Prime Ticket Network, operator of Fox Sports West and
Fox Sports West 2, filed an antitrust case against the Walt
Disney Co., and its subsidiaries, the Mighty Ducks and ESPN.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
It alleges that the Disney entities have "induced and
persuaded the largest and most important cable operators in
Southern California to boycott FSW2" in order to permit
Disney to launch a regional sports cable network of its own
in Southern CA centered around the Ducks and Angels. In the
suit, Prime Ticket Network, dba Fox Sports, claims that
Disney used its "enormous leverage over cable operators" in
preventing them from carrying FSW2 (Fox Sports). Cable
operators have said the channel is "too expensive" to carry,
according to Barbara Kingsley of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.
Disney filed suit on February 4, alleging Fox "breached its
agreement by putting" the Mighty Ducks on FSW2 without its
consent. A judge is expected to hear arguments today on a
permanent injunction that would put Ducks broadcasts back on
Fox Sports West (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/25). Disney
Spokesperson John Dreyer labeled the suit "a feeble attempt
to strike back at us" (Richard Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 2/25).
