For many sports fans, the chance to see their favorite team on television is a very important element of their fandom. Many even subscribe to specific cable, satellite, or internet TV services because they have networks that feature those teams.
However, for many in Los Angeles, the opportunity to see the beloved Dodgers on the tube has been limited at best and nonexistent at worst for the past several years. The Dodgers, like other professional sports teams – including their L.A. basketball brethren, the Lakers – in an attempt to generate even more money to help pay bloated player salaries, created their own television channel dedicated to the team. Like those other teams, the Dodgers have found the going difficult in getting cable and satellite companies to pay exorbitant prices to pick the channel up for their customers, and that has created significant consternation throughout southern California, especially this year as it was the last season of Dodger games being called by the legendary play-by-play announcer Vin Scully.
Well, it seems that the feds may have finally woken up to all the frustration felt by fans. According to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Department of Justice has sued A T&T, who owns the nation’s largest satellite TV provider, DirecTV. The suit, which the paper reports was filed earlier today, alleges that DTV conspired to prevent rival cable companies from picking the channel up, even though the satellite firm itself doesn’t carry the channel either.
So where this all goes is anyone’s guess, but one could certainly argue this might be good news for those wanting to see their favorite team without having to go and pay high ticket prices to see them at the stadium.
More here from the Times.