Shaky future of Spectrum's Lakers channel adds more drama to the team's sale

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Set us as preferred For more than a decade, Los Angeles’ premier sports teams — the Lakers and the Dodgers — have relied on big-ticket TV rights deals to boost their operations and player payrolls.But major changes are looming.The prospective new Lakers owners — investor Joshua Kushner and former Walt Disney Co.chief executive Bob Iger — will inherit an uncertain long-term television picture for the team when they assume control of the storied franchise.Charter Communications’ Spectrum service broadcasts Lakers games on its SportsNet cable channel.

The Lakers are set this fall to enter the 15th year of their long-term, $3-billion agreement with the cable company to bring regular season action to local viewers.Business With the Department of Justice, the SEC and state insurance regulators probing Mark Walter’s businesses, the Dodgers owner has a lot on the line.But Charter executives have discussed exiting that relationship, which guarantees the team about $200 million a year in revenue, according to people familiar with the company’s plans who were not authorized to comment.Charter months ago retained investment bankers to find a buyer for El Segundo-based Spectrum SportsNet, which the company runs in tandem with the Dodgers-owned channel, SportsNet LA.

Charter’s interest in jettisoning the channel as fewer consumers watch cable TV has sparked fears within the Lakers organization about the stability of the critical revenue stream, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly.The Lakers and Kushner’s investment firm, Thrive Capital, declined to comment.Stamford, Conn.-based Charter on Thursday finalized its $34.5-billion purchase of Cox Communications, making Spectrum the dominant internet and television provider in Southern California, covering Santa Barbara ...