Danielle Solzman
Local MLB telecasts have been blacked out online for local viewers for a number of years but the tide is turning towards a different direction.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred opened up during a podcast appearance on John Ourand’s The Varsity for Puck.
“You know, the RSNs were really good for us from a financial perspective, but they did make the game more and more local, and did not give us a full opportunity for reach. Right? To get to the most fans, let fans watch the game they want to watch.”
The blackout era does not have much of a future if Manfred has his way. That being said, MLB.TV subscribers cannot watch games airing exclusively on Apple TV+, Roku Channel, etc.
“What I’d like to see happen over time is, we do our national deals, that we convert some of that local inventory into national inventory. It increases our reach and at the same time, when you think about it, we own the out-of-market rights already, if we control local rights as well, we can sell anything anywhere. Right? You don’t have to just sell in your market. And I’d like to get into a mode, where if it’s not in a national package, the consumer has the ability to go in, buy what he wants to watch, wherever he is, and we get rid of that really questionable business concept of the blackout, meaning not letting people who want to watch, watch.”
MLB took control of the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Diego Padres telecasts during the 2024 season. During the upcoming season, they will take charge of the Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, and Milwaukee Brewers. All three teams aired under one-year deals on the regional Bally Sports networks, since rebranded to FanDuel Sports Network. The network also broadcast the Texas Rangers but the Rangers are looking to develop their own regional network.
The St. Louis Cardinals might or might not return to FanDuel Sports Network Midwest. It all depends on contract negotiations. The Cardinals had previously signed a 15-year agreement with Fox Sports Midwest, which was sold to Diamond when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox.
Among the teams that are returning for at least another season are both the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. That being said, MLB is not happy with the recent rebranding according to The Athletic. As court proceeds go further, we’ve got a better idea of where things stand since earlier this month.
Other clubs could still be added to the list, but for now, six teams that were televised by Diamond last season remain in limbo: the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.
As for the rebranding:
MLB argued that Diamond had months to provide information to the league about the naming rights plan and never did, and noted its concerns regarding FanDuel, a sports betting company, as naming rights operator in particular.
The Tampa Bay Rays have enough problems right now. Tropicana Field suffered terrible roof damage and nobody knows where they will play next season. A number of minor league and Spring Training venues are on the table. Some people have mentioned the Oakland Coliseum but this seems unlikely with the amount of games against teams in the Eastern Division. If they are going to play in a former MLB stadium, Montreal’s Olympic Stadium would probably work as a temporary venue.
I’ll get back to reading baseball biographies again soon. I’ve been taking a bit of a break during the Jewish holidays.
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