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null  Fred Claire Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully laughs with new team owners Jamie and Frank McCourt. (Jon Soo Hoo/Dodgers)

It was mostly about television.

The ownership of the Dodgers changed on Wednesday when the Major League owners approved a deal whereby Frank and Jamie McCourt paid FOX $430 million for a controlling interest in the historic franchise.

The McCourts take over 52 percent of the team with FOX retaining a 48 percent non-controlling share worth $205 million. The plan is for the McCourts to buy out the FOX shares in the next couple of years.

Even so, don't get the idea that FOX is going to stray too far from the Dodger picture.

A very good source has told me that FOX will retain the local television rights to Dodger games for the next 15 years. I'm told the figure is in the area of $29 million per year and there isn't much escalation for the Dodger ownership in this arrangement.

The $29 million figure for local TV rights is about half of what the New York Yankees receive.

FOX purchased the Dodgers from the O'Malley family in 1998 for $311 million.

From a financial standpoint -- particularly when you consider the television dollars that are attached to the Dodger franchise -- you would have to say FOX made a very good deal for itself.

When FOX purchased the Dodgers it had a very clear objective -- gain the television rights to the team and establish a regional sports network in Southern California. Both goals were achieved.

In a television interview on the Charlie Rose Show just one year ago this month, News Corp. executive Lachlan Murdoch stated: "Strategically, it was the right thing to own the Dodgers while we were building our cable sports channel. I think that strategical imperative has passed now."

The impact of the FOX interest in television had a dramatic and far-reaching effect on the Dodger franchise. The purchase of the Dodgers by FOX enabled the television group to beat out Disney for a regional network in Southern California.

The television interest by FOX also led to the trading of Dodger franchise player Mike Piazza to the Florida Marlins in May of 1998. I was the general manager of the Dodgers at the time, but the trade was made by FOX executive Chase Carey. The deal was about a regional TV network in Florida and not a baseball trade based on the best interests of the Dodger franchise.

When I told the media and the fans how I thought the deal came about, my days with the Dodgers were numbered. I was fired in June of 1998.

FOX now is in, I believe, its proper role with the Dodgers. It is a television partner and that's the way it should be.

The value of the Southern California regional television network held by FOX can't be understated. There was a period of time nearly a year ago when former Madison Square Garden executive Dave Checketts was prepared to pay FOX $650 million for the team and the TV network.

It was clear FOX had no real interest in parting with its television properties.

The McCourts have a tremendous opportunity in Los Angeles. They arrive under challenging circumstances because any major hot-stove moving and shaking has been on the back burner the past few months while the deal was being closed. Now that it has been approved, the McCourts seem eager to take control and, more important, take responsibility.

Frank and Jamie McCourt are the news faces of Dodger ownership. At their opening press conference Thursday, they talked about being visible and accountable.

"Welcome to a new era of Dodger baseball," Frank McCourt declared. "I intend to restore the glory days of Dodger baseball with a team worthy of support from our fans."

From a personal standpoint, it's great to see family ownership back at the helm of the Dodgers. I wish the McCourts the very best.

Fred Claire was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1969 until 1998, serving the team as Executive Vice-President and General Manager. Fred's book (Fred Claire: My 30 Years in Dodger Blue) will be released by Sports Publishing LLC next month. Fred can be reached at fclaire@pacbell.net.