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Dodgers nearing deal to air 10 games for free in 2017

By Evan Lovett

Jun 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) is interviewed by SportsNet LA broadcaster Alanna Rizzo after scoring on an error after a single in the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals MLB game at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the Nationals 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) is interviewed by SportsNet LA broadcaster Alanna Rizzo after scoring on an error after a single in the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals MLB game at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the Nationals 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dodgers fans may at least be able to share a portion of the season with their favorite club this year, as the organization appears to be close to a deal to air 10 games on KTLA in 2017.

Though 90% of metro L.A. residents will likely not be able to see the Dodgers for the majority of the season, Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times reports:

"KTLA-TV Channel 5 is close to a deal in which it would carry 10 Dodgers games, all of which would be in April and May, according to a person familiar with the deal but not authorized to discuss it. The deal, if finalized, could be announced as soon as Wednesday."

The hope is that the offer of a free early-season package will entice fans to switch to Charter Spectrum, which is the sole carrier of the SportsNet LA channel that carries the Dodgers.

Alternately, the visibility of free games could theoretically convince other carriers such as AT&T U-verse or DirectTV to resume negotiations for the channel. Thus far, the negotiations have been contentious, and not resulted in an agreement, leaving more than 16 million Angelenos without SportsNet LA.

The impasse in negotiations may not be all Charter Spectrum’s doing, however, In November, the Justice Department alleged collusion amongst local distributors, led by DirectTV, in an anti-trust lawsuit. In the suit, the Justice Department alleges that DirectTV (and it’s successor/purchaser, AT&T) “unlawfully exchanged competitively-sensitive information with Cox, Charter and AT&T during the companies’ negotiations for the right to telecast the Dodgers Channel.”

For Dodger fans, the legal entanglement only further muddles the picture – they just want to see their beloved team on television.

The potential addition of ten early season free games is better than the last few seasons, when the only free games televised were largely the result of Vin Scully’s farewell.

Next: Kings Make Noise At Trade Deadline

A conclusive and fair alternative is still necessary, however, as the Dodgers look to retain their fanbase in an evermore increasingly competitive landscape.

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