Major League Baseball has announced plans to take over the production and distribution of local broadcasts for the Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins starting next year. This decision comes after contracts with Diamond Sports Group expired for these three teams at the end of the regular season. The Texas Rangers, whose deal also expired, announced they will no longer be partnering with Diamond and are exploring other options for next season. With the addition of the Guardians, Brewers, and Twins, MLB will handle broadcasts for at least six teams in 2025, following the takeover of broadcasts for the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies in recent years.
MLB aims to increase the market reach of its teams by at least 2 million households in each market through the production and distribution of local broadcasts. By removing blackouts and ensuring fans can easily access their favorite clubs, MLB hopes to grow the reach of its games and serve fans in evolving media landscapes. The Twins faced backlash in Minnesota for cutting their player payroll in 2024 following a division title and postseason success, prompting the reduction of rights fees from Diamond. However, the team’s president, Dave St. Peter, reassured that this MLB-produced model will not impact player spending for the upcoming season, despite the loss of the rights fee.
The Cleveland Guardians had broadcasts available in approximately 1.45 million households on their regional sports network, expecting a 235% increase in reach to 4.86 million households. Similarly, the Minnesota Twins will see a 307% increase from 1.08 million homes to 4.4 million. The Brewers had 800,000 households receiving games in the past season and anticipate significant growth with the new model. Fan access will improve with no blackouts, and Schlesinger expressed excitement for the expanded reach and enhanced fan experience, emphasizing the need for preparations as MLB takes over production and distribution.
As Diamond Sports Group goes through bankruptcy proceedings, MLB could potentially take over more teams, with the network possibly limited to broadcasting Atlanta Braves games in 2025. The operator of Bally Sports regional networks presented a reorganization plan in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, intending to void contracts with the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays while seeking to renegotiate deals with partial owner franchises like the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals. St. Peter expects more teams to adopt the MLB-produced model in the future, highlighting the shift towards a direct-to-consumer distribution foundation for baseball games that offers long-term upside.
A hearing on Diamond’s reorganization plan is set for November 14, with the network also holding rights to several NBA and NHL teams. Diamond Sports Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired the regional sports networks from Disney in 2019, but the network’s financial challenges have led to MLB stepping in to handle local broadcasts. Overall, MLB’s decision to take over local broadcasts for additional teams reflects a strategic shift towards enhanced fan access and market reach, ensuring that fans can enjoy their favorite teams without concerns about blackouts or limited availability.
