As the Dodgers’ television blackout extends through a fifth consecutive season, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday that the league has explored ways to make broadcasts available to all fans via the internet.
The league looked into the possibility of streaming SportsNet LA broadcasts throughout the Los Angeles market, perhaps on its mlb.tv service. However, the Dodgers’ record $8.35-billion television deal guarantees exclusive local broadcast rights to Charter Communications, not only for television but for streaming.
“They own those rights,” Manfred said. “You can’t just go in and ignore those local rights that belong to someone else.