Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Lakers
11/4/12
3:30 PM Eastern time / 6:30 PM Pacific time
Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
TV: National: none Local: TWC Sportsnet, TWC Deportes
Line: Los Angeles Lakers -7.5
2012-13 Records:
Detroit Pistons: 0-2
Los Angeles Lakers: 0-3
It was expected by many in the industry that the negotiations between Time Warner Cable and the other cable and satellite carriers to carry the new sports stations TWC Sportsnet and TWC Deportes would be ongoing throughout the preseason but likely not drag on into the regular season where non Time Warner subscribers would actually miss any Lakers games.
We are now 6 days into the regular season and the Lakers will be playing in their 4th game today when they line up against the Detroit Pistons at Staples tonight. This will be the 2nd Lakers game that will be aired exclusively on the Time Warner Lakers station. Those millions of fans in the L.A. blackout area that subscribe to Directv, Dish or Cox Cable will not be able to watch tonight’s game yet again. These millions of fans, myself included, wonder when will they be able get Lakers basketball in the comfort of their own home. Based on the back and forth between Time Warner and the remaining hold out carriers it doesn’t look like it will be any time soon.
Time Warner Cable stated in their press release:
If Cox or DirecTV choose not to carry our networks, we and their customers will be very disappointed but we are confident there will be other alternatives for their customers to see this highly-anticipated Lakers season.
Alternatives at this point is canceling your Directv, Dish or Cox cable subscription for a carrier that does carry the new Lakers stations such as Time Warner, Verizon Fios, AT&T Uverse or Charter Cable. However, this might be costly to some that are locked into contracts that carry an expensive early termination fee.
Another avenue is just finding a bar or restaurant that will be showing the Lakers game until these issues are resolved. We provided an extensive list of bars and restaurants in the Los Angeles and surrounding areas that will be showing Lakers games all season to help you find a place close by. While its fun to get out and hang with mutual Lakers fans that too can get expensive.
We will keep issuing out reminders via this blog when the Lakers games are on national TV and report once any deal is in place with the remaining hold outs. I can only recommend for fans to hang in there and hope that those involved in the negotiations get things done fast.
-Fern Rea “@fullcourtfern”
Raining3s 