Time Warner flips switch on new Lakers channels

By Ryan Nakashima

Associated Press

Published: Sunday, Sept. 30 2012 11:15 a.m. MDT

FILE - This March 31, 2012 file photo shows Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant reacting after defeating the New Orleans Hornets in an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. A few months ago, Time Warner Cable Inc. was crying foul at the high price it had to pay to air Knicks and Rangers games in New York. Now, the shoe is on the other foot. The nation's No. 4 TV distributor bought the regional TV rights for the Los Angeles Lakers and pro soccer's LA Galaxy last year for an estimated $3 billion over 20 years. It is launching a couple of new channels based on those rights on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012.

Gus Ruelas, file, Associated Press

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Summary

A few months ago, Time Warner Cable Inc. was crying foul at the high price it had to pay to air Knicks and Rangers games in New York. Now, the shoe is on the other foot.

LOS ANGELES — A few months ago, Time Warner Cable Inc. was crying foul at the high price it had to pay to air Knicks and Rangers games in New York. Now, the shoe is on the other foot.

The nation's No. 4 TV distributor bought the regional TV rights for the Los Angeles Lakers and pro soccer's LA Galaxy last year for an estimated $3 billion over 20 years. It's launching two new channels based on those rights on Monday. To help pay for them, it is demanding payment from other TV distributors like Dish Network Corp. and DirecTV.

Now it has to convince them the price is right.

It hasn't secured deals yet with either Dish or DirecTV and likely won't until the regular season starts on Oct. 30.

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