MLB's streaming plans await ruling on Diamond, Bally Sports bankruptcy case

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said that he “hoped to launch a national, in-market streaming package in 2025 with about half of the league’s teams,” but if Diamond Sports Group and its Bally-branded regional sports networks “successfully emerge from bankruptcy, it’s basically impossible for MLB to launch even a half-national package as soon as next season,” according to Evan Drellich of THE ATHLETIC. If Diamond now survives bankruptcy -- and “that looks increasingly likely -- MLB won’t control enough teams’ rights to launch a viable product.” In February, Manfred said that he would “need at least 14 clubs to get it off the ground, a figure that still might leave sales lacking.” And if Diamond is still in operation, he “probably would have a maximum of only nine.” Diamond has a June court date to “confirm a get-out-of-bankruptcy plan backed by Amazon .” If it is shot down, MLB “could have as many as an additional nine teams to work with” -- but that just “doesn’t seem likely” ( THE ATHLETIC, 5/2 ).