SportsNet LA Set to Provide Expansive Dodgers Spring Training Coverage

Time Warner Cable’s SportsNet LA is readying to broadcast nearly every Dodgers Spring Training game from Camelback Ranch, Glendale along with a nightly hour-long Dodgers Spring Training show. The live daily show will be entitled “Access SportsNet: Dodgers” and will air at 7:00 p.m. PT nightly throughout Spring Training.

With a launch date of Tuesday, February 25th, SportsNet LA will be Dodger fans’ one stop 24/7 everything Blue television station. It all sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Well, for Time Warner Cable subscribers it is, but for anyone in the Southern California region who currently subscribes to another cable service provider like DIRECTV, AT&T U-verse, Cox, Verizon FiOS, Charter, Comcast, DISH, etc., it is beginning to look as though their Spring Training will be without their beloved Dodgers on their TVs unless TWC and those other cable providers come to an agreement in order for them to carry the exclusive Dodgers channel.

There is still no deal between TWC and other cable providers for distribution of SportsNet LA.

SportsNet LA promises “thousands of hours of comprehensive Dodger programming” which will include behind-the-scenes coverage of the team, insider looks into the organization, and original programming which is unlike any we have ever enjoyed as Dodger fans before on television.

Every Dodger Spring Training game (22 in total including the Freeway Series games versus the Angels from Dodger Stadium and Anaheim Stadium) besides two split-squad games will be televised this March from Arizona on SportsNet LA. Vin Scully will open Spring Training by calling the first Spring game on Wednesday, February 26th at 12:00 p.m. PT.

"“It is an incredible honor to have the remarkable opportunity to call the very first game on the Dodger network,” said Scully. “The Dodgers’ new ownership group has done a wonderful job assembling a team to make SportsNet LA what every Dodger fan deserves, a television network just for them. I’m humbled to be a part of it.”"

Glenn Diamond, a five-time Emmy Award winner and heralded veteran sports producer, will produce Dodger games on the new Dodger-only network.

As of right now only TWC subscribers in Southern California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Hawaii will receive SportsNet LA. SportsNet LA has a website set up www.ineedmydodgers.com in order to encourage Dodger fans make their voices heard in order to let their cable service providers know they want the new channel to be a part of their cable service.

According to SportsNet LA:

"“Where will SportsNet LA be available? SportsNet LA will be available in all areas Dodgers fans could previously watch games (subject to agreements with local providers). That area stretches from Fresno County to the north to Orange County and Imperial County to the south. It also includes Hawaii and Clark County, NV. A full list of CA counties that can receive the networks is as follows: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura.”"

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reinforced the current bleak situation when it comes to distribution of the Dodgers channel through Time Warner:

"No SportsNet LA agreements yet with any provider besides Time Warner Cable. I’d be surprised to see any deals by Feb. 25 launch. #Dodgers— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) February 4, 2014"

Even though I have Time Warner Cable, I’m very concerned about other fans who currently do not. Every Dodger fan has a birth-given right for Dodger game access. I hope that the other cable providers will agree to distribute SportsNet LA soon. If they should not come to an agreement by the time Spring Training begins, we will do our best here at Lasorda’s Lair to bring you in-depth coverage and analysis including Spring Training coverage directly from Camelback Ranch.

No one deserves to be without their Dodgers! If you haven’t already, make your voice heard and let your cable provider know that you want your Dodgers.