Regional Sports Networks Going Bankrupt

[LanceyHoward]

What are the teams that have/had contracts with Diamond and Discovery doing. Can fans in those cities watch the games. Is streaming being offered?

 

[The Big Ragu]

What are the teams that have/had contracts with Diamond and Discovery doing. Can fans in those cities watch the games. Is streaming being offered?

Diamond Sports filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but they are still broadcasting games on all the Bally channels while the process plays out. They had plenty of cash on hand still, so I am assuming they have been making their rights fees payments on whatever schedule they are supposed to.

 

[wicked]

Discovery/AT&T isn't immediately pulling out, I think they're trying to sell the networks first.

 

[Readallover]

twins and indians games could be impacted.
https://www.fiercevideo.com/video/mlb-and-diamond-sports-argue-over-late-payments-amid-bankruptcy

 

[maumann]

twins and indians games could be impacted.
https://www.fiercevideo.com/video/mlb-and-diamond-sports-argue-over-late-payments-amid-bankruptcy

The fact that the story doesn't even spell the commissioner's name correctly concerns me. However, Diamond/Bally/Sinclair claims it has the money but missed the mid-March payment because of "restructuring?" I think that's pretty weak sauce, and MLB has every right to a speedy resolution, especially since the network continues to make money off advertising without paying for the rights.

Again, Sinclair deserves every morsel of scorn I can heap upon it. I'm sorry for the folks who earn a paycheck, but if the place imploded this afternoon, I'd give zero f---s.

 

[Readallover]

Some interesting details, esp about the Diamondbacks. https://www.nexttv.com/news/bally-s...-unlike-diamonds-rsns-were-not-going-anywhere

 

[Readallover]

Half is better than zero, I guess. https://www.nexttv.com/news/bally-s...what-it-owes-to-mlb-clubs-pending-restructure

 

[Readallover]

And it begins....
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/28/phoenix-suns-mercury-gray-television.html

 

[wicked]

What's the play here in going back to broadcast? Is this a time buy where they're hoping broadcast ad rates will make up for the stupid rights fee they got paid?

 

[dixiehack]

What a crazy concept - marketing to the general public.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

What's the play here in going back to broadcast? Is this a time buy where they're hoping broadcast ad rates will make up for the stupid rights fee they got paid?

The chief appeal for the teams is increasing their reach. Only 800,000 people in Arizona get Bally's, and I'm pretty confident that the demo of that 800k skewed a heck of a lot older than the NBA demographic. RSNs are built on a dying model.

The Suns can now reach 2.8 million people with their games over the air and are setting up their own streaming service. The rights fees aren't as high but that was an inevitability for the teams.

 

[matt_garth]

Padres get local rights after Diamond misses payment

SBJ Unpacks: Padres' deal with Bally Sports ends tonight