One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Dodgers, Time Warner Cable Announce SportsNet LA
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.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
