Readers React: Dodgers, Time Warner Cable to fans: Suck it up and pay

To the editor: It’s understandable that Dodgers President Stan Kasten finds the cable TV situation extremely troubling and that Time Warner Cable Sports President David Rone finds it “unfair” that DirecTV isn’t just signing up for what is obviously the best deal in sports programming today. (“Standoff over Dodgers games could be defining moment in sports TV,” July 17)

Just because they both blew the lid off rational pricing to acquire their prizes doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t decide for themselves that things eventually just get too expensive.

It’s unfortunate that today it seems there are lots of justifications for why something is always worth more than the customer is willing to pay for it. People are just going to have to understand that paying more for cable is for their own good, and they should just drive that old car a little longer, use filler in their hamburgers and suck it up and pay for their sports programming.

Right.

John Schwarz, Calabasas

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To the editor: I’ve done the best I can to cool my temper knowing that big money isn’t influenced by silly little letter writers like me, but now I’m running out of cool.

I’m very much annoyed by ads placed by cable companies on radio, TV and print urging fans to “demand your Dodgers.” Time Warner Cable quibbling about money, and yet it is spending tons of it trying to convince us that the other guy is at fault.

And the Dodgers? They sit back like this is not their fight when the current owners knew this battle loomed on the horizon when they bought the team.

And although it was a long time ago, Dodgers executives should remember that the team was practically given that huge parcel of land in Chavez Ravine where Dodger Stadium stands.

Now we don’t even get to listen to our longtime friend Vin Scully as he nears the end of his career. Don’t the Dodgers care about us at all?

Peter Marquard, Northridge

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To the editor: We tried a boycott in response to the Dodgers blackout on most TVs in Los Angeles, but too many addicted fans are still flocking to the stadium to watch games.

As a lifelong fan, I’m tired of all the hand-wringing over the Dodgers not being on TV. There is only one way to put an end to this ridiculous high-stakes squabble.

Dodgers management, which brokered this deal that is lining its pockets, needs to suck it up, put some skin in the game and show some real fan appreciation by tossing back some of the cash into the pot so that an agreement can be reached.

Barbara Pronin, Placentia

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To the editor: Watch out: The Dodgers are trying to get in your wallet or purse.

You’ll notice they didn’t offer games to all cable providers on a pay-for-view basis. No, they suckered Time Warner Cable into a contract that will break the company if it can’t blackmail other TV providers such as DirecTV into the deal.

What the Dodgers really want is to in effect “tax” all cable subscribers, fan or not. You pay even if you never watch a game.

And others are watching. Let the Dodgers get away with this and it won’t be long before there are no sports on network television.

David Mathews, Downey

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