MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred yesterday was unabashed in his optimism over carriage issues facing the league, ranging from the Dodgers’ RSN snafu with Time Warner Cable to the in-market streaming impasse that has beset the league for years. Manfred, speaking during a one-on-one interview on Day 1 of the IMG World Congress of Sports, said, “The Dodger impasse will get broken. Sooner or later, people will get to the point that they can make a deal on distribution. There’s no question in my mind that the distribution issue here in L.A. has gone on longer in part because of the pending merger situation (with Time Warner Cable and Comcast). It’s not uncommon when you have a merger of this magnitude that things get frozen until approvals are secured” (Adam Stern, Staff Writer). In L.A., Shaikin & DiGiovanna report as the carriage impasse extends into a second season, Manfred said that he has "discussed the issue" with L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. Manfred said it is "really, really important for the fans in L.A." to get the Dodgers back on the air. The Dodgers "hope that SportsNet LA can get on the air soon after the federal government approves" the proposed merger, but the approval process twice has been delayed by the FCC. Manfred yesterday said, "I’m hopeful the merger issue gets resolved one way or another to create some flexibility that gets the Dodgers full distribution. .... But it’s one of those issues where we don’t even have a seat at the table, so it’s hard to effectuate a particular result" (L.A. TIMES, 4/9).
IN-MARKET STREAMING: On the in-market issue, Manfred was equally as hopeful that a deal not only can be reached, but will be this year. He said, “I don’t agree that we’re at an impasse. I had an exchange just yesterday with one of the significant parties in those discussions, which are ongoing. Start with the basics: We’re talking about authenticated streaming and authenticated streaming only. Not over-the-top activity. Once you’re talking about authenticated streaming, we believe that whatever happens from that point forward is supportive of the cable model. You’ve got to be a cable customer to see in-market streaming. Once you’re over that initial step, our view is fans ought to be able to go as many places as they want to go in order to see the game stream. You have to be a cable customer. But you ought to be able to go to the distributor’s application, RSN app, and ought to be able to go to the club app, and that’s the issue we’re trying to work through with some of our major partners.” A lawyer by trade, Manfred is confident he can help all sides get to common ground. “I’m a deal guy at the end of the day,” he said. “My entire career has been about trying to get agreements. I think it’s important for the sport to get past this issue, and I remain hopeful we’re going to do it in 2015” (Stern).
