Across the United States, over 40 professional sports teams, from the NBA, NHL, and MLB, have broadcast deals with regional sports network Bally Sports. However, that could change in the coming weeks and months. The parent owner of Bally Sports is in danger of filing for bankruptcy, a move that could leave teams in a financial bind and fans confused over the future of game broadcasts. The demise or realignment of Bally Sports would have major consequences across the sports world, but how does it affect Major League Baseball? Before analyzing that, let’s look at the teams that have deals with Bally.
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Bally Sports teams in MLB
Here’s the list of teams that have broadcasting deals with Bally Sports:
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Atlanta Braves
- Cincinnati Reds
- Cleveland Indians
- Detroit Tigers
- Kansas City Royals
- Los Angeles Angels
- Miami Marlins
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Minnesota Twins
- San Diego Padres
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Texas Rangers
As of 2023, there are 14 teams that have arrangements with the regional sports network.
For those wondering why there is so much talk surrounding Bally Sports, it’s because parent owner Diamond Sports Group (DSG) is set to go bankrupt. Diamond Sports Group, owned by media giant Sinclair, sustained significant financial losses in the wake of COVID-19 and has yet to recover three years later. As of September 30, 2022, DSG reported debts up to $8.674 billion.
On February 15, Diamond Sports Group announced that it would skip about $140 million in interest payments. The move is geared towards preparation for a bankruptcy filing.
Should Diamond Sports Group and Bally Sports go bankrupt, it could affect the broadcasts and revenues for the 14 teams mentioned above. In a worst-case scenario, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred indicated in February that the league may take control of local broadcasts of games, depending how the potential fallout shakes out.
