Fox Sports Net late yesterday filed an objection in the ongoing Dodgers bankruptcy case, arguing against a bid by the club's creditors to hire Lazard Freres & Co. LLC to evaluate the team's efforts to market its cable TV rights. The objection does not directly address the Dodgers' proposal filed last week to sell their TV rights in a quick two-stage process that would begin next month. That objection is expected to arrive in the coming days. But the FSN filing yesterday against the Dodgers' creditors shows how fiercely they intend to protect their current contractual rights with the club. FSN's Prime Ticket holds the Dodgers' TV rights through the '13 season and an exclusive negotiating window that extends into November '12. According to the filing yesterday, FSN's objection extends to "any action by any party that interferes with, impairs or undermines" the existing rights (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). In L.A., Bill Shaikin noted if the Dodgers "walk away from the Fox contract, as the law allows, Fox could make good in its threat to sue for damages." MLB also is "expected to oppose the Dodgers' bid to sell the television rights" (LATIMES.com, 9/20).
