WHO NEEDS A TV OUTLET? DODGERS TO LAUNCH OWN CHANNEL

The Los Angeles Dodgers do not intend to renew their contract with KTTV, Fox’s owned-and-operated television station in Los Angeles, when it expires in 2013 and will instead launch its own cable channels (one in English, the other in Spanish) to carry its games and related programming, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday, citing court documents filed in connection with divorce proceedings involving the team’s owners, Frank and Jamie McCourt. The documents note that by making such a move the Dodgers could earn three times as much as they currently earn with Fox ($38 million this year, rising to $41 million in 2013). The Times noted that in his deposition, Frank McCourt said that he had not yet decided whether to implement such a plan. Famed attorney David Boies, who is representing Jamie McCourt, told the newspaper, “They could turn around tomorrow and get $300 million to $500 million from Fox for an extension.” A Dodgers executive said in a deposition that the club could get $300 million from Fox for a five-year extension.