Diamond Sports, MLB in talks with Amazon for potential streaming partnership
Diamond Sports, the holder of TV rights for 11 Major League Baseball teams, is currently in talks with MLB and Amazon for a potential deal that could impact the future of baseball broadcasting. The negotiations are in the works as Diamond is currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, and the outcome could have long-term implications for the broadcasting landscape.
The potential deal would create certainty around which teams Diamond will or will not broadcast in the near term, specifically during the 2024 MLB season. After 2024, Diamond could potentially be broken up as part of its reorganization plan, but there is also the possibility that it could continue to exist beyond 2024 in an altered form through a potential agreement with Amazon.
If the deal goes through, Amazon would be able to broadcast the teams for which Diamond holds digital rights, but it’s important to note that Diamond does not hold digital rights for every one of the 11 MLB teams it currently carries the TV broadcasts for. The current digital rights are only held for five of those teams: the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays.
Negotiations are said to be ongoing and have produced positive momentum, according to sources familiar with the talks. However, the potential impact on baseball is both complicated and limited, as MLB and Diamond have not yet seen eye to eye on the worth of MLB’s streaming rights.
While MLB and Diamond Sports have declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations, the potential partnership with Amazon could change the landscape of baseball broadcasting in the future. The outcome of the discussions will be closely watched as baseball fans and industry insiders await further developments.
It’s important to note that the potential deal would require court approval, and as of now, no official agreement has been reached. The outcome of the discussions could have a significant impact not only on Diamond and MLB but also on the way in which baseball games are broadcast and streamed in the future.