Braves News: Bally Sports misses debt payment, expected to declare bankruptcy
By Chase Owens
After much turmoil and rumblings over the past month we got some semi-expected news in regard to the Atlanta Braves TV broadcast production. Diamond Sports Group, which is over Bally Sports, will be skipping an interest payment of $140 million and expected to file for bankruptcy after a 30-day grace period according to a report from John Ourand of Sports Business Journal.
It's official. Diamond Sports has elected to skip its $140 million interest payment and has entered a 30-day grace period that is expected to lead to a bankruptcy filing.
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) February 15, 2023
Ourand would go on to say that Diamond Sports Group expects to continue to operate and broadcast live sports as normal while working out their balance sheet. MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, recently released a statement claiming MLB will be prepared to step in should Diamond Sports Group not be able to broadcast.
If Bally doesn't pay up, Manfred said, MLB clubs will terminate contracts. MLB would produce games, using MLB Network technology, and would try to arrange for cable and satellite distributors to air them.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) February 15, 2023
"Our goal would be to make games available not only within the traditional cable bundle but on the digital side, as well."
- Rob Manfred
Baseball has long had a problem of getting its product to its fans. More so than the other 4 major sports in America. Whether it be local blackouts or making games available on popular streaming services such as YouTube TV, for whatever reason MLB seems to be intent on limiting exposure of their sport.
I asked Rob Manfred about the league’s blackout rules. His response: “Blackouts are the kind of opposite side of the coin of reach. We need to deliver product to fans who want to watch on platforms that they customarily use at a realistic price. That is our No. 1 priority.”
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 15, 2023
The Braves have been on the bad end of a TV deal for quite awhile now and our fan base is just one of many displeased with the available options to watch baseball. For example, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be televising 30 of a possible 32 spring training games on SportsNet LA. For comparison the Braves will be broadcasting just seven of a possible 33 spring training games.
The Dodgers say 30 of their 32 spring training games will be televised by SportsNet LA.
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) February 15, 2023
Only exceptions are on the two split-squad days (March 11, March 21), only one game will be on SNLA
A resolution to this broadcasting mess can’t come fast enough for Braves fans. For now we will all just have to wait and see the next steps taken by Diamond Sports Group in hopes that everyone that is more than willing to pay the cost it takes to enjoy Braves baseball just gets the opportunity.