Bally Sports Latest

[CrimsonCowboy]

This is going to be very interesting to see how it plays out. Especially if Bally and MLB separate. If it comes to that, what does happen next? I saw something a couple days ago that Manfred wants to get rid of the local blackouts, which needs to happen anyway. The games will certainly be shown in Atlanta, but what about the rest of the region? Does a new network get started? How risky is a new RSN? Or does a new RSN take the place of Bally Sports South/Southeast and the other teams like the Hawks move over? Or does the Braves go regional syndication? These are questions that will be asked and get answers for should MLB and Bally separate.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Bally hoping to strike a deal with YouTube TV and Hulu to save the channel
https://cordcuttersnews.com/bally-sp...channel/?amp=1

[Tapate50]

I'd love to be able to drop Direct TV Stream and pick HULU back up.

[GovClintonTyree]

Seems like it'll touch off the same war that always happens. But there's basically nowhere else to turn. ESPN isn't going to step in and do it. Fox Sports already washed its hands. The older generation might just wind up getting screwed in the end. I see MLB eventually ending the blackout rule and jacking up the price of MLB.TV.

Which I could live with. I take cable now because of Bally and MLB being a no-go. As you think about it, if Bally works a deal with YouTube and/or Hulu, that solves the problem too. The way it is now is untenable, the economics don't work for fans, or apparently, the RSNs.

[CrimsonCowboy]

https://cordcuttersnews.com/bally-sp...ess-now/?amp=1

[CrazyTrain]

Why is it so hard to watch the sport so many love. MLB has to figure this out.

Easy. Their TV rights and player contracts/overhead were based on people subscribing to their regional sports networks as part of basic cable. Once people started cutting the cord and not wanting to pay the crazy prices for sports broadcasting, streaming services started dropping Bally.

Here we are.

[CrimsonCowboy]

I’ve continued to keep track of this whole ordeal with Bally and bankruptcy, and the future of the network. It appears Bally’s channel in Arizona is shutting down at some point. They’ve cut ties with the Diamondbacks and now they’ve lost the Suns and the NHL’s Coyotes.

The last few days, I’ve seen articles talking about Bally and deals with teams in the NBA and NHL. Last few days, I’ve seen nothing about Bally and MLB. Starting to make me wonder a little bit. I did see where Manfred basically said Bally did this to themselves.

[Tapate50]

Easy. Their TV rights and player contracts/overhead were based on people subscribing to their regional sports networks as part of basic cable. Once people started cutting the cord and not wanting to pay the crazy prices for sports broadcasting, streaming services started dropping Bally.

Here we are.

And they basically said there was no reason to renegotiate because those people were gone and not coming back

Not many of the cable cos thought their price was worth it.

[CrimsonCowboy]

[Coredor]

I actually like Apple TV and what they’ve done with MLS.

[CrimsonCowboy]

https://cordcuttersnews.com/mlb-want...ontract/?amp=1

[CrimsonCowboy]

Below article linked states that MLB says Diamond Sports Group needs to find a viable plan or liquidate. MLB is asking the bankruptcy court to not grant Diamond anymore extensions along with a handful of teams. The Braves being one of those teams.

https://www.nexttv.com/news/mlb-says...rce=SmartBrief

[CrimsonCowboy]

I know this is not our region, but is this a sign of things to come for Bally?

[CrimsonCowboy]

I found myself reading again on some of the stuff with Diamond Sports Group/Bally and MLB. It really seems like Manfred is sick and tired of how Diamond is dragging all this out. We just finished a regular season and no closer to a solution. It was real interesting to me that the Braves joined MLB and those five other teams with MLB also asking the judge to not grant the extension to Diamond. I thought that things were at least okay with the Braves and Bally, but apparently not the case. And that’s not good for Diamond. I’m pretty sure the South/Southeast channels cover the largest area for any of Bally’s regions and the Braves are profitable for them.

I’m hoping the judge does not grant the extension for Diamond. Of course, I don’t know this for certain, but it just kind of seems like Diamond is “kicking the can” on this as much as they can. MLB is very apparently tired of it. I haven’t agreed with Manfred on much, but this I do. Diamond and their owner, Sinclair, has put themselves in this. You’d think they’d be doing all they can to fix this as well as they can, but they have been extremely slow in this. It does seem like they’ve been more urgently securing deals with teams in the NHL and NBA, but not really with MLB.

I don’t think there’s any doubt that Bally Sports is in trouble and it’s not getting any better. They lost two teams during the regular season that ended, the Padres and Diamondbacks. And now Bally Sports Arizona is history. For this offseason, while we’re watching out for free agents signing and trading, this will be a big thing to watch. I don’t have the knowledge much of what happens in the sports media world, but just based on what I’m seeing and reading, it’s not looking good at all for them. At this point, I’m not going to be surprised at all if the Braves are not on Bally next season. It’s just a gut feeling of mine and that’s it. I could be wrong of course, but when the season opens in the Spring, the way we watch our Atlanta Braves could be very different.

[bravesnumberone]

I found myself reading again on some of the stuff with Diamond Sports Group/Bally and MLB. It really seems like Manfred is sick and tired of how Diamond is dragging all this out. We just finished a regular season and no closer to a solution. It was real interesting to me that the Braves joined MLB and those five other teams with MLB also asking the judge to not grant the extension to Diamond. I thought that things were at least okay with the Braves and Bally, but apparently not the case. And that’s not good for Diamond. I’m pretty sure the South/Southeast channels cover the largest area for any of Bally’s regions and the Braves are profitable for them.

I’m hoping the judge does not grant the extension for Diamond. Of course, I don’t know this for certain, but it just kind of seems like Diamond is “kicking the can” on this as much as they can. MLB is very apparently tired of it. I haven’t agreed with Manfred on much, but this I do. Diamond and their owner, Sinclair, has put themselves in this. You’d think they’d be doing all they can to fix this as well as they can, but they have been extremely slow in this. It does seem like they’ve been more urgently securing deals with teams in the NHL and NBA, but not really with MLB.

I don’t think there’s any doubt that Bally Sports is in trouble and it’s not getting any better. They lost two teams during the regular season that ended, the Padres and Diamondbacks. And now Bally Sports Arizona is history. For this offseason, while we’re watching out for free agents signing and trading, this will be a big thing to watch. I don’t have the knowledge much of what happens in the sports media world, but just based on what I’m seeing and reading, it’s not looking good at all for them. At this point, I’m not going to be surprised at all if the Braves are not on Bally next season. It’s just a gut feeling of mine and that’s it. I could be wrong of course, but when the season opens in the Spring, the way we watch our Atlanta Braves could be very different.

I don't see what is left other than direct MLB broadcast and going through MLBTV with the blackout rules lifted. No one else is coming in to offer a regional model and certainly not less than six months before a new season begins.

[CrimsonCowboy]

I don't see what is left other than direct MLB broadcast and going through MLBTV with the blackout rules lifted. No one else is coming in to offer a regional model and certainly not less than six months before a new season begins.

That’s probably what’s it going to amount to. Probably one of the reasons MLB wants the judge to deny the extension. And also, the regional sports network is considered a big gamble now. It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out between now and Opening Day.

[CrimsonCowboy]

DIRECTV expressing some concerns now.

https://www.nexttv.com/news/directv-...eague-baseball

[CrimsonCowboy]

Here’s a pretty good write up about the disagreements between DIRECTV and Diamond Sports Group

https://tvanswerman.com/2023/10/22/d...in-bankruptcy/

[Tapate50]

I’d wager any good deal we have with Bally diamond would be more standardized with mlb

[CrimsonCowboy]

Is the death of Bally Sports near? A growing number of local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC Broadcasters hope so

https://cordcuttersnews.com/is-the-d...hope-so/?amp=1