ESPN responds to Dodgers blackout in L.A.

On what channel is the Dodgers’ season opener against the San Diego Padres? ESPN, unless you live in Los Angeles and don’t have Time Warner Cable, in which case it’s blacked out.

Dodgers fans were caught unaware when they turned on ESPN and the game wasn’t on.

An ESPN spokesman said the blackout is required by the sports networks’ contract with Major League Baseball. There are certain times that ESPN can “co-exist� with Time Warner Cable coverage in the L.A. market, but that is limited to 10 games.

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“We’ll be on a lot in L.A.,� the spokesman said late Monday.

To Dodger fans already irate over the blackout, now in its third year, it was one more reason to feel manipulated. “Stunning greed,� said one fan on social media, which lighted up with bad reactions from Dodger faithful. “What blackout?� chided another. “Clear signal in Florida.�

The standoff stems from cable providers’ refusal to pay the Time Warner Cable’s fee for monthly coverage. TWC has recently lowered its Dodger price, but DirecTV, which has the most clout in the showdown, insists its non-Dodger loving customers don’t want to pay anything for games they don’t want. In essence, non-baseball fans subsidize fee schedules for fans, paying down the price.

The showdown comes as cable companies are trying to control costs as users frequently “cut the cord� over basic cable service, choosing alternative and cheaper ways to obtain TV and movies.

Still, unable to root for the Dodgers, fans decided to vent.

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme

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