Amazon in Talks with Diamond Sports Group for Potential Streaming Agreement
One of Major League Baseball’s ongoing off-field sagas has been the financial struggles of Diamond Sports Group, leading to uncertainty for teams contracted with the conglomerate. The company, which operates the Bally Sports regional networks, has faced challenges meeting its broadcasting deals, causing concern for teams reliant on their local television contracts for revenue.
However, there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon for Diamond Sports Group. According to a report by Lauren Thomas and Joe Flint of the Wall Street Journal, the corporation is currently in discussions with Amazon regarding a potential multi-year streaming agreement. While the talks are still ongoing and would require approval from the bankruptcy court, if successful, the agreement would see Amazon invest in Diamond with the goal of eventually acquiring streaming rights for teams on those broadcasts, while Diamond would continue to operate its cable networks.
This development comes amid expectations that Diamond’s bankruptcy reorganization will ultimately lead to the company abandoning all of its broadcasting deals with MLB after the 2024 season. However, a recent report by Evan Drellich of the Athletic indicated that Diamond and MLB were nearing an agreement that would provide clarity on which of its 11 contracts they would honor for the 2024 campaign. Last month, The Athletic also reported that Diamond was considering dropping its contracts with the Rangers and Guardians before the next season.
Even with the possibility of Diamond meeting its obligations for the upcoming season, the future beyond 2024 remains uncertain for the teams involved. The potential for Amazon to assist the company in exchange for streaming opportunities offers some hope, but it is still early in the negotiation process.
The 11 teams with existing contracts with Diamond Sports Group are the Angels, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Guardians, Marlins, Rangers, Rays, Reds, Royals, and Tigers, while the company abandoned deals with the Padres and Diamondbacks during the 2023 season, and its contract with the Twins expired at the end of the year. As the situation continues to unfold, the future of MLB broadcasting and streaming rights remains a topic of great interest and speculation for fans, teams, and industry insiders alike.