Report: Time Warner Cable Doesn't Expect To Expand Dodgers Channel Distribution By Opening Day

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Many Dodgers fans will begin the 2016 season with a familiar feeling: not being able to watch the team's games on TV, according to a report.

Deadline reported Wednesday morning that Time Warner Cable's talks with DirecTV, Cox, Dish and other providers have failed, even after Time Warner Cable offered the distributors a 30 percent discount if they picked up the channel.

"We don't expect any other distributors to carry SportNet LA by Opening Day," Time Warner Cable told the website.

That means only Time Warner Cable, Charter or Bright House Networks subscribers will have access to the Dodgers channel, SportsNet LA.

Time Warner Cable has been in disputes with pay TV distributors including DirecTV since launching the Dodgers-only channel in 2014.

Last year, Charter Communications announced it would begin carrying the channel for local subscribers following the cable giant's $55 billion bid to buy Time Warner Cable.

The only other cable distributor to carry the channel is Bright House Networks, a small carrier affiliated with Time Warner Cable, leaving many local fans in the dark.

The recent development may hit fans particularly hard, as this will be Vin Scully's final season calling games.

Earlier Wednesday, Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an impassioned plea for a deal to get done.

Major League Baseball's communication's office joined in the call for a deal.