dslreports logo
 story category
Time Warner Cable Still Stonewalling LA Dodgers Fans

Many Dodgers Fans in Los Angeles still can't watch their favorite team on cable because the team's channel, co-owned by Time Warner Cable, continues to refuse to seriously negotiate with other pay TV providers in the region. Time Warner Cable raised rates on competing pay TV providers last year, and competitors like AT&T, DirecTV, Cox and others balked at the company's rumored $5 per subscriber asking price for the channel.

Click for full size
As a result, negotiations remain at an impasse and an estimated 70% of Dodgers fans in LA aren't able to watch their favorite team as a new baseball season begins. Dodgers team President and CEO Stan Kasten insists the situation is the most difficult customer relations challenge he's ever faced.

In an e-mail Q&A with Forbes, Time Warner Cable lays the blame at the feet of competing cable providers, which the company says refuse to negotiate. The cable operator continues to proclaim that if users don't like the situation, they can "switch to a provider that carries the network":

quote:
"We want all Dodger fans to have access to SportsNet LA. Despite our repeated attempts, other providers are unwilling to engage in any discussions. If Dodger fans want to enjoy SportsNet LA this season, we encourage them to switch to a provider that carries the network."
But that's just it: many LA users can't switch to a provider that carriers the network because only Time Warner Cable carrier the network -- and millions of Los Angeles customers live outside of Time Warner Cable's footprint. Over the air broadcasts are out as well, as Time Warner Cable's deal with the team is a cable-broadcast exclusive. When pressed as to why the company can't budge on pricing, Time Warner Cable will only say "SportsNet LA is available on fair terms consistent with its value."


Most recommended from 51 comments



n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

4 recommendations

n2jtx

Member

People Need To Decide

Sports need to wake up and finally make a decision as to whether or not sports programming is worth the billions of dollars extracted from all TV customers. Perhaps through shear luck, I never developed an interest in professional sports and would rather watch grass grow than tune in to an NFL or MLB game. Perhaps when more sports fanatics realize there is more to life than sitting in front of the flat screen cheering on a bunch of guys who could care less about you, the carriers will start looking at their empty wallets and realize they have a problem.

pjcamp
@choopa.com

3 recommendations

pjcamp

Anon

I object

to having $5 or any dollars extorted from me for something I don't watch. If that's the going rate, then probably half my DirecTV bill is supporting that crap. Make sports optional and let those who want it pay for it.