SportsNet LA will be the Dodgers’ home channel from 2014 to 2039, under a landmark deal announced this morning.
We know that Time Warner Cable will carry the channel, but who else? That could take some time to figure out, and Dodger fans who subscribe to Verizon, AT&T U-Verse, Dish Network, DirecTV, Cox and Charter Cable better hope it gets figured out before the 2014 season begins. And if your provider does carry the channel, how much of the estimated $280 million average value on the deal gets passed directly onto your monthly bill?
The contract is still subject to the approval of Major League Baseball. Large-market teams typically share one-third of their television revenues with MLB and the Dodgers don’t want to share that much, according to various reports.
It’s been a slow baseball news day otherwise, so enjoy these eclectic tidbits from around the league:
• Baseball Prospectus released its list of the Top 10 Dodgers prospects. More on this list (and the others released over the past week) in a later post.
• When the Dodgers play the Milwaukee Brewers at home April 26-28, and in Milwaukee from May 20-22, they won’t have to face Corey Hart. The 30-home run hitter and two-time all-star will miss the next three to four months with knee surgery.
• The old fake-to-third, throw-to-first move is now officially a balk.
• San Francisco Giants third-base coach Tim Flannery is also a bluegrass guitarist, songwriter and singer. Your move, Tim Wallach.
• Baseball’s F/X data (Hit F/X, Pitch F/X, Field F/X) is gaining in popularity. What could that mean for scouts?
• From Dodgers Blue Heaven, via Reddit, the scorecards of Dodgers Magazine, circa 1932.
• The Youngbloods are famous for their version of the hippie anthem “Get Together.” I took a minute over the weekend to fall in love with their 1969 LP “Elephant Mountain.” It’s a more sophisticated sound, with touches of jazz that are most apparent on the track “Ride the Wind.” (Note that this live performance comes courtesy of David Frost of “Frost/Nixon” fame):
