Recently we learned that Diamond Sports, the operator of the Bally Sports regional sports networks, was likely to file for bankruptcy. This move could put some rights fees payments to MLB teams in jeopardy. Commissioner Rob Manfred, at his Cactus League media day news conference, said the league has some contingency plans to produce and broadcast those games if the RSNs don’t, or can’t.
Now, three more RSNs that carry MLB games, owned by Warner Bros./Discovery, are getting out of the sports business entirely, according to Sports Business Journal:
The company, which operates three AT&T SportsNet-branded channels in Denver, Houston and Pittsburgh and has a minority stake in the Root Sports channel in Seattle, has told teams that they have until March 31 to reach an agreement to take their rights back.