Sports

Dodgers Ink Deal for Their Own Sports Network

Starting in 2014, "SportsNet LA" will start broadcasting Dodger games.

 

Los Angeles Dodgers have announced the launch of SportsNet LA, their regional sports network.

The network will launch on Time Warner Cable locally for the 2014 season.

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The team said Monday that its ownership group created an American Media Productions LLC subsidiary in December 2012 to launch the network.

According to a report on MLB.com, Time Warner will be paying for most of the cost of the project.

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TWC will also make payments and have the exclusive advertising and affiliate sales rights.

 "The creation of AMP will provide substantial financial resources over the coming years for the Dodgers to build on their storied legacy and bring a world championship home to Los Angeles," said Dodgers chairman Mark Walter in a statement.

SportsNet LA would be the sixth regional sports network in the L.A. market.

“Our mission is to have the most fan-friendly sports programming, and we welcome ideas and suggestions from our Dodger community,"  added Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten in a statement released Monday morning.

Some fear, however, that Time Warner may charge other local cable providers to carry the network, raising cable rates generally.

Earlier this month, the Dodgers formally unveiled a slate of improvements to Dodger Stadium and the "fan experience" currently underway at Chavez Ravine.

Read our coverage of that here.

At the press conference, Janet Marie Smith, Senior Vice President of Planning and Development, noted that the Dodgers would be "digging into their archives" for part of that.

The announcement of the nearly wholly-owned cable network raises similar issues about whether the archives will be used to create programming.

The new Dodger owners have also hinted that they are considering creating a Dodger Museum, and recently brought back legendary pitcher Sandy Koufax to serve as special advisor to Chairman Walter.


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