The judge overseeing the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bankruptcy case ruled that the Major League Baseball team would be allowed to begin selling its broadcast rights. The judgment is a setback for the Dodgers’ current broadcast partner, US network Fox, which will appeal the decision.
Fox, which owns the local Dodgers’ broadcast rights until the end of 2013, had asked the court to enforce the current contract, which has a term preventing the Dodgers from negotiating with other media outlets before November 30, 2012. The ruling means the Dodgers can start the process earlier than stipulated.
The Dodgers pushed the court to allow an early sale of its media rights in its local region to boost the value of the team, which is being auctioned in the coming months. Fox now has an exclusive negotiating period with the Dodgers until January 14, after which the team is allowed to talk to other broadcasters.