Diamond Sports Group Confirms Plans to Drop 11 of 12 MLB Teams, Indicates Potential for NBA and NHL Teams to Leave in 2025

Diamond Sports Group Confirms Plans to Drop 11 of 12 MLB Teams, Indicates Potential for NBA and NHL Teams to Leave in 2025 By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.

Thursday, October 3, 2024 - 3:19 pm

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Diamond Sports Group confirmed in bankruptcy hearing on Wednesday that it plans to end its relationship with 11 of the 12 MLB teams that it televised in 2024 next season unless new deals are negotiated. The broadcaster, which operates Bally Sports RSNs across the country, plans to retain rights to carry the Atlanta Braves. However, deals with the Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers expired following the 2024 season and DSG says it will reject deals with the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays. Meanwhile the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals are not part of the bankruptcy proceedings and cannot have their deals kept or dropped.

Today marks an important step forward for Diamond with the filing of a baseline plan to enable us to emerge from bankruptcy as a viable, go-forward business before year-end, DSG said in a statement to multiple media outlets. We have delivered proposals to and remain in discussions with our MLB team partners around go-forward plans. We firmly believe that through our linear and digital offerings we have created the best economic and fan-friendly engine for all of our team partners.

According to SBJ, DSG also informed the court that if its reorganization plan is not deemed viable by Dec. 16, every NBA and NHL team will be allowed to freely leave Diamond following their 2024-25 seasons. Although Diamond remains on course to broadcast NBA and NHL games at least in the near term, the company indicated it could winddown following the 2024045 season. SBJ reports this would enable MLB and the NBA to continue with plans to form separate national streaming RSNs for a consortium of their teams.

For a deeper look a the current state of the rapidly evolving RSN landscape check out more coverage here:

Diamond Sports cuts ties with all MLB teams except Braves, hints at year-end wind down (SBJ)

Diamond Sports Group Plans to Drop All MLB Teams Except Braves (Sportico)

Diamond Sports Group planning to drop MLB broadcasts for 11 teams without new deals (Yahoo Sports)

DSG could drop seven MLB teams, paving way for Manfred's media plan (Front Office Sports)

Broadcaster Diamond Sports Group drops two MLB teams, implies nine others are in danger (The Athletic)

Diamond's Fraught Fate (Axios)

Diamond Sports Group won't carry 11 MLB teams in 2025 without new deal (ESPN)

Diamond Sports looks to drop 11 MLB teams from Bally Sports regional networks (CNBC)

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/10/03/diamond-sports-group-confirms-p...
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