texasguy37's profile

Expert

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14.5K Messages

Thursday, May 10th, 2012 7:02 PM

Time Warner Cable Sports to Tip Off Lakers-Centric RSNs on Oct. 1

It will be interesting to see what type of carriage issues arise with these new sports channels.  Here is an excerpt from the article found in the link below:

 

It's official now: Time Warner Cable will tip off its two regional sports networks, centering on the Los Angeles Lakers, on Oct. 1.


The largest MSO in Los Angeles will bow Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Spanish-language RSN Time Warner Cable Deportes, which will have its own production team and programming sensibilities, shortly before the National Basketball Association begins its 2012-13 season, according to Time Warner Cable Sports president David Rone.


The foundation for the services was established in February 2011, when Time Warner Cable secured local rights to the Lakers -- whose games have been televised by Fox Sports West and KCAL-TV -- for a 20-year period in a deal that is reportedly valued at $3 billion. Since then, Time Warner Cable Sports also gained rights to the defending Major League Soccer champion Los Angeles Galaxy and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.

Rone, in an interview, said Time Warner Cable counts some 2 million customers in the RSNs' territory that extends from "Fresno to the north, the Mexican border to the south, east to Palm Springs and Las Vegas, and Hawaii to the west." All told, those areas encompass some 6 million TV homes.



Rone said that he, senior vice president and general manager of Time Warner Cable Sports Regional Networks Mark Shuken and Dan Finnerty, the senior vice president of Time Warner Cable Sports, who heads affiliate sales, recently began discussions with potential distributors.

 

"We have not had many of them, they literally began last week. In between now and the NCTA Cable Show [which starts May 21 in Boston}, we will have gotten in front of all of the MVPDs that we need to speak to. I'm stressing MVPDs because we're speaking to MSOs, satellite companies and telcos."


Rone would not discuss pricing. Published reports have placed the ask at $3.50 per subscriber for the pair of networks. For his part, ISI Group analyst Vijay Jayant pegs the price at $2.50 per month per subscriber.



A former  executive at Fox Sports, CAA and Evolution Media Capital, Rone did say Time Warner Cable Sports' distribution game plan calls for equal footing for the services.

 

http://www.multichannel.com/article/484345-Time_Warner_Cable_Sports_to_Tip_Off_Lakers_Centric_RSNs_on_Oct_1.php

Tutor

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8 Messages

11 years ago

I know I'm getting out if something doesn't happen soon...

Tutor

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8 Messages

11 years ago

When will be getting the Lakers games in Southern California???

Expert

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14.5K Messages

11 years ago


@rwnewell wrote:

 

So...We're being screwed by the Lakers AND by our local TV provider.  Great.  If this is about a lousy 3.95 per month, we'll pay it.  Otherwise, guess we'll have to switch back to TWC...


$3.95 would be the amount of the carriage fee paid directly to TWC.  The TV provider receives no part of that fee.  A TV's provider would incur additional costs above the carriage fee which would also be passed on to the customers.  Thus, the monthly amount for a customer might be twice that amount.

ACE - Professor

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2.5K Messages

11 years ago


@rwnewell wrote:

So...We're being screwed by the Lakers AND by our local TV provider.  Great.  If this is about a lousy 3.95 per month, we'll pay it.  Otherwise, guess we'll have to switch back to TWC...


Instead of making threats while posting six straight one or two line posts, why don't you just make a call to Time Warner Cable and get them as a provider. No one on this forum can answer your questions, let you know if and when U-Verse is getting the Laker's channel, or do anything about your threats. We are subscribers to U-Verse just like you (if you are truely a subscriber).

 

If you need the phone number to inform U-Verse that you are dropping their service, here it is:  1-800-288-2020.


Owning a computer and not having the internet is like buying a refrigerator and not stocking it with food.

 

Voyager

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3 Messages

11 years ago

What is ATT's plan for Lakers broadcasts?  Season starts October 30th and if no answer provided 5 days before I recommend mass exit of customers of U-verse to the Provider that will carry the Lakers games.  I don't want to watch the other Teams on the NBA channels.  I want to watch the Lakers.

Voyager

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3 Messages

11 years ago

If U-verse does not sign up to broadcast Laker games I will drop U-verse pay the drop fee and go back to Direct, Dish, and even cable if those providers are showing Laker games.  To view Laker games when they are on the road I suggest TNT, FOX, ESPN, or NBA channels.  If TWC has exclusive rights on Laker road game telecasts they don't have the rights for the Lakers' opponents game telecasts and they will be on the NBA or other sports channels.

Expert

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14.5K Messages

11 years ago


@Dlorah wrote:

 

If U-verse does not sign up to broadcast Laker games I will drop U-verse pay the drop fee and go back to Direct, Dish, and even cable if those providers are showing Laker games.  To view Laker games when they are on the road I suggest TNT, FOX, ESPN, or NBA channels.  If TWC has exclusive rights on Laker road game telecasts they don't have the rights for the Lakers' opponents game telecasts and they will be on the NBA or other sports channels.


They are not.  As of now, only Time Warner and Bright House are carrying that channel.

Voyager

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3 Messages

11 years ago

I know Direct and Dish are not currently carrying the Lakers.  Bottom line, I will sign up with a carrier when they sign up to broadcast the Lakers.  TWC is my last choice, but if that is what it takes to watch the Lakers then I will sigh up with TWC.

Expert

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9.4K Messages

11 years ago

I find the notion of $3.95 per subscriber quite improbable. The most expensive network for distributors to purchase is ESPN, which is about $4.00 per month per subscriber, and that includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPN News, and ESPNU, with all their HD equivalents.

An approximately equal price for a single channel that carries only regionally-interesting content is laughable.

ACE - Master

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6.9K Messages

11 years ago


@SomeJoe7777 wrote:
I find the notion of $3.95 per subscriber quite improbable. The most expensive network for distributors to purchase is ESPN, which is about $4.00 per month per subscriber, and that includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPN News, and ESPNU, with all their HD equivalents.

An approximately equal price for a single channel that carries only regionally-interesting content is laughable.

And that would be blacked out in areas outside the Lakers viewing area. 

 

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