While many teams around baseball have struggled to maintain the ability to broadcast their games on TV to their fans, the Atlanta Braves seem to be a hot commodity. During Diamond Sports' bankruptcy proceedings, the Braves were the one team that they were willing to continue operating under the same agreement with and by all accounts, Atlanta is one of the more profitable media properties in MLB right now.
In an era where a lot of teams have a lot of uncertainty surrounding what the ever-changing landscape holds for them, the Braves are actually expanding their reach as the team reached an multi-year agreement with Gray Media to broadcast 15 regular season games as well as some spring training games.
Atlanta #Braves Partner with Gray Media to Simulcast 15 Regular Season Games: pic.twitter.com/uB8JgXqTx1
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 18, 2024
Braves reach agreement with Gray Media to broadcast on even more TV networks in the south
You are forgiven if you aren't familiar with Gray Media as they look, on paper, like just another media conglomerate. However, Gray owns the Peachtree Sports Network in addition to other local/regional outlets throughout the country including the southeast. As things currently stand, this deal is purely additive in terms of coverage as the 15 games that will be broadcast by Gray affiliates will also still be broadcast by FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Bally) as well.
This is strictly good news for everyone. The Braves get another revenue source from Gray Media of as yet undetermined value and Atlanta fans get other options to watch some Braves games other than FanDuel Sports Network which is great considering that Diamond's relationship with cable providers has proven to be quite tenuous in recent years.
There is a lot we don't know just yet. The biggest uncertainty is which games will be carried by Gray's local affiliates, although one can expect those details to be announced in the coming weeks assuming this deal will start in 2025 which appears likely.
Another interesting thing to consider is how this deal could change/be impacted once the Braves are no longer under contract with Diamond Sports. MLB has already stated that they seem to prefer having teams under their national broadcast umbrella once these deals with Diamond start expiring, but teams like the Braves as well as the Yankees and others who still have strong earning power by themselves may prefer to be able to negotiate their own deals with more lucrative terms.