MLB chief insists league will ‘step in’ to ensure baseball fans don’t miss out on watching their team if Bally Sports goes off-air… with TV giant’s future in doubt days before the start of season
Major League Baseball has a plan in place to ensure that fans will still be able to view their local teams despite Dimond Networks, which owns Bally Sports, being on the verge of bankruptcy.
Bally Sports owns the local broadcasting rights for 42 professional sports teams including 14 MLB teams, with the start of the season now just days away.
The Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all have their broadcasting rights owned by Bally Sports.
AT&T SportsNet, which holds the broadcasting rights for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has warned teams it could file for Chapter 7 liquidation.
Bally Sports’ parent company Diamond Networks is set to file for bankruptcy, but Major League Baseball states they have a plan in place to make sure fans are able to view local teams
Diamond’s networks have the rights to 42 professional teams – 14 baseball, 16 NBA and 12 NHL
‘While the situation is unfortunate, it has been something we have been aware of and planning contingencies for quite some time,’ MLB chief revenue officer Noah Garden told Front Office Sports.
‘If any of the RSNs are no longer able to produce local games, we will be in a position to step in to produce and distribute those games with linear and direct-to-consumer options.
‘With our experience operating MLB Network since 2009 and streaming games for more than 20 years, MLB Media has the capabilities, technology, experience, and relationships to produce and distribute games centrally.’
Garden also mentioned that the expectation is for the prices of baseball coverage to remain the same, while also stating the plan is to keep things as consistent as possible when it comes to commentary teams, even if the league must take over broadcast.
He also commented on how the situation will impact local blackouts which have long been a compliant amongst fans.
‘With the extensive changes to fan consumption habits, there are a large number of fans who are not able to watch their favorite team play in their local market,’ Garden said.
‘The current model is not sustainable over the long term, and there is no single option available to bring the games to all fans.’
MLB stated that if needed they would take over broadcasting games to necessary markets
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