DODGERS MOVE TO NEW CHANNEL.

Byline: Tom Hoffarth Staff Writer

Keeping everything in the Murdoch family, the Dodgers announced Monday they have switched from KTLA Channel 5 to Fox Group-owned KCOP Channel 13 for their over-the-air coverage starting opening day, 2002.

A three-year deal with the UPN network ends the Dodgers' nine-year arrangement with KTLA, which is owned by the Tribune Company. The FCC approved Fox Entertainment Group's purchase of UPN nearly six months ago.

A key element to approving the switch to Channel 13 deal was that DirecTV satellite provider will add the station to its tier of Los Angeles over-the-air offerings. The FCC mandate that all local stations within DirecTV's coverage areas must match local channels offered by cable and over-the-air by Jan. 1, 2002, DirecTV spokesman Marc Altieri said.

DirecTV, owned by General Motors but waiting approval of a sale to the Dish Network, will launch a satellite later this month that will allow it to comply with the FCC's ``must carry'' regulations.

With all games on the Fox-owned station, the Dodgers will also create an easier-to-follow schedule for viewers, said team vice president of communications Derrick Hall. The 50 regular-season and six exhibition games scheduled for Channel 13 will most likely air on weekends, and most of those games are on the road. The 80 games planned for Fox Sports Net 2 cable will go on weeknights, a majority of them at home.

In addition, the same production crew will be used on both telecasts - which provides play-by-play man Vin Scully with a more comfortable situation. Mike Ireland has directed and Jerry Romano has produced the local Dodgers games for Fox TV in recent years.

``It will enable our fans to enjoy consistency from game to game,'' said Scully, who will start his 53rd season in 2002.

Ironically, UPN's 10 p.m. newscast recently phased out its local sports segment. Former anchor Michelle Bonner has switched over to work on Fox Sports Net's Southern California Sports Report.

UPN is the third over-the-air channel the Dodgers have had since they moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn. KTTV Channel 11 did games from 1958 through 1992. The Dodgers left Channel 11 because Fox purchased the network and its launch of more prime-time programming on weeknights often conflicted with game coverage.