It looks like Bally Sports is set to drop plans to broadcast all of its remaining MLB teams ahead of the start of next season with the only exception being the Atlanta Braves. According to The Athletic, Diamond Sports Group confirmed its plan to stop carrying the other 11 MLB teams earlier today.
For the Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers, the change is unlikely to make too much difference, considering their existing contracts expired at the end of the 2024 season anyway.
Even though the other teams were still under contract for next year, Diamond Sports has the ability to end contracts in this way as part of its ongoing bankruptcy process.
Assuming the voiding of the contracts are approved by the judge overseeing the bankruptcy case, those clubs will now need to either negotiate a new deal with Diamond, and presumably at a rate that better suits Diamond, or look for another way to distribute their games to fans in time for the start of the new season.
Essentially, the move now takes the responsibility out of Diamond’s hands and places it directly in the hands of the individual teams, and the league as a whole.
The option that seems the most likely right now is that those teams will follow in the footsteps of the teams that had already severed links with Bally Sports, by making games available on MLB.TV. Alternatively, they may opt to partner with other companies to launch their own direct-to-consumer platform and subscription service.
Late last year, the league itself made clear that it wanted certainty on the Bally Sports situation, including its plans for the league. It now looks like the league has received that clarity.
As for the Atlanta Braves, currently shown on Bally Sports South and Bally Sports Southeast, nothing may change ahead of next season.
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