Bally Sports is losing rights to the Diamondbacks, Reds, Guardians and Padres

While Bally Sports’ parent-company, Diamond Sports Group, is expected to file for bankruptcy this week, we’re already learning that they have given up their rights to four teams. Those teams include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres.

The reason why Diamond Sports Group is giving up these contracts for these four teams, is that they would be paying more to the teams then they would make on advertising and cable contracts. Making it not worth it to keep them.

A few weeks ago, it was reported the DSG had already decided not to pay an interest payment of $140 million. Which forced them into the 30-day grace period before they would need to file for bankruptcy. That grace period ends this week, so we should know soon what they plan to do.

Where can I watch these games now?

The MLB has said that it will offer the streams for these games for free on MLB.TV this season. Which makes MLB.TV a bit more interesting now.

Typically, MLB.TV is a streaming service to watch out-of-market games. But since the Diamondbacks, Reds, Guardians and Padres won’t be broadcast in-market, MLB.TV will be the only option and will be broadcasting in market. This is seen as a temporary solution for these teams. As the MLB does need to renegotiate its contracts for in-market games with different providers across the league.

But the good news is, these games will be broadcast for free, within MLB.TV.

For now, Diamond Sports Group and Bally Sports holds the rights to 10 MLB teams, as well as 16 NBA teams and 12 NHL teams. The MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred did say that if DSG missed the rights payment window for even one of their teams, they would terminate all rights contracts. So it’s possible that Bally Sports could lose the remaining 10 MLB teams.

It’s nowhere near the end of the road for DSG either. As they also have carriage contracts expiring with Comcast and DIRECTV this fall. They will likely want to pay DSG less to carry Bally Sports, or even the same amount they are currently paying. Of course, Bally Sports will want more money, as regional sports is quite pricey.