Diamond Sports Group, the bankrupt operator of Bally Sports channels, said it will stop broadcasting games in 2025 for 11 of the 12 Major League Baseball teams it currently televises.
Diamond announced the decision Wednesday in court, saying it would continue carrying Atlanta Braves games next season.
Seven of the remaining 11 teams — the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays — were under contract with Diamond for 2025. Those teams will have to either negotiate a new deal with Diamond or find a different operator.
According to The Athletic, representatives from Major League Baseball said that they were “sandbagged” by Diamond’s announcement and that they did not have sufficient time to prepare a response.
“We have no information about what is being done,” MLB attorney Jim Bromley said at the court hearing, according to The Athletic. “We’ve had no opportunity to review, and now we’re in front of the court and being asked to make our comments.”
The other four teams carried by Diamond this season — the Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers — had deals with Diamond that expired after the 2024 season.