Major League Baseball recently announced that it will be taking over the production and distribution of local broadcasts for the Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins starting next year. This decision comes after the contracts with Diamond Sports Group, which previously handled the broadcasts for these teams, expired at the end of the regular season.
In addition to these three teams, the Texas Rangers, whose contract with Diamond also expired recently, have decided to part ways with the group and are exploring other options for broadcasting their games next season. With the addition of the Guardians, Brewers, and Twins, MLB will now be responsible for producing and distributing broadcasts for at least six teams heading into the 2025 season.
This move by MLB is aimed at increasing the market reach of its teams and ensuring that fans can easily access and watch their favorite clubs play. By taking control of the broadcasts, MLB expects to significantly expand the viewership of the games. For example, Cleveland’s games were previously available in approximately 1.45 million households through its regional sports network. However, with MLB’s involvement, this number is expected to grow by 235% to reach 4.86 million households. Similarly, Minnesota’s viewership is projected to increase by 307% from 1.08 million homes to 4.4 million.
The decision to take over the local broadcasts comes as Diamond Sports Group faces bankruptcy proceedings, which could result in the company only being able to broadcast Atlanta Braves games in 2025. The company, which operates the Bally Sports regional networks, recently presented a reorganization plan in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston. As part of this plan, Diamond intends to void the contracts of the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays, and renegotiate deals with five other franchises that are partial owners of their regional sports networks.
The final hearing on Diamond’s reorganization plan is scheduled for Nov. 14, and the company also holds broadcasting rights for 13 NBA teams and eight NHL teams. Diamond Sports Group, in partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group, acquired the regional sports networks from The Walt Disney Co. for nearly $10 billion in 2019, as a condition of Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s film and television assets.
Overall, MLB’s decision to take control of local broadcasts for the Guardians, Brewers, and Twins reflects the league’s commitment to serving fans and expanding the reach of its games in an ever-evolving media landscape. As the broadcasting rights landscape continues to shift, MLB is taking proactive steps to ensure that fans can easily access and enjoy watching their favorite teams in action.
