The Dodgers will be free to test the market for a new TV deal at the end of the month (November 30th), when FOX's exclusive negotiating window expires. The most common number thrown around is about of 3-4 BILLION dollars in a new deal, with other reports even more optimistic...speculating the demand will be so high, and the battle between TWC and FOX (among others) could be so fierce that we could see a deal reach (gasp) 8 billion dollars. Article from mid season: http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/8/9/3230431/los-angeles-dodgers-tv-rights-eight-billion-dollars More articles on the subject can be found via Google search. With the negotiating window expiring, we'll probably be hearing a lot of rumblings soon. Here are some options the Dodgers can choose from in finding a TV deal that best suits them: 1. A conventional rights deal The Dodgers can extend the license arrangements with Fox and/or KCAL; make deals with other stations in the market; contract with the two Time Warner Cable sports networks that launch Oct. 1; or license a new entity or some combination of these alternatives.2. A "hybrid model": The Angels, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers have partnered with Fox and Comcast regional sports network operators to license their rights and obtain a share of equity ownership. The risks of obtaining distribution are effectively mitigated, and a large entertainment company provides the financial backing. The Dodgers could make such a deal with Fox or TW Cable.3. Start their own network: The team would control production, ad and sponsor sales integration, team-related support programming and distribution of its product. But it would also undertake far greater risk, effectively "doubling down" rather than outsourcing the risk. Several teams have successfully launched such networks (the New York Yankees/Brooklyn Nets YES Network, Boston Red Sox/Bruins NESN).The article estimates the potential revenue for each model, over a 20-year period in each case, to the Dodgers at $4.5 billion, $7.5 billion and $8 billion, respectively. Peter Gammons on MLB Network this morning: It's safe to say the Dodgers are gonna be printing their own money pretty soon. What route would you guys prefer to go? With what Time Warner has done with the Lakers, I wouldn't mind reaching a deal with them. Not only is it about rolling in cash, I love the non stop coverage, something our current rights holder doesn't have. The Lakers on TWC SportsNet get a daily 30 minute Social Media program "LakeShow", 1 hour pregame shows "Access SportsNet: Lakers", and the same hour post game show. In addition, they have two 1 HR live broadcasts even on off days, as well as the social media show. Also, they have a behind-the-scenes type show following the team that airs weekly. They don't look like a cheap production like the FSN channels. PrimeTicket (Fox RSN) just sucks. 30 min "Dodgers Live" before and after games, and that's it. Not to mention how cheaply produced everything is. I hope we are done with them and get on a channel, or create a channel that covers the Dodgers non stop and builds the brand.
As long as I don't have to pay extra, I don't care much. I will say, I love what Time Warner has done with the Lakers so far this year, so it would be dope to have that for the Dodgers (as long as it doesn't cost more).
Start own network would be my ideal case scenario but if not I hope they can get a channel like the current lakers channel.
I think having our own network with buy-ins from other affiliates is the best option. However, I am out-of-market. I hope that DirectTv will be the first place they call.
it is unfortunate for your average person on a fixed income there goes a bunch of old people fans who dont pay for cable because they are on SS lots of people will probably no longer be able to watch dodger games on OTA television thats the new reality though so moving on they should not start their own network, that would lead to an even larger increase in cost instead make the TWS network the network of the premiere teams in the market dodgers, lakers, kings, galaxy with the angels, clippers, ducks, chivas on the lesser fox sports lakers and dodgers are the flagship teams of the station with the kings and galaxy having their games moved to a sister channel when conflicts with the flagship teams is unavoidable during dodgers season the network programming is devoted 60% to the dodgers, 30% to the lakers same thing in reverse during lakers season kings and galaxy just get their games and some basic pregame/postgame shows if they dont interfere and maybe some shows at 3 am or 2 in the afternoon a lot of the kings/galaxy programming can be shifted to the two sister channels the network has in order to not take away from the lakers or dodgers programming
I agree. Over the Air is done. TWC is doing an awesome job in their first year with the Lakers. Awesome coverage, visually appealing, quality AND quantity. The Dodgers would be smart to team up with them. The synergy with the Lakers and Kings would help all brands. I think FOX has blown it in this town. They're done with the marquee franchises. They are bad with brand recognition, have horrible original programing, and cheaply produce everything. They could've done a lot of things. First of all, "Fox Sports West, Prime Ticket"...although I realize Hawaii and southern Nevada get the channel, it would've made more sense to follow the new radio model, "FOX Sports LA". They could've had some synergy between radio/TV, with personalities and programing. I've always thought (even though it's only been one season on 570) it would be a good idea for Prime Ticket to simulcast Dodger Talk (on necessary tape delay after the TV Post Game Show) from the AM570 broadcast like they do with a few radio shows on ESPN. I think it would be great to be able to watch Dodger Talk on TV with Kennedy and his partner in the studio while it's also being broadcast on radio. On a TWC note, it'd be interesting to see who the personalities would be coming over. Steve Lyons is contracted by the Dodgers, not FOX (who fired him from national games lmao), so he would probably reprise his role as a studio/field analyst. I don't like Lyons as a color guy during games but he's good on pre/post. Patrick O'Neil is advancing his career with FOX and I think he'll be staying with them. The Lakers brought James Worthy (Kcal), Dave Miller (KSPN), and Robert Horry as analysts with Chris McGee (FSN) and have John Ireland (KSPN/Kcal) roaming around after games and stuff. They are dedicated to covering the games all over. I wonder who'd the Dodgers would be able to get.
Maybe it's just my love of all things ironic but I think it would be hilarious if the magic/Guggenheim group started a network and offered Steve Garvey the broadcasting job.
fwiw... 22m Bob Nightengale @BNightengale Now that FOX Sports has acquired 49% of YES, look for FOX to pay between $4 billion and $4.5 billion for rights to #Dodgers' TV deal.9:19 AM - 20 Nov 12 · Details
I was talking to a buddy about this, and we both agreed that having our own network or teaming up with TimeWarner Sportsnet would be sick. I'm pretty sure there would be heavy overlap at the beginning of the regular season for the Dodgers, and the end of the season for the Lakers though. I don't know how that would work out...
I feel like it would be a little difficult to just make another channel, and have all the cable companies pick it up. I have no clue though.
They'd have to justify launching another Network, just as Fox had to justify launching "FSN West 2" way back when. They certainly can do it, possibly offered to providers at a lower rate (lower than the $3.95 per subscriber they charged providers for the original TWCSN). Not sure though. They can use the second network for overlap issues, but should have another primary purpose when seasons aren't overlapping. What I don't want to happen is it to turn into FSN, with useless programming on loop until a game starts. It should remain, and continue to build as an around the clock place to watch LA's flagship franchises. High quality and quatity of programming.
TW has a number of other channels people ESPN only had ESPN at the time that is why they created ESPN2 when they needed more channels they realized that using numbers was dumb thats why there are a bunch of ESPN's now... do they still have the deuce? TW can move games that overlap to one of its other channels one easy solution is to watch the spanish version of TWS where they would show the games with the spanish broadcast team then make it so when you hit SAP you get the english feed the graphics would be in spanish though, suck it up
