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.
- Industries: Entertainment & Media
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
Guardianships in New Jersey: When a Loved One Can No Longer Manage Personal or Financial Affairs
When a family member can no longer make important decisions for themself, the question is often not whether the family will step in, but whether they have the legal authority to do so. A spouse may manage household finances, or an adult child may arrange medical care and pay bills. Still, informal assistance does not […]
Author: Marc J. Comer
New Jersey’s Revised UHAC Regulations: What Residential Developers Need to Know About Affordable Housing Commitments
New Jersey residential developers with affordable housing obligations should carefully review their existing approvals, development agreements, and proposed deed restrictions in light of the State’s revised UHAC regulations (Uniform Housing Affordability Controls). The regulations, which took effect on November 6, 2025, significantly change the administration and physical requirements for affordable housing units. For developers with […]
Author: Wendy Rubinstein Quiroga
“No Comment” Culture: Why Silence Is Often the Riskiest Legal Strategy
A “no comment” response is sometimes the right call when a legal problem arises. As a blanket policy, however, it lets allegations go unanswered, deadlines pass, evidence disappear, and manageable disputes grow into expensive litigation. The businesses that fare best are usually the ones that say little publicly while acting decisively behind the scenes. When […]
Author: Sean M. Pena
Utility-Scale Battery Storage Projects: A Legal Roadmap for Developers, Property Owners and Other Stakeholders
Utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) are becoming an increasingly important component of the electric grid throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. As renewable generation expands, electricity demand increases and grid operators seek greater flexibility, battery storage can help balance supply and demand while providing additional capacity and reliability. For developers, battery storage presents […]
Author: Nicholas Wall
Navigating Disputes: Hire a Partnership Dispute Lawyer
A falling out between partners can be disastrous for any business. In many cases, the partnership will not survive. If you are in an unworkable situation with your partners, it may be time to consult a partnership dispute lawyer experienced in handling partnership breakups and dissolutions before the situation deteriorates any further. It is easy […]
Author: Jay McDaniel
Section 363 Sales in Bankruptcy: What Businesses, Lenders, and Buyers Need to Know
When a company enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy, many assume the process will culminate in a lengthy reorganization plan. However, distressed businesses are increasingly being sold through a different mechanism — a sale under Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. A Section 363 sale allows a company, as a debtor-in-possession in bankruptcy, to sell […]
Author: John D. Giampolo
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.