodgers announced they will be launching their very own RSN SportsNet LA in an agreement with Time Warner Cable.
"We concluded last year that the best way to give our fans what they want - more content and more Dodger baseball - was to launch our own network," Dodger chairman Mark Walter said in a press release.
The Dodgers formed American Media Productions, LLC in December 2012 to launch the channel. Time Warner Cable will be a distributor of the channel and will also provide "certain non-game production and technical services to AMP" according to the press release.
SportsNet LA will be the exclusive home to Dodger games beginning in the 2014 season. Games for this upcoming season will still be on Prime Ticket and KCAL 9.
Not announced was whether the Dodgers will also create a Spanish-language station like the Lakers and Time Warner Cable did. However what is expected like the Lakers is carriage and distribution battles with other cable and satellite providers in the outset of the 2014 season. According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times SportsNet LA is expected to cost $5 per month, a full dollar more than the Lakers TWC SportsNet.
As Shaikin also reported the 25-year deal is pending approval with Major League Baseball and is expected to bring the Dodgers $7 billion to $8 billion. That should explain the spending spree. However Mike Ozanian of Forbes has a few questions about the accounting.