Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: DirecTV Increases Fee Without Carrying SportsNet LA

[new_royalslider id=”41″] The Los Angeles Dodgers have played just over 25 percent of their regular season games, yet an estimated 70 percent of southern California is still unable to see Clayton Kershaw, Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig and the rest of their Dodgers on their TVs.

Currently, Time Warner Cable’s SportsNet LA is only available to Bright House Networks, Champion Broadband and TWC subscribers. A notable omission from the group of carriers that offers SportsNet LA is industry giant DirecTV. The satellite provider and TWC have been at odds in their prolonged negotiations for DirecTV to begin carrying the Dodgers’ network.



TWC executive vice president and chief video and content officer, Melinda Witmer, accused DirecTV of walking away from negotiations in early April. A DirecTV spokesman fired back at TWC, calling the report false.

Dodgers president Stan Kasten issued caution that his belief is DirecTV may go the entire season without adding SportsNet LA to their programming and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti also chimed in.

Despite not coming to terms with TWC, DirecTV recently increased their regional sports fee. According to Jen Heger of RadarOnline.com, the increase amounted to over $1.00, per month:

Here’s the scoop: The regional sports fee went from $2.00 a month to $3.83 recently.

RadarOnline contacted some who have been affected by the price increase and understandably, an unnamed customer was not pleased with the increase:

It’s so disappointing that DirectTV increased the fee, and dropped the Dodgers! Compounding that, customers have to call to ask for a credit for something that we are paying for — but not getting — the Dodgers!”

DirecTV’s spat with TWC over a Los Angeles sports network is nothing new. When the Lakers launched their network, SportsNet, the satellite provider didn’t immediately jump at the opportunity to carry it. However, a deal was completed roughly one week into the Lakers’ regular season. With a team expected to finish atop the NL West division and contend for a World Series, DirecTV has frustratingly remained steadfast in their decision to not add SportsNet LA to their programming.
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12 Comments

  1. Why not put some of the blame on TWC? Why doesn’t TWC allow DirectTv to al la carte the network so whoever wants to pay to see the Dodgers has that option? Both sides are being greedy and it only hurts Dodger fans.

  2. TWC sucks butt. Really I think this is crap. We can’t watch our local team on television. I don’t think this is right. Way to shit out your fans Gugenheim. We really appreciate you keeping us from watching the games.

  3. Not surprised about the fee hike. Either way whether we see the Dodgers or not the fees are always going to go up. Like or not this has gone too far.

  4. I will support al a carte option for the Dodgers Channel when Direct TV let me choose what channels I do not want and give me a credit for them putting toward the Dodgers Channel. We already pay in monthly service fee for channels we are not watching or maybe do to watch

  5. How does everyone think the Dodgers are paying their payroll? It’s because of this MULTIBILLION dollar contract with TWC. All TWC is trying to do is make some of their money back through these fees to other carriers. I have been bleeding blue for thirty three years and I currently live in Oregon and have to subscribe to MLB at bat for 159.00 a year. I am willing to pay this huge amount so I can watch OUR Dodgers knowing this is the only way I get to watch them. It sucks that all you in LA can’t watch, but remember contracts like this is what makes it possible for the Dodgers to assemble and keep the best team in baseball. I wish MLB at bat would give me the al la cart option for just the Dodgers but unfortunately that is not how they do it. So even though I only watch the Dodgers, I have to pay for access to all the other MLB even though I don’t have any desire to watch another team.

  6. TWC ARE THE GREEDIEST MOFOS ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET!!!!!!!

    MELINDA WITMER IS A FAT COW WHO DOESNT WATCH OR PLAY ANY SPORTS SO WHY DOES SHE CARE WHETHER OR NOT WE GET TO WATCH WHAT WE WANT??? TO HELL WITH TWC!!!!!!

  7. I saw that Directv was giving credits to their customers who call and complain about the fees. I called them and got $5 off my bill for six months! Has this worked for everyone? Maybe if we all call Directv they will do something about it.

    1. I got a credit from Directv too this morning $60! 10 per month for six months – everyone should call and get a discount then maybe they will deal with TWC

  8. How does everyone think the Dodgers are paying their payroll? It’s because of this MULTIBILLION dollar contract with TWC. All TWC is trying to do is make some of their money back through these fees to other carriers. I have been bleeding blue for thirty three years and I currently live in Oregon and have to subscribe to MLB at bat for 159.00 a year. I am willing to pay this huge amount so I can watch OUR Dodgers knowing this is the only way I get to watch them. It sucks that all you in LA can’t watch, but remember contracts like this is what makes it possible for the Dodgers to assemble and keep the best team in baseball. I wish MLB at bat would give me the al la cart option for just the Dodgers but unfortunately that is not how they do it. So even though I only watch the Dodgers, I have to pay for access to all the other MLB even though I don’t have any desire to watch another team.

  9. The Dodgers have priced me out of the ballpark and now they want me to pay to watch them on TV. I don’t think so, why should I be mandated to pay for broadcasts as a Direct TV subscriber. I feel I should have an option. I am considering my local cable company as my choice. After being a loyal Dodger fan since 1958, Magic Johnson can stick it in his ear.

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