For the first time this season, Los Angeles Dodgers fans have the option to stream SportsNet LA without the requirement of purchasing additional, potentially unwanted services. According to the Los Angeles Times, Spectrum has launched a streaming-only subscription to the Dodgers’ television channel, priced at $29.99 per month or $199.99 annually, as announced on Monday. This service, SNLA+, will be available when the Dodgers commence their season in Japan on Tuesday at 3 a.m. PDT.
SNLA+ is a collaborative effort with Major League Baseball, which will provide the necessary technology and host the service on MLB.com and the MLB app. This streaming subscription is exclusively available within the Dodgers’ local television market. The service includes live and archived games, pre-game, post-game, postseason, and offseason coverage, as well as supplementary programs like “Backstage Dodgers,” despite recent reductions in such content.
Los Angeles Dodgers Games Will Stream Starting This Season
Charter Communications, Spectrum’s parent company, had previously resisted streaming options, prioritizing exclusivity to mitigate losses from their $8.35 billion local broadcasting contract with the Dodgers, acquired in 2016 from Time Warner Cable. This strategy mandated that fans purchase a Spectrum television bundle to access SportsNet LA.
However, with the decline of cable and satellite audiences and the rise of streaming, Charter has shifted its approach to pursue additional revenue. In 2024, they introduced SportsNet LA streaming for customers who bundled broadband and cellphone services with Spectrum.
This bundled option remains available for the current season, and Charter intends to evaluate its SportsNet LA offerings after the season concludes. Streaming continues to be included with any Spectrum television bundle that features SportsNet LA. The $29.99 monthly cost for the streaming-only subscription is among the higher rates in MLB.
The league reports that 23 of its 30 teams have announced streaming subscriptions this season. Commissioner Rob Manfred aims to consolidate team streaming rights for a potential sale in 2028, promising fans the ability to watch their teams without blackout restrictions.
This initiative could theoretically increase national broadcast revenue, which teams would share. However, Manfred faces the challenge of persuading owners of prominent teams like the Dodgers and Yankees to relinquish their streaming rights, potentially for less revenue than they currently generate. The Dodgers, in particular, did not transfer their streaming rights to MLB as part of the SNLA+ agreement.