Major League Baseball is once again pressing Diamond Sports Group to make decisions sooner rather than later about which teams it will carry.
A week after the bankrupt regional sports network operator said it intends to shed nearly all of its MLB rights agreements—a move that could have significant ripple effects across baseball—the league again is pushing DSG and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to get full and immediate clarity for the 2025 season.
“We have been in conversation [with DSG counsel] about those clubs that will not be going forward … to find a way to terminate, end, or reject [their contracts], as appropriate, prior to the [Nov. 14] confirmation hearing, so that we can open up the opportunity for those clubs to make alternative arrangements,” James Bromley, an attorney for MLB, told the court Wednesday during a status conference.
Bromley’s comments echo many made by MLB last fall and winter, during earlier stages of DSG’s bankruptcy case, when the league similarly sought rapid answers on the company’s broadcast plans for 2024.
The latest situation, however, carries far higher stakes, as DSG is finally planning to hold that hearing next month before the court to seek confirmation of its bankruptcy reorganization plan. Additionally, DSG could be left with just the Braves among its baseball rights once the 2025 season starts, as the company intends to renegotiate any other MLB agreement it would keep.
More Decision-Making
While MLB and several of its individual clubs are waiting for more substantive answers, three have already taken matters into their own hands. The Brewers, Guardians, and Twins—each previously with DSG contracts that expired at the end of the 2024 regular season—will have the league produce and distribute their local games.
There are two other sets of clubs at risk as the DSG situation evolves. The Tigers and Rays are set to be dropped by DSG, absent revised rights deals. But five other clubs—the Angels, Cardinals, Marlins, Reds, and Royals—are not technically connected to the bankruptcy due to joint ventures surrounding some of the individual RSNs. Nonetheless, MLB would like answers on DSG’s ultimate plans for each of those clubs, too.
Bromley, meanwhile, hinted a formal objection from MLB regarding DSG’s bankruptcy reorganization plan could be soon forthcoming, something that has been suggested multiple times before.
“We’ll be putting together a schedule with respect to discovery, objections, and the like,” he said.
Wednesday’s status conference arrived two days after a court filing disclosed DSG is nearing a new naming-rights deal for the RSNs to replace Bally. Sportsbook giant FanDuel is expected to take over those naming rights.
