In 2025, Diamond Sports Group will carry only one of the 12 MLB teams it televised in 2024 unless new deals are negotiated with 11 individual clubs, the broadcaster confirmed in a Wednesday bankruptcy hearing.
The Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers saw their deals expire following the 2024 season and new agreements could not be reached between the sides. During the hearing, DSG said it wants to keep their contract with the Atlanta Braves and reject those of the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays — though deals for the Tigers and Rays could still be renegotiated.
The Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals are not part of the bankruptcy proceedings and cannot have their deals kept or dropped.
“Today marks an important step forward for Diamond with the filing of a baseline plan to enable us to emerge from bankruptcy as a viable, go-forward business before year-end,” a DSG spokesperson said. “We have delivered proposals to and remain in discussions with our MLB team partners around go-forward plans. We firmly believe that through our linear and digital offerings we have created the best economic and fan-friendly engine for all of our team partners.”
All 12 teams were broadcast under DSG’s regional sports network brand Bally Sports for this past season.
MLB had been hoping to receive clarity on DSG’s plans for 2025 and beyond, otherwise they had the right to turn down the company’s bankruptcy reorganization plan.
“We have no information about what is being done,” said MLB lawyer Jim Bromley, according to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich. “We’ve had no opportunity to review and now we’re in front of the court and being asked to make our comments.”
DSG filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023.
The judge scheduled another session for Oct. 9, with a final confirmation hearing set for Nov. 14.
