Time Warner Cable is set to launch two regional sports networks October 1st—Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Spanish-language network Time Warner Cable Deportes.
The biggest draw for Time Warner's newest offerings will overwhelmingly be the exclusive broadcasting rights of Lakers games and original team content under the famed $4 billion, 20-year deal struck with the Buss Family in February 2011.
The two sports networks will also offer exclusive Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Sparks and high school sports content.
Pointed out by the OC Register's Kevin Ding last week, anyone with DirectTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-Verse, Verizon FIOS, Cox Cable or any other non-Time Warner cable provider will be unable to watch Lakers games if Time Warner cannot enter into agreements with these distributors soon.
Given the gravity of the situation and a fast-approaching regular season, this broadcasting lockup hasn't been getting the sort of attention it rightly deserves. A resolution needs to come—and fast.
Rather than solely pay the high prices to carry ESPN, Fox Sports or other premium-priced sports programming, Time Warner is getting in the game and becoming a heavyweight sports content owner of its own.
By all accounts, Time Warner is striking a hard bargain with cable and satellite companies everywhere—reason to believe no major provider has agreed to carry TWC SportsNet yet.
And for good reason: Time Warner is on the hook and must pay $4 billion to the Lakers over the next 20 years.
But if Time Warner can't play nice and decides to go nuclear with DirectTV, Dish Network and the rest, Lakers fans ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
