Fox Sports launched its new west coast RSN, Fox Sports
West 2, and "more than likely, it won't be showing on a
cable system near you," according to Larry Stewart of the
L.A. TIMES. Out of Fox Sports West's 175 affiliates in four
states, about 100 in Southern CA were targeted to carry Fox
Sports West 2, but currently, only 14 have signed-on,
representing between 350,000 and 400,000 homes. Unless more
cable companies pick up Fox Sports 2, many viewers will not
be able to see Mighty Ducks, Clippers or Dodgers telecasts.
HIGH COST? Stewart notes that cable operators are
paying $1 a subscriber per month to carry Fox Sports West,
but are now being asked to pay $.75 more for Fox Sports West
2. Fox is attempting to persuade operators that $.75 per
subscriber is "a fair price," despite other sports channels
like Classic Sports Network and The Golf Channel going for
around $.20 per subscriber range. Cable operators claim
they are being "strong-armed" into carrying West 2.
COMPLAINTS: Fox feels operators will carry West 2
because it holds rights to Clippers, Mighty Ducks and
Dodgers games. The Ducks "initially" welcomed the new
channel as a chance for more exposure, but team officials
"have become more tight-lipped" with fans complaining about
not getting West 2. Anaheim Sports Enterprises President
Tony Tavares: "I'm sure not upset abut it. But I didn't
say I wasn't concerned" (L.A. TIMES, 1/27).
