• Loading stock data...
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Tuned In is Almost Sold Out! Limited Tickets Remain!

Diamondbacks Heading Into Another Season With MLB in Charge of Media Rights

  • The league has controlled the D-Backs’ media rights since July.
  • It’s the second season of disarray after the downfall of Bally Sports Arizona.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Syndication: Arizona Republic

The Diamondbacks are entering a second season with their media rights under the MLB umbrella, with no RSN or local TV deal in sight.

The league stepped in back in July when Bally Sports Arizona and bankrupt parent Diamond Sports Group rejected the Diamondbacks’ deal. Other Phoenix teams—the Sun, Mercury, and Coyotes—have over-the-air deals and their direct-to-consumer partnerships with Kiswe.

But the Diamondbacks elected to stick with MLB for a second year. The yearly streaming deal costs $99.99 for D-Backs.TV, or $199.99 to bundle with MLB.TV. Club president and CEO Derrick Hall told Sports Business Journal on Thursday that the league is negotiating with distributors, including DirecTV and Cox, which aired games last season.

The team spoke with the Suns and their broadcaster, Gray Television, and a partnership could be in the cards after this year, Hall said to SBJ.

Last season, the MLB guaranteed clubs it would make up at least 80% of contracted rights fees, but the league has yet to commit to the three teams (also Padres and Rockies) it will handle this season. Commissioner Rob Manfred has said before that, in general, any teams brought under the league umbrella might see a dip at first, but MLB believes it can create similar revenue to what teams have received in the past.

Media rights aren’t the only fraught topic in the organization: The Diamondbacks are also pushing for renovations of Chase Field but are having trouble securing taxpayer funding. “We may run out of time in Phoenix,” owner Ken Kendrick said earlier this week. While Kendrick said he hopes that doesn’t happen, he mentioned the number of markets wanting an MLB team, especially one that’s already successful.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.

Cubs, Yankees, NFL Honor Charlie Kirk

The Green Bay moment was planned by the league.
Sep 8, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) runs to first base during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

The $339 Million Mets Are in Jeopardy of Missing the Playoffs

The Mets’ wild-card lead is 1.5 games with 15 remaining in the regular season.

Dexter Fowler Wants to Change the Narrative on Athlete Ownership

The former MLB All-Star owns a stake in Premier League team Bournemouth.

Featured Today

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
September 9, 2025

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.
opinion
September 9, 2025

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from NFL’s Week 1 Broadcasts

Many viewers decried the addition of ads to “NFL RedZone.”
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.

College Football Enters Week 3 Up 21% in TV Ratings

Total college football viewership across all networks is up big.
September 5, 2025

NFL’s Expected Early-Season Ratings Boost Gets Off to a Stormy Start

The kickoff game somewhat resembles the delays last year in an SNF game.
Sep 6, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; General view of a Fox Sports camera station before the game between the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field.
September 11, 2025

Lachlan Murdoch on Fox’s Sports Strategy, FanDuel Plans

The executive calls a forthcoming streaming bundle with ESPN “essential” for fans.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
September 4, 2025

TNT Sports to Try Its Own Streaming App After WBD Split

TNT Sports will have its own app as a corporate split approaches.
Eagles
September 4, 2025

The Death of Streameast Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Mirror sites began popping up Thursday, the day the NFL season begins.
September 4, 2025

3 ABC Games Top 10M Viewers Each in ESPN’s Record CFB Weekend

Miami–Notre Dame led the way with 10.8 million viewers.
September 4, 2025

Bill Belichick’s UNC Debut Draws More Than 6M Viewers on ESPN

TCU-UNC was the fifth-most-watched college football game of Week 1.