Dodgers' game broadcasts for the fourth consecutive season "could go unseen by a majority of fans” in the L.A. TV market, according to Shaikin & James of the L.A. TIMES. Charter Communications yesterday said that it “does not anticipate reaching agreements with DirecTV or any other cable or satellite provider to carry the Dodgers-owned SportsNet LA channel by the time the regular season starts.” A source said that there are “no current plans to air any games on free television.” Shaikin & James note Charter “inherited the channel last year in its merger with Time Warner Cable,” which agreed to pay the Dodgers $8.35B over 25 years for exclusive local TV rights. In November, the Department of Justice sued AT&T, “alleging its DirecTV subsidiary had violated antitrust law by sharing information about SportsNet LA negotiations with other carriers.” If the case is thrown out -- a hearing is set for March 13 -- AT&T would “appear to have little incentive to pick up the Dodgers channel.” Beyond that, it is “uncertain" whether new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions "would support the DOJ in pursuing the suit.” Meanwhile, Charter said that it was "'continuing to look into' streaming SportsNet LA broadcasts for subscribers” (L.A. TIMES, 2/14).
