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The upstart Arizona Diamondbacks will hit the local airwaves in 2024 as a National League pennant winner, at the very least, and perhaps a World Series champion.
But precisely where those games will be shown and how much money the club will reap for those broadcasts remain mysteries.
In July, the Diamondbacks were the second major pro team to have their local rights dropped by Diamond Sports Group, the bankrupt parent of Bally Sports, a situation that has since greatly complicated local media planning across MLB and other leagues and has ushered in a new era in Phoenix sports media.
MLB quickly moved to broadcast and distribute Diamondbacks games, showing them on a broad mix of local broadcast, cable, and streaming outlets. The club also was guaranteed at least 80% of its contracted rights fees — pegged at $61.2 million for 2023.
How that will carry over into 2024 is still a massive question mark for the Diamondbacks, who are also facing pressing facility concerns.
MLB said it remains prepared to take on as many of its teams’ local broadcasting as necessary, at comparable financial terms to recent years.
“We are confident that we can produce revenue streams in those local markets that are not drastically different from what teams have been used to enjoying,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on the “Marchand and Ourand” podcast. “There may be a little downtick, and then a build back up. We do really believe in the fundamental value of the content.”
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