The Dodgers' record-setting TV deal with Time Warner Cable is "the source of a massive black cloud hanging over everything -- and there is no sign of that cloud going away soon," according to Bill Plunkett of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Approximately 70% of the Dodgers’ Southern California market "remains shut out from viewing" the Dodgers-owned and TWC-distributed SportsNet LA, and it has been months since TWC and DirecTV "have engaged in any meaningful negotiations." A planned merger between Comcast and TWC also "remains under government review 13 months after it was announced." Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten said that he "feels 'horrible' about the blackout." What Kasten "doesn’t say is that he also feels powerless to affect a resolution." Kasten: "How many times can I tell people how bad I feel? Yeah, I feel terrible about it. It’s the single biggest customer problem I’ve had in my whole career -- and the one we’ve spent the most time on." Kasten added, "Obviously everyone is waiting to see what happens in the larger-scale corporate dealings. Failing that, I know there’s a lot going on behind the scenes, a lot of talk -- but, no, I’m not aware of anything that’s going to bring about an imminent settlement. We hope and we keep working at it. But I don’t have any news.” L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said that he "would meet" with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to "seek an end to the impasse." Kasten said that he "welcomes anything ... that might lead to a settlement." But Kasten said of Manfred, "There's nothing he can do specifically" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/26).
NOTHING TO SEE HERE: TWC on Tuesday in a statement said, "Time Warner Cable has no plans to take a write-down in connection with its Dodgers contract. In fact, TWC does not carry an asset on its balance sheet related to the Dodgers and, therefore, there is no asset for it to write down now or in the future." In L.A., Meg James reported TWC in recent weeks "has tried unsuccessfully to initiate another round of talks with pay-TV distributors." TWC "has been seeking more than $4.90 a month for each subscriber home for SportsNet LA, making it the third most expensive sports channel in the U.S." (L.A. TIMES, 3/25).
