Saying there’s ‘not much good about Diamond,’ commissioner Rob Manfred continued his campaign of derogatory rhetoric about the company this week.
Diamond Sports Group was back in court this week, and it had very little to offer in the way of encouragement for anyone hoping that its extended bankruptcy proceedings were about to come to an end. Instead, the company was seeking to delay the end of those proceedings even further. Diamond requested a delay for its upcoming June 18 hearing, at which its bankruptcy reorganization plan is due to be put up for a confirmation vote by its creditors. Major League Baseball is one such creditor, and — as has been the case throughout Diamond’s bankruptcy case — the league is quite upset with the broadcaster for creating yet another slowdown.
Key Details: The confirmation hearing has been shifted from June 18 to July 29. Diamond is still seeking a new carriage deal with Comcast.
Diamond Sports Group was back in court this week, and it had very little to offer in the way of encouragement for anyone hoping that its extended bankruptcy proceedings were about to come to an end. Instead, the company was seeking to delay the end of those proceedings even further. Diamond requested a delay for its upcoming June 18 hearing, at which its bankruptcy reorganization plan is due to be put up for a confirmation vote by its creditors. Major League Baseball is one such creditor, and — as has been the case throughout Diamond’s bankruptcy case — the league is quite upset with the broadcaster for creating yet another slowdown.
Key Details: The confirmation hearing has been shifted from June 18 to July 29. Diamond is still seeking a new carriage deal with Comcast.
- 5/24/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
This week, MLB announced a deal with Roku to stream one game per week free on The Roku Chanel.
The Roku Channel is ready to play ball. The free ad-supported streaming platform has made its bones with linear TV channels, delivering hundreds of carefully curated streaming channels offering classic TV, popular movies, and more. But this week, Roku announced that it had signed its first live sports deal with one of America’s top professional leagues, reaching an agreement with Major League Baseball to distribute the “Sunday Leadoff” package of games for the rest of 2024. The deal is a major milestone for Roku, and could work to the benefit of both parties involved considering MLB’s current viewing audience.
Key Details: Roku revealed in the first quarter that it had 81.6 million streaming households. MLB has struggled to attract audiences from demographics that stream more than they watch TV. Roku’s...
The Roku Channel is ready to play ball. The free ad-supported streaming platform has made its bones with linear TV channels, delivering hundreds of carefully curated streaming channels offering classic TV, popular movies, and more. But this week, Roku announced that it had signed its first live sports deal with one of America’s top professional leagues, reaching an agreement with Major League Baseball to distribute the “Sunday Leadoff” package of games for the rest of 2024. The deal is a major milestone for Roku, and could work to the benefit of both parties involved considering MLB’s current viewing audience.
Key Details: Roku revealed in the first quarter that it had 81.6 million streaming households. MLB has struggled to attract audiences from demographics that stream more than they watch TV. Roku’s...
- 5/14/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
New Details Emerge on Roku's Potential Deal for MLB Games; Viewership Data Shows League is in a Bind
MLB games could be headed to The Roku Channel in the streamer’s first deal for live games with a top-four sports league in the United States.
As linear TV continues to see declines in viewership, Major League Baseball knows it has to expand its streaming presence. The league has a national streaming-exclusive deal with Apple TV+, and while a handful of teams stream their in-market games via MLB.TV, only five of the league’s teams stream on Bally Sports+, leaving many fans without an option to stream their favorite team’s games. Thus far, baseball has been against other teams selling their streaming rights to Bally Sports operator Diamond Sports Group, as the league has publicly discussed its desire to create an in-market streamer of its own. For two years, MLB offered a package of nationally available games every Sunday morning on Peacock, but the NBCUniversal streamer decided to...
As linear TV continues to see declines in viewership, Major League Baseball knows it has to expand its streaming presence. The league has a national streaming-exclusive deal with Apple TV+, and while a handful of teams stream their in-market games via MLB.TV, only five of the league’s teams stream on Bally Sports+, leaving many fans without an option to stream their favorite team’s games. Thus far, baseball has been against other teams selling their streaming rights to Bally Sports operator Diamond Sports Group, as the league has publicly discussed its desire to create an in-market streamer of its own. For two years, MLB offered a package of nationally available games every Sunday morning on Peacock, but the NBCUniversal streamer decided to...
- 5/3/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
According to Wall Street Journal reporter Joe Flint, The Roku Channel could serve as the new home of the package that lived on Peacock for the past two seasons.
The Roku Channel could be preparing to step up to the plate. The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Flint posted on X (the social media site formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday that free streaming platform Roku has emerged as a potential landing spot for Major League Baseball’s package of Sunday morning games that had been shown on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Key Facts “Sunday Morning Leadoff” shows one MLB game on Sunday mornings during the MLB regular season. Peacock’s quest for greater profits likely led to its decision not to pursue the package in 2024. Roku already offers live Formula E races, but this would be its first live sports deal with one of...
The Roku Channel could be preparing to step up to the plate. The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Flint posted on X (the social media site formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday that free streaming platform Roku has emerged as a potential landing spot for Major League Baseball’s package of Sunday morning games that had been shown on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Key Facts “Sunday Morning Leadoff” shows one MLB game on Sunday mornings during the MLB regular season. Peacock’s quest for greater profits likely led to its decision not to pursue the package in 2024. Roku already offers live Formula E races, but this would be its first live sports deal with one of...
- 4/24/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The city of Oakland plans to present MLB’s Athletics ownership with an offer to extend the team’s lease for five years, with an opt-out after three.
The Athletics have announced plans to move the franchise to Las Vegas, where a proposed stadium is scheduled to be completed by 2028. The current Athletics lease in Oakland ends this season, leaving a substantial gap in their home schedule.
The Oakland Coliseum is in poor shape, and the team is not drawing well after poor records and announcing its plans to move. Slightly more than 3,000 fans attended the second game of the season.
The city of Oakland deal requires the team to pay a $97 million “extension fee,” according to document obtained by ESPN and Kgo-tv in San Francisco on Saturday.
The team and the city will meet Tuesday. MLBCommissioner Rob Manfred has expressed a desire to have the team’s interim plans...
The Athletics have announced plans to move the franchise to Las Vegas, where a proposed stadium is scheduled to be completed by 2028. The current Athletics lease in Oakland ends this season, leaving a substantial gap in their home schedule.
The Oakland Coliseum is in poor shape, and the team is not drawing well after poor records and announcing its plans to move. Slightly more than 3,000 fans attended the second game of the season.
The city of Oakland deal requires the team to pay a $97 million “extension fee,” according to document obtained by ESPN and Kgo-tv in San Francisco on Saturday.
The team and the city will meet Tuesday. MLBCommissioner Rob Manfred has expressed a desire to have the team’s interim plans...
- 3/31/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Major League Baseball appeared poised to reclaim all of the local rights held by Diamond Sports Group, but now the future is decidedly more clouded.
Baseball fans from coast to coast are gearing up for the start of the 2024 MLB season. Opening Day is set for Thursday, March 28, and this year will see an even dozen teams play most of their games on a Bally Sports-branded regional sports network (Rsn). Bally Sports’ parent company Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) is still in bankruptcy proceedings, but in March it filed a reorganization plan that will potentially see it exit bankruptcy and emerge as a going concern. MLB’s eagerness to reclaim all of its rights from Diamond and change its relationship with RSNs has been clear for months, but where do things stand between the two organizations ahead of the 2024 season?
In 2024, 12 MLB teams will see their games broadcast in local markets on Bally Sports channels.
Baseball fans from coast to coast are gearing up for the start of the 2024 MLB season. Opening Day is set for Thursday, March 28, and this year will see an even dozen teams play most of their games on a Bally Sports-branded regional sports network (Rsn). Bally Sports’ parent company Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) is still in bankruptcy proceedings, but in March it filed a reorganization plan that will potentially see it exit bankruptcy and emerge as a going concern. MLB’s eagerness to reclaim all of its rights from Diamond and change its relationship with RSNs has been clear for months, but where do things stand between the two organizations ahead of the 2024 season?
In 2024, 12 MLB teams will see their games broadcast in local markets on Bally Sports channels.
- 3/27/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Opening Day is nearly here, and that means it’s time to once again locate your regional sports network to follow each and every one of your favorite squad’s games.
The 2024 MLB season could be the last without an in-market streaming platform that carries games from multiple teams. League commissioner Rob Manfred wants to bring such a service to market by 2025, but until then fans will have to navigate the patchwork of regional sports networks (RSNs) that carry MLB games not broadcast on a national channel like ESPN, Fox or TBS. The majority of a given team’s regular season games are played on RSNs every year, and it can be confusing to know which network carries which team. That’s why The Streamable’s experts are here, to help cut down on the unknowns and help you find your favorite MLB team quickly and easily.
MLB teams play...
The 2024 MLB season could be the last without an in-market streaming platform that carries games from multiple teams. League commissioner Rob Manfred wants to bring such a service to market by 2025, but until then fans will have to navigate the patchwork of regional sports networks (RSNs) that carry MLB games not broadcast on a national channel like ESPN, Fox or TBS. The majority of a given team’s regular season games are played on RSNs every year, and it can be confusing to know which network carries which team. That’s why The Streamable’s experts are here, to help cut down on the unknowns and help you find your favorite MLB team quickly and easily.
MLB teams play...
- 3/25/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Judge Christopher Lopez called Dsg’s latest agreements with its debt holders as a “big step forward” for the company’s future hopes.
It wasn’t all that long ago that it seemed like Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) was circling the drain. The sports broadcasting company — which owns and operates 18 regional sports networks (RSNs) under the Bally Sports brand, as well as the Bally Sports+ streaming service — seemed to be aligning its affairs in bankruptcy court to wind down operations after the conclusion of 2024. However, according to reporting from Sportico, after a good day in court this week, the company appears more likely to emerge from bankruptcy proceedings as a going concern in the coming months.
Diamond got approval to obtain $450 million in financing on Monday. The company has deals in place with the NBA, NHL, and MLB for the 2023-24 seasons. If Diamond emerges from bankruptcy, an investment from...
It wasn’t all that long ago that it seemed like Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) was circling the drain. The sports broadcasting company — which owns and operates 18 regional sports networks (RSNs) under the Bally Sports brand, as well as the Bally Sports+ streaming service — seemed to be aligning its affairs in bankruptcy court to wind down operations after the conclusion of 2024. However, according to reporting from Sportico, after a good day in court this week, the company appears more likely to emerge from bankruptcy proceedings as a going concern in the coming months.
Diamond got approval to obtain $450 million in financing on Monday. The company has deals in place with the NBA, NHL, and MLB for the 2023-24 seasons. If Diamond emerges from bankruptcy, an investment from...
- 2/27/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Fans in the Colorado market will have a way to stream their local team in-market for the first time.
As MLB commissioner Rob Manfred seeks ways to offer his league’s games outside of the traditional cable bundle, the Colorado Rockies are stepping up to the plate. For the first time in the team’s history, the Rockies will be able to stream outside of cable this season, as the team is launching a new in-market streaming platform called Rockies.TV that will be available to all Colorado-area fans.
Viewers can bundle their Rockies.TV subscription with MLB.TV to watch all MLB games not on national channels this year. Fans can subscribe to either monthly or annual plans of Rockies.TV starting at $19.99 per month. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has designs on launching an in-market streaming service with as many MLB teams as possible.
Last season, the Rockies were found...
As MLB commissioner Rob Manfred seeks ways to offer his league’s games outside of the traditional cable bundle, the Colorado Rockies are stepping up to the plate. For the first time in the team’s history, the Rockies will be able to stream outside of cable this season, as the team is launching a new in-market streaming platform called Rockies.TV that will be available to all Colorado-area fans.
Viewers can bundle their Rockies.TV subscription with MLB.TV to watch all MLB games not on national channels this year. Fans can subscribe to either monthly or annual plans of Rockies.TV starting at $19.99 per month. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has designs on launching an in-market streaming service with as many MLB teams as possible.
Last season, the Rockies were found...
- 2/15/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training, which means you can sign up for the MLB’s out-of-market games streamer now!
Though much of the country is locked in winter weather at the moment, spring is just weeks away. That means the MLB season is also very close, and with pitchers and catchers already having reported to spring training, the league’s out-of-market games platform MLB.TV is available now for the 2024 season. The service has some brand-new features for fans to enjoy while watching games this season, including expanded multiview, a new Catchup Mode, and more.
MLB.TV is expanding its multiview capabilities to viewers on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Google TV devices. New episodes of original MLB.TV programs are also headed to the platform this year. MLB.TV costs $149.99 per season for fans to stream all teams, or $129.99 for a single-team plan. 7-Day Free...
Though much of the country is locked in winter weather at the moment, spring is just weeks away. That means the MLB season is also very close, and with pitchers and catchers already having reported to spring training, the league’s out-of-market games platform MLB.TV is available now for the 2024 season. The service has some brand-new features for fans to enjoy while watching games this season, including expanded multiview, a new Catchup Mode, and more.
MLB.TV is expanding its multiview capabilities to viewers on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Google TV devices. New episodes of original MLB.TV programs are also headed to the platform this year. MLB.TV costs $149.99 per season for fans to stream all teams, or $129.99 for a single-team plan. 7-Day Free...
- 2/14/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The reaction to the news of the new streamer from government agencies has been muted, and some observers believe that signals clear sailing.
Last week, viewers were astounded to hear that Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery had decided to pool their sports rights for a new streaming service that will launch this fall. Sports leagues were just as surprised; reports indicate that the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and other leagues had no prior warning from these companies that the announcement was coming. That may well leave customers feeling anxious that the streamer could be scuttled by one of the leagues in question, or by government regulators who could have concerns about competitive harm.
New Street Research analysts believe that in the short-term, there is no threat from regulators to the new streamer. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has signaled his support for the new sports streamer, but officials from other leagues have not weighed in.
Last week, viewers were astounded to hear that Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery had decided to pool their sports rights for a new streaming service that will launch this fall. Sports leagues were just as surprised; reports indicate that the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and other leagues had no prior warning from these companies that the announcement was coming. That may well leave customers feeling anxious that the streamer could be scuttled by one of the leagues in question, or by government regulators who could have concerns about competitive harm.
New Street Research analysts believe that in the short-term, there is no threat from regulators to the new streamer. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has signaled his support for the new sports streamer, but officials from other leagues have not weighed in.
- 2/13/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The commissioner painted an optimistic picture of blackout-free baseball, but the devil lies in the details with his plan.
Major League Baseball’s digital rights are a mess. The league’s in-market streaming rights are scattered; some are currently owned by the teams themselves, a few are owned by Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) for distribution on Bally Sports+, and many of the largest teams have already invested in in-market streamers of their own, like Nesn 360 for the Boston Red Sox and the Yes App for the New York Yankees. Despite this state of affairs, The Athletic is reporting that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred wants to launch an in-market streaming platform for his league by 2025.
Manfred wants at least 14 teams for a new MLB streaming platform that will put an end to blackouts for the teams involved. It’s not yet clear if MLB will distribute the new streamer itself as it does with MLB.TV,...
Major League Baseball’s digital rights are a mess. The league’s in-market streaming rights are scattered; some are currently owned by the teams themselves, a few are owned by Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) for distribution on Bally Sports+, and many of the largest teams have already invested in in-market streamers of their own, like Nesn 360 for the Boston Red Sox and the Yes App for the New York Yankees. Despite this state of affairs, The Athletic is reporting that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred wants to launch an in-market streaming platform for his league by 2025.
Manfred wants at least 14 teams for a new MLB streaming platform that will put an end to blackouts for the teams involved. It’s not yet clear if MLB will distribute the new streamer itself as it does with MLB.TV,...
- 2/9/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers will all see their games broadcast on Bally Sports channels throughout the 2024 season.
It’s starting to appear doubtful that Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) will make it to a full year in bankruptcy court. The sports broadcasting company that owns 18 Bally Sports regional sports networks (RSNs) seems to have a viable plan for exiting bankruptcy after beginning proceedings in March 2023. Dsg took another step toward that goal over the weekend when it reached deals with the Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers to broadcast their games during the 2024 season.
Diamond has been working with MLB on a deal that will see Diamond’s MLB rights revert back to their respective clubs after this season. The Twins had already parted ways with their Bally Sports partner but did not find a viable alternative. Diamond’s broadcast deals with the NBA and NHL...
It’s starting to appear doubtful that Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) will make it to a full year in bankruptcy court. The sports broadcasting company that owns 18 Bally Sports regional sports networks (RSNs) seems to have a viable plan for exiting bankruptcy after beginning proceedings in March 2023. Dsg took another step toward that goal over the weekend when it reached deals with the Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers to broadcast their games during the 2024 season.
Diamond has been working with MLB on a deal that will see Diamond’s MLB rights revert back to their respective clubs after this season. The Twins had already parted ways with their Bally Sports partner but did not find a viable alternative. Diamond’s broadcast deals with the NBA and NHL...
- 2/5/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
As Diamond Sports Group prepares for a new future, it could start pursuing more major league sports teams for its linear channels and streamer.
The transformation of Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) from a bankrupt company circling the drain to a viable business with a future is going to be a relatively quick one. That’s thanks to a big investment from Amazon and a $495 million settlement with parent company Sinclair Broadcasting, and now that the Bally Sports brand appears to be sticking around for the long haul, fans might well wonder if their favorite team will join up with the company and stream games locally on the Bally Sports+ platform, which is set to partner with Prime Video Channels.
MLB has told Amazon it will not make any more streaming deals with Diamond, and any future agreements will have to be with Amazon itself. NBA and NHL commissioners have both...
The transformation of Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) from a bankrupt company circling the drain to a viable business with a future is going to be a relatively quick one. That’s thanks to a big investment from Amazon and a $495 million settlement with parent company Sinclair Broadcasting, and now that the Bally Sports brand appears to be sticking around for the long haul, fans might well wonder if their favorite team will join up with the company and stream games locally on the Bally Sports+ platform, which is set to partner with Prime Video Channels.
MLB has told Amazon it will not make any more streaming deals with Diamond, and any future agreements will have to be with Amazon itself. NBA and NHL commissioners have both...
- 1/17/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reportedly told Amazon executives that the company would have to do a deal with the league directly if it’s interested.
If Amazon wants to get into regional sports broadcasting, it will have to do it the hard way. The company had been looking for a potential shortcut in the form of a major investment in regional sports broadcaster Diamond Sports Group (Dsg), but a new report from the New York Post indicates that Major League Baseball has not agreed to the proposal, and Amazon may have to find another use for that money.
Amazon and Diamond discussed a plan for the former to invest $150 million in the company before Christmas. Streaming rights were at the heart of MLB’s refusal to agree to the deal between Amazon and Diamond. The league wants to create streaming deals of its own after 2025, not be bound to a...
If Amazon wants to get into regional sports broadcasting, it will have to do it the hard way. The company had been looking for a potential shortcut in the form of a major investment in regional sports broadcaster Diamond Sports Group (Dsg), but a new report from the New York Post indicates that Major League Baseball has not agreed to the proposal, and Amazon may have to find another use for that money.
Amazon and Diamond discussed a plan for the former to invest $150 million in the company before Christmas. Streaming rights were at the heart of MLB’s refusal to agree to the deal between Amazon and Diamond. The league wants to create streaming deals of its own after 2025, not be bound to a...
- 1/9/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Once the NFL’s current broadcasting deal ends, it could simply decide to stream all of its games itself.
The NFL is being cautious and deliberate in its forays into streaming. Streaming-exclusive games are just now becoming commonplace for the league, which will show both a regular season and a playoff game only on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock this year. ESPN+, NFL Sunday Ticket, Paramount+, and Prime Video also stream the NFL, but outside of those platforms only the league’s proprietary streaming service NFL+ holds the rights to stream any games.
NFL+ drove a huge bump in sports-specific streaming service signups when it launched last year. The league’s current broadcast deal with TV and streaming providers ends in 2032, as does its deal with Amazon to stream “Thursday Night Football.” With a strong profit-sharing system in place, there’s nothing to stop the league from creating its own...
The NFL is being cautious and deliberate in its forays into streaming. Streaming-exclusive games are just now becoming commonplace for the league, which will show both a regular season and a playoff game only on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock this year. ESPN+, NFL Sunday Ticket, Paramount+, and Prime Video also stream the NFL, but outside of those platforms only the league’s proprietary streaming service NFL+ holds the rights to stream any games.
NFL+ drove a huge bump in sports-specific streaming service signups when it launched last year. The league’s current broadcast deal with TV and streaming providers ends in 2032, as does its deal with Amazon to stream “Thursday Night Football.” With a strong profit-sharing system in place, there’s nothing to stop the league from creating its own...
- 11/28/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The clause could be used as leverage with MLB in negotiations for local rights, or ESPN could view it as a way to save money as the network transitions to streaming.
If things inside ESPN’s corporate headquarters are as manic as they appear to outside observers these days, this writer hopes everyone is staying hydrated. The news from ESPN is seemingly never-ending these days, as the company tries to plot out its strategy for the next five years in terms of sports quantity and distribution.
ESPN could opt out of its deal with Major League Baseball after the 2025 season. The channel spends $550 million on MLB rights every season, but an expensive pivot to streaming might compel a cost-saving initiative that means sacrificing some sports rights. ESPN could also swap its current rights package for local broadcasting rights to MLB games that would stream on ESPN+. Sign Up Now $10.99+ / month espnplus.
If things inside ESPN’s corporate headquarters are as manic as they appear to outside observers these days, this writer hopes everyone is staying hydrated. The news from ESPN is seemingly never-ending these days, as the company tries to plot out its strategy for the next five years in terms of sports quantity and distribution.
ESPN could opt out of its deal with Major League Baseball after the 2025 season. The channel spends $550 million on MLB rights every season, but an expensive pivot to streaming might compel a cost-saving initiative that means sacrificing some sports rights. ESPN could also swap its current rights package for local broadcasting rights to MLB games that would stream on ESPN+. Sign Up Now $10.99+ / month espnplus.
- 10/23/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Wakefield won World Series titles with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007.
Beloved former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield died at the age of 57, the team announced on Sunday.
The knuckleballer spent 29 years with the organization as a player, special assistant and broadcaster.
Wakefield’s health challenges came to light last week.
“Tim’s kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball,” Red Sox principal owner John Henry said in a statement. “He not only captivated us on the field but was the rare athlete whose legacy extended beyond the record books to the countless lives he touched with his warmth and genuine spirit. He had a remarkable ability to uplift, inspire, and connect with others in a way that showed us the true definition of greatness. He embodied the very best of what it means to be a member of the Boston Red Sox and his loss is...
Beloved former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield died at the age of 57, the team announced on Sunday.
The knuckleballer spent 29 years with the organization as a player, special assistant and broadcaster.
Wakefield’s health challenges came to light last week.
“Tim’s kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball,” Red Sox principal owner John Henry said in a statement. “He not only captivated us on the field but was the rare athlete whose legacy extended beyond the record books to the countless lives he touched with his warmth and genuine spirit. He had a remarkable ability to uplift, inspire, and connect with others in a way that showed us the true definition of greatness. He embodied the very best of what it means to be a member of the Boston Red Sox and his loss is...
- 10/1/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
Relations between Sinclair Broadcasting Group (Sbg) and its regional sports network (Rsn) subsidiary Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) are about as bad as they can be. Dsg filed a lawsuit against Sinclair in July, alleging that its parent company had improperly funneled $1.5 billion away from it and that Sinclair executive chairman told MLB commissioner Rob Manfred he was going to “milk” Diamond for cash before putting it into bankruptcy.
According to NextTV, Sinclair filed a motion in court this week, calling Dsg’s claims “lactose-infused rhetoric” and asking to have the suit tossed out. Jp Morgan joined Sinclair in the motion; that firm is also being sued by Diamond for essentially cutting in line to be paid back by the broadcaster when other debtors had better claims to be paid first.
In its filing with the court, Sinclair wrote, “The debtors’ complaint strains to portray a nefarious plot by Sinclair at Diamond’s expense.
According to NextTV, Sinclair filed a motion in court this week, calling Dsg’s claims “lactose-infused rhetoric” and asking to have the suit tossed out. Jp Morgan joined Sinclair in the motion; that firm is also being sued by Diamond for essentially cutting in line to be paid back by the broadcaster when other debtors had better claims to be paid first.
In its filing with the court, Sinclair wrote, “The debtors’ complaint strains to portray a nefarious plot by Sinclair at Diamond’s expense.
- 9/22/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The saga of Sinclair Broadcast Group and Diamond Sports Group is getting uglier thanks to new claims levied by the parent company towards its subsidiary. Following Dsg’s lawsuit in which the regional sports broadcaster accused Sinclair of draining $1.5 billion from the company — money that Dsg could’ve used to get itself out of bankruptcy — Sinclair says Dsg owes the company nearly $150 million for “unpaid management services” and other services previously paid below agreed-upon rates.
Sinclair says in a filing that the company “is being forced to shoulder the burden and expense of the [management services] at a significant discount, while effectively subsidizing Diamond’s litigation against Sinclair attacking those very same services.”
Management services, according to Sinclair, cover aspects of the company like affiliate sales, marketing plans, payroll, accounting, insurance, and, most importantly, legal guidance. In a not-so-roundabout way, Sinclair attests that it is helping Dsg sue itself — and Sbg either...
Sinclair says in a filing that the company “is being forced to shoulder the burden and expense of the [management services] at a significant discount, while effectively subsidizing Diamond’s litigation against Sinclair attacking those very same services.”
Management services, according to Sinclair, cover aspects of the company like affiliate sales, marketing plans, payroll, accounting, insurance, and, most importantly, legal guidance. In a not-so-roundabout way, Sinclair attests that it is helping Dsg sue itself — and Sbg either...
- 8/22/2023
- by Jeff Kotuby
- The Streamable
Sinclair Broadcasting Group (Sbg) and Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) aren’t exactly the best of friends these days, despite the fact that Diamond is still a Sinclair subsidiary. In fact, a new report from Bloomberg is outlining details about Dsg’s current lawsuit against Sinclair, which was first filed last month.
The allegations in the suit were not made public until Wednesday, when it was revealed that Diamond is accusing Sinclair of draining $1.5 billion from it, money that would certainly be helpful to have now as Dsg tries to resolve a debt load of more than $8.5 billion in bankruptcy court. The suit also uses testimony from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred which alleges that Sinclair’s executive chairman David Smith told Manfred he planned to “milk” Dsg to recover his company’s investment in the regional sports network (Rsn) operator, then put it into bankruptcy.
For its part, a Sinclair spokesperson...
The allegations in the suit were not made public until Wednesday, when it was revealed that Diamond is accusing Sinclair of draining $1.5 billion from it, money that would certainly be helpful to have now as Dsg tries to resolve a debt load of more than $8.5 billion in bankruptcy court. The suit also uses testimony from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred which alleges that Sinclair’s executive chairman David Smith told Manfred he planned to “milk” Dsg to recover his company’s investment in the regional sports network (Rsn) operator, then put it into bankruptcy.
For its part, a Sinclair spokesperson...
- 8/17/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Disney is once again attempting to flex its sports streaming muscles. A new report from The Wall Street Journal indicates that Major League Baseball has been in early talks with Disney regarding the possibility of streaming the games of select teams in their local markets next season.
The league has been watching the bankruptcy proceedings of one of its biggest local broadcasting partners Diamond Sports Group (Dsg), which owns 19 Bally Sports-branded regional sports networks (RSNs). MLB has been crystal clear throughout the process that it wants its local rights back from Dsg, but so far has only reclaimed two of the 14 teams that Dsg began the year with: the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres.
Sign Up Now $9.99 / month espnplus.com
MLB has taken over the broadcasts of those teams in their home markets, and given local fans the chance to subscribe to MLB.TV to stream their games. But MLB.
The league has been watching the bankruptcy proceedings of one of its biggest local broadcasting partners Diamond Sports Group (Dsg), which owns 19 Bally Sports-branded regional sports networks (RSNs). MLB has been crystal clear throughout the process that it wants its local rights back from Dsg, but so far has only reclaimed two of the 14 teams that Dsg began the year with: the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres.
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MLB has taken over the broadcasts of those teams in their home markets, and given local fans the chance to subscribe to MLB.TV to stream their games. But MLB.
- 8/4/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The NFL is ready to pack up its papers and get out of the courtroom, but now it’s up to the judge. new Sportico is reporting that the league has filed a motion for summary judgment in the class-action lawsuit brought by NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers.
The case has been in federal court since 2015, but it wasn’t until February of this year that Judge Phillip Gutierrez certified it as a class-action suit. The crux of the complaint is that by limiting where fans can watch out-of-market NFL games to just one service (Sunday Ticket is exclusively available on YouTube TV starting in 2023), the league is creating a non-competitive environment so extreme that it constitutes an antitrust violation.
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Save $50 off any Sunday Ticket package if you sign up before Sept. 19.
For its part, the NFL argues that its status as a single entity...
The case has been in federal court since 2015, but it wasn’t until February of this year that Judge Phillip Gutierrez certified it as a class-action suit. The crux of the complaint is that by limiting where fans can watch out-of-market NFL games to just one service (Sunday Ticket is exclusively available on YouTube TV starting in 2023), the league is creating a non-competitive environment so extreme that it constitutes an antitrust violation.
Sign Up $349+ / month tv.youtube.com
Save $50 off any Sunday Ticket package if you sign up before Sept. 19.
For its part, the NFL argues that its status as a single entity...
- 8/1/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Cubs fans living in the Chicagoland market now have a new way to watch their favorite team. Marquee Sports Network has officially launched its new streaming platform for Chicago-based fans, which will allow them to stream Cubs games for $19.99 per month without the need for a traditional cable, satellite, or live TV streaming service subscription.
Marquee Sports Network first announced it was working on a direct-to-consumer (Dtc) streaming platform to offer Cubs games without the need for a cable or satellite subscription in late June. Fans can sign up through the new Marquee Sports app, or by heading to WatchMarquee.com and subscribing there. Users who pay to get Marquee Sports Network as part of their cable or satellite subscription can access Cubs games via streaming on the app without the $19.99 monthly fee just by using their TV Everywhere credentials.
The new Marquee Sports app will offer fans live games in high-definition 1080p resolution,...
Marquee Sports Network first announced it was working on a direct-to-consumer (Dtc) streaming platform to offer Cubs games without the need for a cable or satellite subscription in late June. Fans can sign up through the new Marquee Sports app, or by heading to WatchMarquee.com and subscribing there. Users who pay to get Marquee Sports Network as part of their cable or satellite subscription can access Cubs games via streaming on the app without the $19.99 monthly fee just by using their TV Everywhere credentials.
The new Marquee Sports app will offer fans live games in high-definition 1080p resolution,...
- 7/25/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
ESPN may not be at a crossroads just yet, but if not it’s not there already, it is quickly approaching one. The channel saw its losses from cord-cutting outweigh the amount of money it earned from carriage fee increases for the first time during the second quarter of 2023, and its parent company is having discussions with cable and satellite providers about launching an all-encompassing streaming version of ESPN that doesn’t require a pay-tv subscription and would presumably incorporate all content currently on ESPN+.
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Such an offering is still a ways off, but a new report surfaced last week that Disney was having discussions with the NBA, NFL, and Major League Baseball about bringing the sports leagues on as minority owners in the family of networks.
If Disney did sell part of ESPN to major sports leagues, it would be a game-changing move in several ways.
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Such an offering is still a ways off, but a new report surfaced last week that Disney was having discussions with the NBA, NFL, and Major League Baseball about bringing the sports leagues on as minority owners in the family of networks.
If Disney did sell part of ESPN to major sports leagues, it would be a game-changing move in several ways.
- 7/24/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
It has been a difficult year for Diamond Sports Group (Dsg), not only did the broadcaster officially file for bankruptcy protection in March, but since then, it has forfeited the rights to broadcast San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks games and is increasingly raising the ire of Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred who would like to see his league take over all of the rights held by the embattled regional sports network (Rsn) provider.
While Dsg has been going through the process of trying to establish a new sustainable — and eventually profitable —business model, it has filed multiple motions and petitions in court, but it’s the latest filing that might be the most surprising.
NextTV is reporting that on Wednesday, paperwork was filed in the Houston bankruptcy court overseeing the proceedings that indicate that Dsg is suing its parent company Sinclair Broadcast Group (Sbg) and multiple members of its executive team.
While Dsg has been going through the process of trying to establish a new sustainable — and eventually profitable —business model, it has filed multiple motions and petitions in court, but it’s the latest filing that might be the most surprising.
NextTV is reporting that on Wednesday, paperwork was filed in the Houston bankruptcy court overseeing the proceedings that indicate that Dsg is suing its parent company Sinclair Broadcast Group (Sbg) and multiple members of its executive team.
- 7/21/2023
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
The Bally Sports family of regional sports networks (RSNs) shrank by one team this week. The Arizona Diamondbacks were pulled from Bally Sports Arizona on Tuesday, joining the San Diego Padres as the two teams to see their broadcast rights revert back to the league from Bally Sports’ parent company Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) this week.
While the bankruptcy court proceedings that determined whether or not Dsg would keep the D-backs broadcasting rights dragged on for weeks, the ruling meant that MLB production staff had mere hours to get everything ready and start broadcasting games themselves. MLB puts in work to ensure that it has deals in place with cable providers to air their new channel once they take over broadcasts of teams surrendered by Dsg, but it still falls on a dedicated group of employees to make it happen.
A new report from AP, as distributed by TV News Check,...
While the bankruptcy court proceedings that determined whether or not Dsg would keep the D-backs broadcasting rights dragged on for weeks, the ruling meant that MLB production staff had mere hours to get everything ready and start broadcasting games themselves. MLB puts in work to ensure that it has deals in place with cable providers to air their new channel once they take over broadcasts of teams surrendered by Dsg, but it still falls on a dedicated group of employees to make it happen.
A new report from AP, as distributed by TV News Check,...
- 7/19/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
It’s officially official! The Arizona Diamondbacks have become the latest team to depart from the Bally Sports family of regional sports networks (RSNs). Judge Christopher Lopez approved Bally Sports’ parent company Diamond Sports Group’s motion in U.S. bankruptcy court on Tuesday to surrender the Diamondback’s broadcasting rights.
Major League Baseball will now distribute the team’s games on local cable channels. The changeover will begin immediately; fans will be able to find games on these channels starting with the club’s Tuesday, July 18 game against the Atlanta Braves, which starts at 7:20 p.m. Et.
Check out the full list of new Arizona Diamondbacks broadcasters available below.
Platform Channels Cox Yurview Channels: Phoenix – Channel 4 / Tucson – Channel 7 Directv Channel 686 - 3 Fubo Available Spectrum/Charter Channel 304 Xfinity/Comcast Channel 1261 Mediacom Channels 159 & 764 Orbitel Channels 225 & 925 Optimum/Suddenlink Channel 41 – Bullhead City, Flagstaff, Lake Havasu City, Parker Channel 46 & 246 – Payson, Sedona, Strawberry...
Major League Baseball will now distribute the team’s games on local cable channels. The changeover will begin immediately; fans will be able to find games on these channels starting with the club’s Tuesday, July 18 game against the Atlanta Braves, which starts at 7:20 p.m. Et.
Check out the full list of new Arizona Diamondbacks broadcasters available below.
Platform Channels Cox Yurview Channels: Phoenix – Channel 4 / Tucson – Channel 7 Directv Channel 686 - 3 Fubo Available Spectrum/Charter Channel 304 Xfinity/Comcast Channel 1261 Mediacom Channels 159 & 764 Orbitel Channels 225 & 925 Optimum/Suddenlink Channel 41 – Bullhead City, Flagstaff, Lake Havasu City, Parker Channel 46 & 246 – Payson, Sedona, Strawberry...
- 7/18/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
There may be some tense conversations at the next MLB owners’ meeting, but commissioner Rob Manfred got his way. The Arizona Diamondbacks will reportedly see their broadcasting contract rejected by Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) in U.S. Bankruptcy Court this week, meaning that the team’s games will be pulled from Bally Sports Arizona in the coming days, if not as early as Tuesday night.
For the rest of the 2023 regular season, Diamondbacks games will be sent to as-yet-unidentified cable channels with various providers in the Arizona market. MLB has indicated that it has agreements in place with cablers so that broadcasts will be uninterrupted, just in different places. The league will very likely use its normally out-of-market streaming platform MLB.TV to offer an in-market streaming option as well.
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But what about after this season? Are the Diamondbacks guaranteed to stay on cable once 2023 is over,...
For the rest of the 2023 regular season, Diamondbacks games will be sent to as-yet-unidentified cable channels with various providers in the Arizona market. MLB has indicated that it has agreements in place with cablers so that broadcasts will be uninterrupted, just in different places. The league will very likely use its normally out-of-market streaming platform MLB.TV to offer an in-market streaming option as well.
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But what about after this season? Are the Diamondbacks guaranteed to stay on cable once 2023 is over,...
- 7/18/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Arizona Diamondbacks play-by-play man Steve Berthiaume has thrown a knuckleball into the situation between the team and its current local broadcasting partner Bally Sports Arizona. According to the Arizona Republic, Berthiaume said during a broadcast of the team’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, July 16 that a bankruptcy court hearing on Monday, July 17 “may result in new channels for the games to be seen.”
There’s no new information in those words on their face; the Diamondbacks were to be dropped from Bally Sports Arizona altogether in late June, when Bally Sports Arizona’s parent company Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) filed a petition in bankruptcy court to surrender its contract with the club as part of ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. But negotiations between the team and company prompted Diamond to ask for a stay until July 17 so it could potentially work out a new deal with the Arizona baseball club,...
There’s no new information in those words on their face; the Diamondbacks were to be dropped from Bally Sports Arizona altogether in late June, when Bally Sports Arizona’s parent company Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) filed a petition in bankruptcy court to surrender its contract with the club as part of ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. But negotiations between the team and company prompted Diamond to ask for a stay until July 17 so it could potentially work out a new deal with the Arizona baseball club,...
- 7/17/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
July 15 has come and gone, and the Cincinnati Reds are still available on Bally Sports Ohio. The Reds had been due a broadcasting rights payment by Bally Sports’ parent company Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) on the 15th, and ESPN baseball reporter Alden Gonzalez Tweeted late last week that the company expected to make its payment on time.
Source: Diamond Sports Group plans to make its next scheduled payment to the Reds and will thus keep them as part of the Bally Sports umbrella for the foreseeable future.
Diamond faced a July 15 deadline, with non-payments expected to result in MLB taking over (like w/ Padres).
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 14, 2023
The Reds have been one of the surprises in Major League Baseball this year, so it’s a good move ratings-wise for Dsg to keep the team’s games. Expected to be more of an also-ran by baseball experts, the team has already compiled 50 wins,...
Source: Diamond Sports Group plans to make its next scheduled payment to the Reds and will thus keep them as part of the Bally Sports umbrella for the foreseeable future.
Diamond faced a July 15 deadline, with non-payments expected to result in MLB taking over (like w/ Padres).
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 14, 2023
The Reds have been one of the surprises in Major League Baseball this year, so it’s a good move ratings-wise for Dsg to keep the team’s games. Expected to be more of an also-ran by baseball experts, the team has already compiled 50 wins,...
- 7/17/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Bally Sports Arizona may not have any teams’ games left to broadcast by the end of business on Monday. The channel will lose broadcasts of Phoenix Suns games in starting with the 2023-24 NBA season, as its new broadcasting deal with Gray Television — first announced in late April — has become official, according to Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand.
Starting this fall, Suns’ games will air on local broadcast channels throughout the state of Arizona. This means that in-market users will no longer need a cable or satellite subscription to watch the team’s regular season games. This spring, the independent streaming company Kiswe was contracted to produce a streaming service for Suns as well, and has been awaiting the outcome of negotiations between Diamond Sports Group — Bally Sports Arizona’s parent company — and the Suns to go ahead with those plans.
Ourand reports that Bally Sports Arizona could not...
Starting this fall, Suns’ games will air on local broadcast channels throughout the state of Arizona. This means that in-market users will no longer need a cable or satellite subscription to watch the team’s regular season games. This spring, the independent streaming company Kiswe was contracted to produce a streaming service for Suns as well, and has been awaiting the outcome of negotiations between Diamond Sports Group — Bally Sports Arizona’s parent company — and the Suns to go ahead with those plans.
Ourand reports that Bally Sports Arizona could not...
- 7/14/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Will Bally Sports Arizona still be carrying Arizona Diamondbacks games by the end of next week? That’s the $1.5 billion question in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, as the Diamondbacks continue to negotiate with Bally Sports’ parent company Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) to determine the future of the club’s broadcasts.
Diamond has been in bankruptcy court since March, attempting to sort out a debt load of more than $8 billion. It has already rejected the contract of the San Diego Padres, and has indicated it would probably do the same for each of its agreements with teams that aren’t profitable. The Diamondbacks are one of those teams and in late June, Dsg scheduled a hearing to surrender that team's rights to Major League Baseball.
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But at the last minute, Diamond agreed with team officials that while a new deal was not yet set in stone,...
Diamond has been in bankruptcy court since March, attempting to sort out a debt load of more than $8 billion. It has already rejected the contract of the San Diego Padres, and has indicated it would probably do the same for each of its agreements with teams that aren’t profitable. The Diamondbacks are one of those teams and in late June, Dsg scheduled a hearing to surrender that team's rights to Major League Baseball.
7-Day Free Trial $19.99 / month ballysports.com
But at the last minute, Diamond agreed with team officials that while a new deal was not yet set in stone,...
- 7/14/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
If you didn’t grow up in Pittsburgh (which boasted rival baseball greats the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords) or watch Episode 5 of the 1994 Ken Burns docu-series “Baseball,” you may not know much about the Negro Leagues. That’s about to change.
Sam Pollard’s “The League” is an eye-opening slice of American baseball’s 154-year history. In fact, the recent rule changes imposed on the Majors by Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred were inspired in part by the practices of the Negro Leagues: while Babe Ruth focused on home runs (like many players today), these extraordinary Black athletes favored a fast, hit-and-run, base-stealing game.
“If you watch footage of Jackie Robinson from the ’40s and the ’50s, his style of play, his aggressiveness, all came from the Negro Leagues,” Oscar-nominated documentary director Pollard told IndieWire during a recent interview. “If you watch the players who integrated Major League Baseball,...
Sam Pollard’s “The League” is an eye-opening slice of American baseball’s 154-year history. In fact, the recent rule changes imposed on the Majors by Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred were inspired in part by the practices of the Negro Leagues: while Babe Ruth focused on home runs (like many players today), these extraordinary Black athletes favored a fast, hit-and-run, base-stealing game.
“If you watch footage of Jackie Robinson from the ’40s and the ’50s, his style of play, his aggressiveness, all came from the Negro Leagues,” Oscar-nominated documentary director Pollard told IndieWire during a recent interview. “If you watch the players who integrated Major League Baseball,...
- 7/13/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The downright icy relationship between Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred and the company that airs 13 of his teams’ games may have thawed by a degree or two this week. Manfred has been engaged in a knock-down, drag-out fight with Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) in bankruptcy court, trying by hook and by crook to reclaim the broadcast rights of those teams and pull them off Bally Sports regional sports networks (RSNs).
Manfred spoke to the Baseball Writers Association of America on Tuesday, amidst MLB’s All-Star game festivities. When the question of Dsg was raised, Manfred admitted the league had gotten the vast majority of what it was owed by Diamond, though he stopped short of paying the company any kind of compliment.
“Of the rights fees that have come due, I think we’ve collected 94% of those rights fees so far. And that’s really important,” the commissioner said.
Manfred spoke to the Baseball Writers Association of America on Tuesday, amidst MLB’s All-Star game festivities. When the question of Dsg was raised, Manfred admitted the league had gotten the vast majority of what it was owed by Diamond, though he stopped short of paying the company any kind of compliment.
“Of the rights fees that have come due, I think we’ve collected 94% of those rights fees so far. And that’s really important,” the commissioner said.
- 7/12/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
At this point, the acrimony for Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) felt by Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is known far and wide. Manfred feels trapped by the contracts 13 of his teams currently have with Diamond and its Bally Sports regional sports networks (RSNs), and he wants out of those deals by any methods necessary.
One of his clubs might be preparing to sign a new deal with Dsg regardless of Manfred’s feelings. That’s the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were so close to being dropped by Diamond that the company requested a bankruptcy court hearing in late June to reject the team’s contract. But at the 11th hour, the team and the company agreed to keep Diamondbacks games on Bally Sports Arizona, and that a new deal that was more financially accommodating to Dsg could be reached.
The deal is not yet complete, but new reporting from the...
One of his clubs might be preparing to sign a new deal with Dsg regardless of Manfred’s feelings. That’s the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were so close to being dropped by Diamond that the company requested a bankruptcy court hearing in late June to reject the team’s contract. But at the 11th hour, the team and the company agreed to keep Diamondbacks games on Bally Sports Arizona, and that a new deal that was more financially accommodating to Dsg could be reached.
The deal is not yet complete, but new reporting from the...
- 7/11/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Netflix is entering a brave new world, though it’s not exactly an unexplored frontier. That world is live sports streaming, as reports from earlier this week suggest the company is looking to offer a live celebrity golf tournament this fall, with players pulled from its unscripted shows “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” and “Full Swing.”
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If the tournament goes ahead as planned, it will be Netflix’s first-ever live sporting event. The service has attempted two live broadcasts before; the stand-up comedy special “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” and a reunion episode of its reality TV series “Love is Blind.” The first of these specials went relatively smoothly, but the second saw widespread issues that cannot be repeated if the company wants to become known as a competent livestreaming platform.
But from a technical aspect, livestreaming is just not that complex an issue anymore. Netflix...
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If the tournament goes ahead as planned, it will be Netflix’s first-ever live sporting event. The service has attempted two live broadcasts before; the stand-up comedy special “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” and a reunion episode of its reality TV series “Love is Blind.” The first of these specials went relatively smoothly, but the second saw widespread issues that cannot be repeated if the company wants to become known as a competent livestreaming platform.
But from a technical aspect, livestreaming is just not that complex an issue anymore. Netflix...
- 6/16/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Gas up the Learjets and break out the Moncler vests, it’s time for corporate chieftains to let their hair down, as only the one percent of the one percent knows how.
Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, Warner Bros. Discovery honcho David Zaslav, Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple head Tim Cook, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates are heading to Idaho in July to attend the annual “summer camp for moguls,” known more formally as Sun Valley. And Bob Iger, back on the throne at the Walt Disney Company, will also be touching down in the resort town after a brief, unhappy (for shareholders) interregnum. They’ll be mixing and mingling with other media barons, Silicon Valley heavyweights and political players at the media finance retreat hosted by Allen & Co.
Among those getting tapped to dust off their Brooks Brothers casual wear are two former treasury secretaries,...
Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, Warner Bros. Discovery honcho David Zaslav, Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple head Tim Cook, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates are heading to Idaho in July to attend the annual “summer camp for moguls,” known more formally as Sun Valley. And Bob Iger, back on the throne at the Walt Disney Company, will also be touching down in the resort town after a brief, unhappy (for shareholders) interregnum. They’ll be mixing and mingling with other media barons, Silicon Valley heavyweights and political players at the media finance retreat hosted by Allen & Co.
Among those getting tapped to dust off their Brooks Brothers casual wear are two former treasury secretaries,...
- 6/8/2023
- by Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Things have gone from bad to worse for Diamond Sports Group (Dsg), the company that operates the Bally Sports collection of regional sports networks (RSNs) that primarily broadcast Major League Baseball, NBA, and NHL games for teams across the country. In March, Diamond declared bankruptcy, but after arguing in court this week that it should be able to pay a lower rate to maintain the broadcast rights of four MLB teams, after a two-day emergency hearing, Judge Christopher Lopez ruled that the company must pay the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Guardians, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Texas Rangers in full “in the ordinary course of business.”
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Diamond’s parent company, Sinclair Broadcasting Group (Sbg), took on $8 billion in debt to purchase the RSNs from Fox in 2019, but has seen their individual and collective value decrease significantly in the four years since, exacerbated by the streaming boom that coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Diamond’s parent company, Sinclair Broadcasting Group (Sbg), took on $8 billion in debt to purchase the RSNs from Fox in 2019, but has seen their individual and collective value decrease significantly in the four years since, exacerbated by the streaming boom that coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic.
- 6/2/2023
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
Major League Baseball and Bally Sports’ parent company Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) headed back to court this week for a scheduled emergency hearing. MLB will try to make its case that it deserves to reclaim the broadcasting rights to all 13 teams that Diamond currently holds, while Diamond will try to convince the judge those contracts are worth less now than they were when signed, and that it should only have to pay reduced broadcasting fees to the individual teams.
The hearing began on Wednesday and will conclude Thursday when Judge Christopher Lopez hands down his ruling. According to Front Office Sports, the biggest shock came when MLB commissioner Rob Manfred took the stand and claimed that before Dsg headed to court to secure bankruptcy protections, he got a visit from David Smith, executive chairman of Dsg parent company Sinclair Broadcasting Group. Smith wanted the streaming rights to all teams Dsg held the broadcasting rights to,...
The hearing began on Wednesday and will conclude Thursday when Judge Christopher Lopez hands down his ruling. According to Front Office Sports, the biggest shock came when MLB commissioner Rob Manfred took the stand and claimed that before Dsg headed to court to secure bankruptcy protections, he got a visit from David Smith, executive chairman of Dsg parent company Sinclair Broadcasting Group. Smith wanted the streaming rights to all teams Dsg held the broadcasting rights to,...
- 6/1/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Drag charity group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will, after all, be participating at Los Angeles Dodgers’ Pride Night next month after the baseball team received severe backlash from queer organizations for disinviting the organization.
On Monday evening, the baseball team shared a statement on Twitter in which it apologized to the drag nun charity for removing them from the event after Sen. Marco Rubio and other conservatives expressed their dislike for the organization.
“After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and...
On Monday evening, the baseball team shared a statement on Twitter in which it apologized to the drag nun charity for removing them from the event after Sen. Marco Rubio and other conservatives expressed their dislike for the organization.
“After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and...
- 5/23/2023
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
The Dodgers are issuing a mea culpa.
L.A.’s Major League Baseball team whipped up a firestorm of controversy after rescinding an invite made to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — a charitable drag group that dresses like nuns — to accept a “community hero award” on the field of Dodger Stadium at LGBTQ+ Pride Night on June 16.
But the Dodgers issued an apology and reversal of that decision on Monday.
“After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and generous discussions with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Los Angeles Dodgers would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends and families,” a statement posted to Twitter read.
In its own statement, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence said, “This morning our Abbess, Sister Dominia, and another board member, Sister Bearonce Knows,...
L.A.’s Major League Baseball team whipped up a firestorm of controversy after rescinding an invite made to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — a charitable drag group that dresses like nuns — to accept a “community hero award” on the field of Dodger Stadium at LGBTQ+ Pride Night on June 16.
But the Dodgers issued an apology and reversal of that decision on Monday.
“After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and generous discussions with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Los Angeles Dodgers would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends and families,” a statement posted to Twitter read.
In its own statement, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence said, “This morning our Abbess, Sister Dominia, and another board member, Sister Bearonce Knows,...
- 5/23/2023
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LA Pride will not be participating in this year’s Los Angeles Dodgers Pride Night following the baseball team’s decision to disinvite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a nonprofit charity made up of drag nuns, from the event after facing pressure from conservatives.
“As a longstanding partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, we are very disappointed in their decision to rescind their invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to be honored at the 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night,” LA Pride said in a statement Thursday night. “As a...
“As a longstanding partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, we are very disappointed in their decision to rescind their invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to be honored at the 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night,” LA Pride said in a statement Thursday night. “As a...
- 5/19/2023
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
Bowing to pressure from conservatives including Sen. Marco Rubio, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Wednesday that they had uninvited an LGBTQ charity and drag performance group from participation in their annual Pride Night. The organization, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, is an order of “queer and trans nuns” devoted to “community service, ministry, and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity, and spiritual enlightenment,” according to their self-description.
Known for their campy, gender-fluid religious costumes and demonstrations, the Sisters have scandalized Catholics...
Known for their campy, gender-fluid religious costumes and demonstrations, the Sisters have scandalized Catholics...
- 5/17/2023
- by Miles Klee
- Rollingstone.com
Anyone who has been watching MLB’s relationship with Diamond Sports Group (Dsg) deteriorate over the past few months knows that the sport’s future is not on regional sports networks (RSNs). Just this week, three MLB teams filed emergency motions in Dsg’s bankruptcy proceedings protesting that they had not been paid, and that the league wanted to reclaim their broadcast rights.
That process could drag on for months, depending on several factors, but if MLB does eventually reclaim all of the broadcast rights for the 14 teams currently owned by Diamond, and each of its other 16 clubs as well, what would it do next?
There’s no doubt that baseball executives would like to see an expansion of direct-to-consumer (Dtc) streaming offerings. Speaking at a press conference in February, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said that once MLB had more control over the broadcast rights of its clubs, it could...
That process could drag on for months, depending on several factors, but if MLB does eventually reclaim all of the broadcast rights for the 14 teams currently owned by Diamond, and each of its other 16 clubs as well, what would it do next?
There’s no doubt that baseball executives would like to see an expansion of direct-to-consumer (Dtc) streaming offerings. Speaking at a press conference in February, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said that once MLB had more control over the broadcast rights of its clubs, it could...
- 4/14/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Diamond Sports Group’s twisted path through bankruptcy court took another turn this week. The company —which owns and operates the collection of 19 regional sports networks (RSNs) under the Bally Sports brand— is now dealing with an emergency motion from Major League Baseball that could force it to surrender two of its baseball contracts, according to The Athletic.
Those contracts cover the broadcast rights to the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins. Currently, those teams games are still being broadcast on Bally Sports Great Lakes and Bally Sports North respectively, despite the fact that Dsg has not paid them what the teams contractually owed to show the games.
MLB’s filing is seeking an order by April 13 which would force Diamond to either fork over its obligated payments, or terminate those contracts, which would allow the clubs themselves to take over broadcasting duties with assistance from the league. Diamond’s final...
Those contracts cover the broadcast rights to the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins. Currently, those teams games are still being broadcast on Bally Sports Great Lakes and Bally Sports North respectively, despite the fact that Dsg has not paid them what the teams contractually owed to show the games.
MLB’s filing is seeking an order by April 13 which would force Diamond to either fork over its obligated payments, or terminate those contracts, which would allow the clubs themselves to take over broadcasting duties with assistance from the league. Diamond’s final...
- 4/6/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The 2023 Major League Baseball season opens Thursday, boasting a new official advertising slogan: “Baseball is Something Else.”
In terms of media presence, that phrase definitely rings true. This season, a sport known for its decades of history on radio and TV will see direct-to-consumer streaming become an even bigger conduit to fans. Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Peacock are back with exclusive game packages and regional sports networks like Yes, Nesn and Bally Sports have all gone “over the top” with pricey new subscription offerings. ESPN+ will also stream games almost daily, though on a non-exclusive basis as online mirrors of regional telecasts. Fox Sports, another media partner of MLB, streams via its Fox Now app, which requires a pay-tv subscription.
This week’s runup to Opening Day has seen a couple of significant announcements, with Prime Video announcing a new batch of 20 games, mostly on Wednesdays. The tech...
In terms of media presence, that phrase definitely rings true. This season, a sport known for its decades of history on radio and TV will see direct-to-consumer streaming become an even bigger conduit to fans. Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Peacock are back with exclusive game packages and regional sports networks like Yes, Nesn and Bally Sports have all gone “over the top” with pricey new subscription offerings. ESPN+ will also stream games almost daily, though on a non-exclusive basis as online mirrors of regional telecasts. Fox Sports, another media partner of MLB, streams via its Fox Now app, which requires a pay-tv subscription.
This week’s runup to Opening Day has seen a couple of significant announcements, with Prime Video announcing a new batch of 20 games, mostly on Wednesdays. The tech...
- 3/30/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
If you’re a Major League Baseball fan, you’ve doubtless been experiencing some anxiety in recent weeks thanks to the ongoing decline of the regional sports network (Rsn) market. Many MLB teams see their games primarily distributed by RSNs, and the filing of bankruptcy by Bally Sports' parent company and the departure of Warner Bros. Discovery from its RSNs have left fans with tons of questions.
Thankfully for devotees of America’s Game, there will still be one contest to watch nearly every day of the first month of the season on ESPN+. Starting on Opening Day and running throughout the month of April, ESPN+ will feature some of the top teams in the league as they try to get their regular season off on the right foot. Local blackout restrictions do apply, so if your local team is your favorite this isn’t the best way to see their games.
Thankfully for devotees of America’s Game, there will still be one contest to watch nearly every day of the first month of the season on ESPN+. Starting on Opening Day and running throughout the month of April, ESPN+ will feature some of the top teams in the league as they try to get their regular season off on the right foot. Local blackout restrictions do apply, so if your local team is your favorite this isn’t the best way to see their games.
- 3/27/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The troubles that regional sports networks (Rsn) and their distributors are going through have been well publicized. From carriage disputes between channels like Altitude and cable providers, to bankruptcy proceedings for Bally Sports RSNs, to the abrupt exit of Warner Bros. Discovery from the Rsn business, it seems that everywhere a viewer turns there’s a regional sports channel on its last legs.
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Each league has faced its own unique challenges when dealing with the failure of the Rsn model, but none has seemingly faced a bigger challenge than Major League Baseball. The most obvious reason for this is that the MLB season is about to begin, whereas the NBA and NHL are winding down their regular seasons in preparation for the playoffs, but their current schedules will reportedly not be impacted, since the payments for this season have already been made.
That means...
7-Day Free Trial $24.99+ / month via amazon.com
Each league has faced its own unique challenges when dealing with the failure of the Rsn model, but none has seemingly faced a bigger challenge than Major League Baseball. The most obvious reason for this is that the MLB season is about to begin, whereas the NBA and NHL are winding down their regular seasons in preparation for the playoffs, but their current schedules will reportedly not be impacted, since the payments for this season have already been made.
That means...
- 3/23/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
With the Major League Baseball season just a week away and things remaining in flux in terms of the league’s status across a number of regional sports networks (RSNs), the league has apparently worked out a way to make sure that fans can get their baseball fix free of charge, even if it is from the Minor League level. The New York Post is reporting that MLB has reached a deal with casino conglomerate Bally’s Corp. to broadcast every minor league game on the Bally Live App for free.
This is not to be confused with the Bally Sports RSNs or Bally Sports+, which are owned by Diamond Sports Group, but for which Bally’s has the naming rights. Previously, to get access to the broadcasts of all 120 MiLB teams, fans needed to pay $29.99 per season for the Minor League add-on to MLB’s At-Bat app. This season...
This is not to be confused with the Bally Sports RSNs or Bally Sports+, which are owned by Diamond Sports Group, but for which Bally’s has the naming rights. Previously, to get access to the broadcasts of all 120 MiLB teams, fans needed to pay $29.99 per season for the Minor League add-on to MLB’s At-Bat app. This season...
- 3/23/2023
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
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