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MUMBAI:
Time Warner Cable SportsNet has pipped Fox Sports to land
an exclusive television deal with Los Angeles Dodgers to launch
a new regional sports network.
The
network which will be known as SportsNet LA will be controlled
by American Media Productions (AMI), a subsidiary of LA Dodgers.
AMI was launched in December last year to launch a new Los
Angeles Dodgers regional sports network.
SportsNet
LA will be the home for the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning
with the 2014 Major League Baseball season. In addition to
being the exclusive local home for all of the Dodger games,
SportsNet LA will provide comprehensive behind-the-scenes
Dodger programming, featuring more insights, analysis and
commentary about the team than ever available before.
Time
Warner Cable (TWC) has agreed to be SportsNet LA's charter
distributor, and will carry the new network for its customers
throughout Southern California and Hawaii under a long-term
affiliation deal.
The
deal is estimated to be worth between $7 billion to $8 billion
over 20 to 25 years and does not include a Spanish-language
channel. The team's current rights deal with Fox pays about
$40 million annually while the new deal is worth $280 million
annually.
Fox
had given an exclusive 45-day window to Dodgers at the end
of the 2012 season to negotiate an extension. However, the
exclusive window expired.
In
addition, in return for agreeing to make payments over the
life of the deal, TWC will be the exclusive advertising and
affiliate sales agent for the new network and will have certain
branding and programing rights with respect to the network.
TWC will also provide certain non-game production and technical
services to AMP.
Los
Angeles Dodgers chairman Mark Walter said, "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. 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. Just as we are actively transforming
the team and the stadium, we want the Dodgers to be exhibited
on the very best sports network in the country - one that
will provide an unrivaled fan experience."
AMP
principal owner Todd Boehly said, "We are greatly pleased
that Time Warner Cable, the largest distributor in the market
place, has come aboard to support the Dodgers and SportsNet
LA as our charter distributor. Their presence in Los Angeles
will be invaluable in helping us serve Dodger fans and our
community with excellence."
"We
are delighted to support the Dodgers and their ownership group
in their launch of SportsNet LA. The Dodgers have one of the
most passionate and loyal audiences in sports, and we look
forward to helping deliver this new network to their fans,"
said Time Warner Cable Sports President David Rone. "This
deal, like our Lakers' deal, furthers our efforts to attain
greater certainty and control over local and regional sports
programming costs."
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