MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said that he "would not encourage" the Dodgers to renegotiate their SportsNet LA TV contract or "find a way to escape it so more fans could see the broadcasts," according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. Manfred, speaking ahead of yesterday's All-Star Game in Miami, said, "It’s not my job to tell a club to renegotiate its television agreements. I think the much more productive course, and we have pursued this course, is to try to work with the parties who actually have an economic interest here.” He added, "I remain very concerned about the issue. As I have said repeatedly, I don’t have a seat at that table." Shaikin notes fans "unable or unwilling to sign up for Spectrum have not seen most Dodgers broadcasts" since '13. The Dodgers’ cable contract extends through '38, with "no end in sight to the dispute." If the Dodgers did "wish to renegotiate or redo their television agreement, they probably would have to take less money for their cable rights" (L.A. TIMES, 7/12).
STRUCK OUT LOOKING? In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes Manfred, "given an opportunity to take a swing at an issue directly affecting millions of consumers in his sport’s second-largest market ... lamely never even took the bat off his shoulder" during his news conference. Plaschke: "It's not his job to make sure his sport is readily accessible to its entire fan base? It’s not his job to maximize a team’s exposure in a crowded marketplace where brand erosion is already occurring?" Manfred "doesn’t care that even this week, amid All-Star game festivities featuring six Dodgers from the best team in baseball," more people in L.A. were "talking about" Lakers G Lonzo Ball than Dodgers 1B Cody Bellinger. The Dodgers' TV blackout is an issue "directly causing the brand erosion" of the team, and Manfred "not only belongs at that table, but it’s his responsibility to be at the head of that table." Plaschke: "Given his dismissive tone, it was surprising Manfred didn’t encourage fans to take shadowy Internet shortcuts and fool MLB into thinking you live in New Jersey in order to watch the Dodgers" (L.A. TIMES, 7/12).
