LA Sparks team with TWC for local television coverage

After 17 years in existence, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks have found a local television home.  Details of the team’s deal with the Time Warner Cable SportsNet were released today, with the network agreeing to air 25 live games on both its TWC Sports Net channel and Time Warner Cable Deportes.

The telecast season kicks off on May 26th, for the Sparks home opener against the Seattle Storm.

TWC will also provide both pre- and post-game Sparks-branded shows and original programming including the “Backstage” series, featuring the Sparks.

“Having the Sparks air on Time Warner Cable SportsNet allows the Sparks a unique opportunity to bring not only the game, but also the stories and personalities to our fans,” said Sparks Executive Vice President and General Manager Penny Toler. “We know Sparks fans are ready for more, and our partnership with Time Warner Cable Sports gives them the access and coverage they deserve.”

The Sparks have remained one of the more popular teams in the league, leading the league in home attendance last year at a little over 10,000 fans a game, roughly 2,500 over the WNBA average.  The deal with TWC to locally show every Sparks game also puts the Sparks in rare-air, according to the current WNBA schedule, no other WNBA team has a local television contract.

TWC’s coverage of the Sparks season begins this Sunday at 5:30 pm PT.

(via Press Release)