Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
The Firm
201-896-4100 info@sh-law.comFirm Insights
Time Warner Cable Faces Lawsuit Over Sports Package Bundling
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Date: June 28, 2013
Key Contacts
Back
Time Warner Cable will soon square off against angry customers who brought a class action lawsuit against the cable giant over sports package bundling. Subscribers are being forced to pay higher costs for sports channels they don’t want.
Time Warner recently paid out $8 billion for the rights to carry L.A. Dodgers baseball games and $3 billion for rights to carry Los Angeles Lakers basketball games. However, in carrying these exclusive sports channels, many local network subscribers will now be required to pay as much as $4 more for the Lakers channel on their cable bills each month for these packages, many of whom say they don’t want the channels. Once the Dodgers channel is up and running, another $4 to $5 will be tacked on to local cable bills each month.
The group who brought the case against Time Warner argues that non-sports fans cannot unsubscribe from those networks because they are bundled with their expanded basic levels of their cable, satellite, or telephone service, the New York Times reports. They contend that bundling packages in this way is a violation of entertainment law and are seeking to draw more support from the public against the cable giant.
“A very large segment of the consuming public is not sufficiently interested in Dodgers games to pay $50-$60 per year, but they have no way of unsubscribing from either the Lakers or Dodgers telecast, which together will add (or will if unrestrained) about $100 per year to the subscriber’s TWC bill,” the complaint read. “TWC’s bundling results in defendants making huge profits, much of which is extracted from unwilling consumers who have no opportunity to delete unwanted telecasts.”
The legality of bundling has been a issue facing cable providers in recent years, and many cable subscribers and networks decry the practice. Most notably was Cablevision’s anti-trust lawsuit against Viacom, in which it argued against being forced to pay for 14 ancillary channels it did not want in order to gain access to eight main channels.
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Related Posts
See all
Does Your Homeowners Insurance Provide Adequate Coverage?
Your home is likely your greatest asset, which is why it is so important to adequately protect it. Homeowners insurance protects you from the financial costs of unforeseen losses, such as theft, fire, and natural disasters, by helping you rebuild and replace possessions that were lost While the definition of “adequate” coverage depends upon a […]
Author: Jesse M. Dimitro
Understanding the Importance of a Non-Contingent Offer
Making a non-contingent offer can dramatically increase your chances of securing a real estate transaction, particularly in competitive markets like New York City. However, buyers should understand that waiving contingencies, including those related to financing, or appraisals, also comes with significant risks. Determining your best strategy requires careful analysis of the property, the market, and […]
Author: Jesse M. Dimitro
Fred D. Zemel Appointed Chair of Strategic Planning at Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC
Business Transactional Attorney Zemel to Spearhead Strategic Initiatives for Continued Growth and Innovation Little Falls, NJ – February 21, 2025 – Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC is pleased to announce that Partner Fred D. Zemel has been named Chair of the firm’s Strategic Planning Committee. In this role, Mr. Zemel will lead the committee in identifying, […]
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Novation Agreement Process: Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses
Big changes sometimes occur during the life cycle of a contract. Cancelling a contract outright can be bad for your reputation and your bottom line. Businesses need to know how to best address a change in circumstances, while also protecting their legal rights. One option is to transfer the “benefits and the burdens” of a […]
Author: Dan Brecher
What Is a Trade Secret? Key Elements and Legal Protections Explained
What is a trade secret and why you you protect them? Technology has made trade secret theft even easier and more prevalent. In fact, businesses lose billions of dollars every year due to trade secret theft committed by employees, competitors, and even foreign governments. But what is a trade secret? And how do you protect […]
Author: Ronald S. Bienstock
What Is Title Insurance? Safeguarding Against Title Defects
If you are considering the purchase of a property, you may wonder — what is title insurance, do I need it, and why do I need it? Even seasoned property owners may question if the added expense and extra paperwork is really necessary, especially considering that people and entities insured by title insurance make fewer […]
Author: Patrick T. Conlon
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
Time Warner Cable Faces Lawsuit Over Sports Package Bundling
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Time Warner Cable will soon square off against angry customers who brought a class action lawsuit against the cable giant over sports package bundling. Subscribers are being forced to pay higher costs for sports channels they don’t want.
Time Warner recently paid out $8 billion for the rights to carry L.A. Dodgers baseball games and $3 billion for rights to carry Los Angeles Lakers basketball games. However, in carrying these exclusive sports channels, many local network subscribers will now be required to pay as much as $4 more for the Lakers channel on their cable bills each month for these packages, many of whom say they don’t want the channels. Once the Dodgers channel is up and running, another $4 to $5 will be tacked on to local cable bills each month.
The group who brought the case against Time Warner argues that non-sports fans cannot unsubscribe from those networks because they are bundled with their expanded basic levels of their cable, satellite, or telephone service, the New York Times reports. They contend that bundling packages in this way is a violation of entertainment law and are seeking to draw more support from the public against the cable giant.
“A very large segment of the consuming public is not sufficiently interested in Dodgers games to pay $50-$60 per year, but they have no way of unsubscribing from either the Lakers or Dodgers telecast, which together will add (or will if unrestrained) about $100 per year to the subscriber’s TWC bill,” the complaint read. “TWC’s bundling results in defendants making huge profits, much of which is extracted from unwilling consumers who have no opportunity to delete unwanted telecasts.”
The legality of bundling has been a issue facing cable providers in recent years, and many cable subscribers and networks decry the practice. Most notably was Cablevision’s anti-trust lawsuit against Viacom, in which it argued against being forced to pay for 14 ancillary channels it did not want in order to gain access to eight main channels.