Time Warner Cable Sports unveils Regional Sports Networks.

Time Warner Cable Sports unveiled launch plans for the company’s two new regional sports networks debuting on October 1, 2012 to serve Southern California-area sports fans. The networks, branded Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Time Warner Cable Deportes, will deliver comprehensive sports information, complementing a year-round schedule of more than 120 live sports events as the new exclusive local homes of the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Sparks.

Beginning with the 2012-13 NBA season, the networks’ exclusive game coverage will include full seasons of Lakers, Galaxy and Sparks games, as well as CIF high school regular season and playoff contests. This is the first time in history that all locally televised Lakers games will be available on one network. Beyond live game coverage, Time Warner Cable Sports is creating a daily programming schedule to give local sports fans comprehensive in-depth coverage, fresh opinions and behind-the-scenes insight into their favorite local teams and personalities.

“We are building Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Time Warner Cable Deportes from the ground up to be the new homes for Southern California sports fans,” said Time Warner Cable Sports President David Rone. “Our networks are created around live coverage of some of the region’s signature franchises and represent a 24/7 commitment to give fans more access and insight than they have ever seen before.”

Added Mark Shuken, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Time Warner Cable Sports Regional Networks, “Because Southern California is home to some of the most intensely loyal fans in the country, we’re developing these networks from the fans’ perspective and investing in the technology and talent needed to respect that passion. Whether in their living rooms or on the go, fans will always be able to follow their local teams with our multiplatform coverage.”

Recognizing the importance of Hispanic consumers in Southern California, Time Warner Cable Sports is launching Time Warner Cable Deportes. Time Warner Cable Deportes will broadcast all local Lakers and Galaxy games entirely in Spanish – also a first. To bring this unique and customized experience to its audience, Time Warner Cable Deportes will feature separate production teams, Spanish-speaking talent and a distinct graphics package. Additionally, Time Warner Cable Deportes has built a dedicated team that will oversee the production of original programming including daily local sports news, a daily soccer news show and coverage of other sports including boxing and lucha libre.

Southern California sports fans will see a talented mix of familiar and new on-air game and news personalities, including Lakers broadcasters Stu Lantz and Bill Macdonald on Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Adrian Garcia Marquez and Francisco Pinto on Time Warner Cable Deportes. Also joining the networks are two noted and highly experienced sports journalists. Studio host Andy Adler, formerly of KNBC and WNYW, will anchor nightly studio programming from the networks’ new state-of-the-art technical facility and Heidi Watney, former reporter for the Boston Red Sox and NESN, will report on and interview teams, athletes and fans while on-the-scene.

The networks are employing the latest technology to give fans on the go the most current coverage and updates in English and Spanish. Both networks will feature live in-market game streaming to personal computers and mobile devices, and an integrated interactive social media experience catering to the unique passions that make sports a community activity.