Dodgers, Time Warner Cable talk TV deal

The Dodgers and Time Warner Cable have met to discuss a potential deal for the team’s television rights, according to two people familiar with the talks but not authorized to comment on them.

The Dodgers are considering at least three options for their next television home: the Prime Ticket cable channel owned by Fox Sports, the SportsNet cable channel owned by TWC or a new channel owned by the team.

Fox and the Dodgers have discussed a contract worth at least $6 billion over 25 years, but the Fox exclusive negotiating window expired last week. The Dodgers must provide Fox with a final offer by Friday and give the company one month to accept or reject it.

The Dodgers are expected to emerge with a substantial ownership stake in whatever channel carries their games. The Fox offer to the Dodgers included a stake in Prime Ticket. The Dodgers also could partner with Fox on a channel independent of Prime Ticket, or with TWC on a channel independent of SportsNet.

The Dodgers will air on Fox next year, the final season under the current contract.

In 2014 and beyond, the Dodgers would like to present a team-branded channel with interactive game broadcasts and extended programming before and after games.

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