A Los Angeles Dodgers fan reacts after the St. Louis Cardinals won Game One of the National League Division Series 10-9 at Dodger Stadium on October 3, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
The collapse of the $454 billion Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger means more uncertainty for Dodgers fans.
It would have created a cable and internet powerhouse with coast to coast reach. As part of the merger, and a side deal with Charter Communications, the merged company would have taken over almost all Southern California cable households. Most Angelenos haven’t been to watch the games ever since the Dodgers sold exclusive marketing rights for their team-owned channel, SportsNet LA, to TWC in a 25-year deal. DirectTV and every other cable carrier rejected TWC’s proposed rate of almost $5 per-month-per-subscriber for the game channel. The Comcast deal was seen as a way to write down that cost but now that it’s no longer an option, even sports business analysts are scratching their heads over what comes next.
Does TWC cut its losses of more than $100 million a year? Take themselves off the market? Attract another carrier? Dodgers fans want to know.
Guests:
Ed Desser, President, Desser Sports Media
Bill Shaikin, Baseball Writer, Los Angeles Times