Padres games to rejoin Time Warner Cable, after 2-year blackout
SAN DIEGO - Voters go to the polls Tuesday to elect a new mayor. But one knotty political problem was solved Monday after two years of fruitless negotiations.
Time Warner Cable and Fox Sports San Diego announced that a deal has been struck to have Padres baseball games carried to Time Warner customers, an estimated 185,000 households in San Diego County.
For two seasons, the two sides were unable to reach a deal even though four other cable providers in the county had already done so.
As a result, Time Warner Cable customers -- 22% of the county -- were unable to see the Padres. Political pressure increased.
But last season, even efforts by the San Diego city attorney, then-Mayor Bob Filner and the City Council were unable to get the two sides to an agreement.
At issue has been how much Time Warner Cable would pay to carry Padres games.
Which side blinked is unknown. What is known is that the new agreement will be in place by opening day.
“Time Warner Cable hit it out of the park,” Councilwoman Sherri Lightner said as the announcement was made Monday.
Although the Padres were not directly involved in the contract negotiations, the team’s executive chairman, Ron Fowler, thanked both of the corporate giants and another group as well.
“We thank our fans for their long-standing patience,” Fowler said.
Twitter: @LATsandiego
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