MLB Takes Arizona D-Backs Broadcasts, Following In Basepaths Of Padres
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 05:48PM By Barry Janoff
July 18, 2023: MLB said it would take over production and distribution of all Arizona Diamondbacks locally distributed games starting today (July 18).
MLB said the new arrangement, which gives people the option to watch on television or stream digitally, “expands the availability of Diamondbacks games from approximately 930 thousand homes to approximately 5.6 million homes in the Diamondbacks Home Television Territory.
“The increase of 4.7 million homes marks a +506% jump in reach.”
According to ESPN, a spokesperson for Diamond Sports said its contract with the D-backs — a reported 20-year, $1.5 billion deal that began in 2015 — had financial terms that were not aligned with its long-term plans . . .
“Diamond Sports attorney Andrew Goldman said the two sides were not able to reach agreement on a deal that would garner support from the Commissioner's Office.”
In May, in the first of what was seen would be a series of similarly significant moves, MLB took over production and distribution of all San Diego Padres locally distributed games (beginning May 31).
“As Major League Baseball has proven with the Padres, we’re ready to produce and distribute games to fans, including Diamondbacks games starting today,” Noah Garden, MLB chief revenue officer, said via the league.
“While we’re disappointed that Diamond Sports Group failed to live up to their contractual agreement with another club, we are taking this opportunity to reimagine the distribution model, remove blackouts on local games, improve the telecast, and expand the reach of Diamondbacks games by 4.7 million homes.”
The Diamondbacks takeover begins with the team visiting the Atlanta Braves for three games (July 18-20), then visiting the Cincinnati Reds (July 21-23).
The decisions came after Diamond Sports Group, a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group that operates in the areas and airs games as regional sports network Bally Sports, in March filed for bankruptcy and, subsequently, “failed to live up to their contractual agreement with the club,” according to MLB.
According to ESPN, “Diamond owns the regional sports networks for 42 teams across the NHL, NBA and MLB, the latter of which comprises 14 teams. Teams who are not paid their rights fees are essentially free to break their contracts, and the Padres, who boast one of the most star-laden teams in the sport, are the first to fall out.”
MLB said the arraignment with San Diego “expanded the reach of Padres games from approximately 1.130 million homes to approximately 3.264 million homes in the Padres home television territory.”
According to MLB, “By offering a direct-to-consumer streaming option on MLB.TV in the club’s territory for the first time, MLB is able to lift the blackout for Diamondbacks games previously distributed on Bally Sports Arizona.
(People can find information about the availability of Diamondbacks games here.)
MLB said in order to make the transition as convenient as possible for fans, Diamondbacks games played through Sunday, July 23 will be available for free with MLB login at MLB.com, Dbacks.com and in the MLB apps on mobile and connected devices. The six games covered will include the Braves series and the Reds series.
“This decision provides us with an opportunity to partner with Major League Baseball to produce high quality broadcasts of D-backs games on current platforms, expand access to include streaming options, and remove local blackouts that have been a fan frustration point for years,” Derrick Hall, D-backs president, CEO and general partner, said via the team.
“We have enjoyed our partnership with Bally Sports Arizona and thank them for the longtime partnership. But we look forward to providing unprecedented access to our exciting team moving forward, including a greatly expanded reach of new households.”
The Diamondbacks primary TV broadcasters Steve Berthiaume and Bob Brenly will continue to serve in their existing roles.
MLB To Take Over Production, Distribution Of Padres Games
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