As the Clippers have improved their play on the court, they "continue to close the gap" between themselves and the Lakers in local TV ratings, according to Ben Bolch of the L.A. TIMES. Clippers games on FS Prime Ticket through Dec. 31 averaged a 1.15 local rating, which was "still below" the Lakers' average of 1.68 on Time Warner Cable SportsNet. But that is the "closest the teams have ever been" in the metric. The Lakers "had a 4.35 rating" at the midpoint of the '12-13 season and the Clippers a 1.5. Even G Kobe Bryant's "farewell tour has not saved the Lakers from experiencing their lowest ratings since moving" to L.A. and a 23% "drop from this time last season." The Clippers "may seek a new television partner after their contract with Prime Ticket expires at the end of this season." The sides are "still involved in what one executive close to the situation described as 'on-again, off-again discussions.'" But Bolch notes Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer is "also considering other options, including streaming games in a Netflix-like setup, and may be willing to try an innovative approach that entails some financial risk." One TV exec said that Fox has "no intention of getting into a bidding war with the Clippers over rights fees in the wake of Time Warner Cable's disastrous contract with the Dodgers." Fox, which has paid the Clippers about $25M "annually for broadcast rights, offered to increase the amount" to $60M per season. The Clippers "countered with a request" for $100M a year (L.A. TIMES, 1/7).
