Google trying to land local sports from Time Warner Cable

Google and Time Warner Cable appear at odds over whether the new player in Kansas City television service will be able to include some regional college basketball games in its subscription package.

Time Warner says it has negotiated in good faith to sell local and regional live sports programming to Google Fiber TV, the TV-and-Internet service set to begin home installations in a few Kansas City, Kan., neighborhoods this fall. Google, in turn, expressed frustration to federal regulators about its ability to gain access to the regional sporting events from Time Warner’s MetroSports channel. In a Sept. 21 letter, Google recounted discussions it had with Federal Communications Commission officials and “the continuing ability of competitors and new entrants to access essential regional sports programming.” At the center of what could represent the budding competition for Kansas City TV subscriptions is Time Warner’s MetroSports channel.