TALKS STILL STRIKE OUT ON BASEBALL BROADCASTS.

Even the prospect of the nation at war appears unlikely to hasten a resolution to the rate-increase standoff between Time Warner Cable and Fox Sports Net that has prevented San Fernando Valley customers from having access to most Dodgers and Angels games this summer.

Both sides confirmed Wednesday that the national tragedy has colored negotiations somewhat but nothing has been resolved. The two companies had met last week in New York before the terrorist attacks to discuss the baseball situation as well as other topics.

``Airing the remaining Dodgers games would certainly help L.A. return to normal after the tragedies on the East Coast,'' said Time Warner spokesman Deane Leavenworth. ``Locally, we hope that Fox will put the public good ahead of the revenue they might derive from a handful of baseball games on the schedule and work this out.''

A Fox spokesman said the company is open to negotiations with the cable operator, including such options as a prorated fee for the remaining games.

``We couldn't agree more with Time Warner that baseball unites all of us,'' said spokesman Dennis Johnson. ``If it were as simple as just giving it to Time Warner, we would do it in light of the events on Sept. 11.''

At issue is a $1.1 million surcharge that Time Warner has declined to pay to Fox, resulting in the absence of local baseball on that cable system. Johnson said Fox is contractually obligated to bill Time Warner the surcharge because all other cable operators in the region had already agreed to pay the fee.

Time Warner's 350,000 customers in its Los Angeles division, which includes parts of the West Valley and Canyon Country, have not had access to Dodger games since June 27 and Angels games since July 25, except for a few games broadcast on local channels or other cable networks.

Fox increased the number of Dodgers games from 40 to 80 two seasons ago. The contracts with all cable systems call for the first 40 games to be included, with the second 40 available for a surcharge.

The situation is particularly disappointing ``for those who want to be at home with their families . . . to watch it on TV and have the benefit of that normalcy,'' said Dodgers Senior Vice President Derrick Hall. ``It's certainly our hope at the Dodgers that they can get this solved.''