Spectrum Networks announced an agreement to simulcast six Los Angeles Dodgers games on SportsNet LA and KTLA5, beginning Tuesday, Aug. 22. The contest is the second of a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
KTLA will also air SportsNet LA’s flagship pregame show, ‘Access SportsNet: Dodgers,’ prior to every simulcast. A 10-game simulcast agreement was reached prior to the 2017 season beginning, and when one of the selected games was rained out, SportsNet LA and KTLA agreed to a replacement game.
Each of the newly added simulcasts are Tuesday contests, split evenly between Dodgers home and road games.
Last year, KTLA aired the pregame ceremony to honor now-retired Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully on ‘Vin Scully Appreciation Day’ at Dodger Stadium. That was part of SportsNet LA simulcasting the final six games of Scully’s career on KTLA.
In 2014, SportsNet LA simulcasted the Dodgers’ last six games of the regular season on KDOC, which is an independent TV station that can be received with an over-the-air antenna and is carried by all providers in Southern California.
The Dodgers’ exclusive network is in its fourth season since launching. Despite the team’s consistent success during that stretch, pay-TV providers have steadfastly refused to reach carriage agreements for SportsNet LA.
That’s come in spite of the Spectrum offering both short- and long-term contracts. The United States Justice Department filed a lawsuit last November against AT&T-DirecTV, which alleged collusion to block SportsNet LA carrier agreements.
The company reached settled in March, without any repercussions or mandate to work toward a solution for the impasse. Last month, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he does not hold the authority to become involved in negotiations, though remains concerned over the matter.
Fans who wish to receive 24/7 coverage of the Dodgers via SportsNet LA are encouraged to switch to Spectrum Networks. Complete six-game SportsNet LA simulcast schedule included below. Listed times denote when coverage will begin on KTLA.
| Day | Date | Time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | August 22 | 4:05 p.m. | @ Pirates |
| Tuesday | August 29 | 6:40 p.m. | @ Diamondbacks |
| Tuesday | September 5 | 7:10 p.m. | vs. Diamondbacks |
| Tuesday | September 12 | 7:15 p.m. | @ Giants |
| Tuesday | September 19 | 4:05 p.m. | @ Phillies |
| Tuesday | September 26 | 7:10 p.m. | vs. Padres |
