Rays may need a new TV home for 2025 as Bally plans to halt contract

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Oct 2, 2024

Published in Baseball

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TAMPA, Fla. — The Rays may need a new TV home for next season.

Diamond Sports Group, the company that operates the Bally Sports networks, said in bankruptcy court Wednesday that it was halting its contract with the Rays and Tigers, keeping a deal with the Braves and leaving five other teams with uncertain status.

That would mean the Rays either have to arrange coverage elsewhere or could renegotiate with Diamond to stay on Bally for lower rights fees; those discussions may already be underway.

Diamond and Major League Baseball have been jousting in and out of court for months on coverage plans, but Wednesday’s development was a surprise.

MLB lawyer Jim Bromley said in court that the league was “sandbagged,” per The Athletic. “We have no information about what is being done. We’ve had no opportunity to review and now we’re in front of the court and being asked to make our comments.”

Bally did not specifically address the status of five other teams also under contract for 2025: the Angels, Reds, Royals, Marlins and Cardinals. Four other teams that Bally provided coverage for this past season on one-year deals also are in flux: Brewers, Guardians, Rangers and Twins.

In going through the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, Diamond can retain and reject contracts, with the court having final approval over the agreement.

Wednesday’s development could be part of a Diamond’s attempts to navigate the bankruptcy process while planning to retain additional teams and retain much of its portfolio. The next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14-15.

“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 Diamond Sports Group 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.”

Regional sports network coverage has been in flux for several seasons. Some teams that lost their cable/over-the-air deals have had their games produced by MLB and made available only through streaming service.

The Rays’ current deal with Diamond includes cable coverage as well as streaming rights through the Bally app. A reduction in rights fees, or even uncertainly about the fee, could impact plans for roster building and team payroll for next season.

Bally Sports Sun also covers the Lightning, and Diamond Sports in August struck a deal with the NHL to continue coverage at least through the 2024-25 season, which opens next week.