Fox Sports Net yesterday announced it will produce over 100 games in Spanish this year featuring the Angels, Dodgers and Clippers. The broadcasts will include Spanish-language play-by-play, graphics and player interviews. All video providers in the L.A. market will have the opportunity to offer the games to their customers. The total number of Spanish-language telecasts will grow to more than 150 next year and will continue to grow in subsequent seasons (Fox Sports). SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's John Ourand notes Fox Sports is "negotiating with local cable operators to carry those Spanish-language games on a basic tier." FSN Exec VP Jeff Krolik said that move is "not a response to Time Warner's pending network launch." Krolik: "We've been doing Spanish-language games for two years. We're not in the business of reacting to anyone else." FSN "wouldn't charge more for the programming." Sources said that it appears TWC and Cox are "likely to carry it" in L.A. (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/19 issue). FSN said that the Spanish-language broadcasts would "complement existing cable sports network Fox Deportes," as well as local English-language nets FS West and FS Prime Ticket (VARIETY.com, 3/19).
