As of last week, it was announced that Diamond Sports Group (Bally Sports Partner) had signed a deal that allowed them to retain rights to broadcast NHL and NBA games on their regional sports networks. This deal didn’t include New Orelans Pelicans games or Dallas Mavericks games.
Things are slightly different for the MLB, however. Diamond Sports Group are currently in a chapter 11 bankruptcy situation, and have until April 5, 2025 to resolve the matter. If this isn’t resolved, leagues are entitled to step away from their contract.
The MLB made thier position clear to the judge by saying: “I simply implore Your Honor, as we’re going forward, to keep in mind there are substantial issues at risk here and at play that need to be addressed, and we cannot allow the timelines that has existed in the past, that exists going forward,” said James Bromley, MLB’s outside counsel. “We need to bring these issues to a point, and we need to do that with alacrity, speed and frankness among all the parties.”
If the matter isn’t resolved, it will be the start of a huge problem for Bally Sports. Reportedly, some teams such as the Minnesota Twins are set to make their own channels if they are unable to continue broadcasting. This would likely be the start of many teams following in similar footsteps, putting Bally Sports in a difficult spot.
“We can’t go on and face our 2025 season in the first and second quarter of next year. The time to face the 2025 season is today,” Bromley said. “We need the court’s attention on this issue, and we need the debtor (Diamond) to be committed to doing this with speed in the short timeframe that I just described. And frankly, if it doesn’t happen, we obviously reserve our rights to come back for relief, including more drastic relief than we’ve looked at in the past.”
Things will be intense between now and the April 2025 deadline, but you can keep posted on the situation as it progresses here.
