A new report quashes rumors that Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) has moved closer to reaching carriage deals in Southern California for its Dodgers-focused regional sports network, SportsNet LA.
According to the New York Post, citing unnamed sources close to the negotiations, talks have not progressed in the year-long stalemate that has restricted the RSN to carriage only on TWC's system, blacking the Dodgers out of about 70 percent of the Southern California market.
"Frankly, there is not that much going on with those talks," said one anonymous source to the Post.
A week earlier, former Reuters L.A. bureau chief Ron Grover, writing for TheStreet, described progress in the talks between TWC and pay-TV rivals including DirecTV (NASDAQ: DTV).
But it was unclear what, amid this stalemate, might finally be giving way. TWC was reported to still be demanding carriage fees of more than $5 a subscriber--a price point other operators say is too rich.
And there doesn't appear to be any inclination on TWC's end to offer the channel through a more a la carte-oriented cable package.
"There are no new meaningful offers on the table," said another unnamed source to the Post. "TWC hasn't moved on price."
In January 2013, TWC agreed to pay Major League Baseball's Dodgers the outrageous sum of $8.35 billion over 25 years to spirit the team's games off broadcast television.
Coming off their second consecutive National League Championship Series, the Dodgers are about to open their second consecutive season blacked out in 70 percent of their market.
For more:
- read this New York Post story
Related links:
Report: TWC making progress on SportsNet LA impasse
Time Warner Cable SportsNet LA fiasco may turn tide on spiraling RSN costs
TWC puts Dodgers channel on broadcast for pennant stretch drive
SportsNet LA standoff could 'undermine' TWC-Comcast merger, but FCC is mum
Playing the SportsNet LA blame game: Include the fans and the team, too