MLB prepared to take over TV rights should that become an option

[Brock Beauchamp]

This is pretty exciting news and leads me to openly cheer for the demise of Bally Sports. This is what should have happened during the Fox sale.

https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-milwaukee-brewers-cleveland-guardians-business-0fb8b0c906f126d9ac6cf92d51400432?fbclid=IwAR33D5vH4KYHfuWZGriH7mC491L5UYJ-wqMGIDJHxFSgnx3cpJSnkAmSoeo

[YodaDaSoda]

Does this mean that Brewers games would no longer be blacked out on MLB?

[nate82]

38 minutes ago, YodaDaSoda said:

Does this mean that Brewers games would no longer be blacked out on MLB?

Yes and no.

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 hours ago, YodaDaSoda said:

Does this mean that Brewers games would no longer be blacked out on MLB?

Probably not right away but the likelihood of that being the case increases if MLB owns distribution.

Oh, and welcome to Brewer Fanatic!

[jerichoholicninja]

I'll believe MLB does something good when it actually happens. If they haven't changed blackout rules yet why would they do it now?

[Brock Beauchamp]

7 minutes ago, jerichoholicninja said:

I'll believe MLB does something good when it actually happens. If they haven't changed blackout rules yet why would they do it now?

They hired a guy specifically to analyze and change blackout rules. It happened maybe... two months ago?

[YodaDaSoda]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Probably not right away but the likelihood of that being the case increases if MLB owns distribution.

Oh, and welcome to Brewer Fanatic!

Thank you! I'm excited to talk Brewers with you all

[MrTPlush]

I don’t really want MLB controlled broadcasting rights. I don’t like Bally, but I just don’t know if I really like the idea of MLB running things

[SomewhereInTime]

So I live in Las Vegas and have cable TV.  I find it kind of funny that I can watch just about every Badger basketball, Marquette basketball, and Badger football game on TV but for MLB and NBA games I need a subscription service.  It just doesn't make a lot of sense.

[Vgmastr]

Another RSN is going belly up:

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2023/02/24/rsn-breaking-news.aspx

This affects four MLB teams, the Astros, Mariners, Rockies and Pirates.  Teams have until March 31 to reach an agreement to take their rights back, if not, they're going into Chapter 7.

[nate82]

2 hours ago, Vgmastr said:

Another RSN is going belly up:

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2023/02/24/rsn-breaking-news.aspx

This affects four MLB teams, the Astros, Mariners, Rockies and Pirates.  Teams have until March 31 to reach an agreement to take their rights back, if not, they're going into Chapter 7.

Yeah the teams are going to have to buyback their rights on that one.  If it goes to Chapter 7 that is a liquidation which means creditors will try to get whatever they can for the rights. 

[MrTPlush]

Bally is expected to announce bankruptcy in a few days to rid themselves of the teams that are in the red. In response to this MLB is going to step up and stream the games free until they can negotiate cable contracts etc.

The four teams that will certainly get axed by Bally are the Reds/Guardians/Padres/D Backs. Reports are there could be a few more...but the Brewers do not appear to be one of them.

MLB tried to acquire all 14 teams, but were not successful in doing so.

MLB to stream games for free amid looming Diamond Sports bankruptcy: sources (nypost.com)

[patrickgpe]

I still don't think the question was answered, will the games be on Bally's Wisconsin in April, it seems like Yes (for now)?

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Nothing grows your sport as effectively as making it as hard to watch as possible. It's like a game within the game!

[Beerambassador]

2 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Nothing grows your sport as effectively as making it as hard to watch as possible. It's like a game within the game!

I don't post here much, but I was just thinking about how Star Trek lore holds that professional baseball died in 2042. Sometimes I think someone (a cartel even) at MLB is a big trekkie and is trying to make this come true.

[MrTPlush]

1 hour ago, patrickgpe said:

I still don't think the question was answered, will the games be on Bally's Wisconsin in April, it seems like Yes (for now)?

Yes, the Brewers are profitable. The bankruptcy is so they can drop the contracts of unprofitable teams.