Judge To Approve Dodgers Media Rights Sale

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — A bankruptcy judge said Thursday that he would approve a process for the Los Angeles Dodgers to sell the media rights to future games as part of the team's plan to exit bankruptcy.

The plan called for the Dodgers to receive initial bids by January 13 and complete the sale by April 30.

Fox Sports objected to the proposed sale, saying it would violate its rights under an existing contract with the Dodgers. That contract gives Fox an exclusive 45-day period starting in October 2012 to negotiate a new deal.

The Dodgers want to move up the timetable for Fox's exclusive negotiating period, saying a media rights sale now in conjunction with a sale of the team itself is the best way to maximize value for creditors and emerge from bankruptcy.

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