Bally Sports RSNs Are Reportedly Preparing For Bankruptcy

[lordodogg]

At this point, it just gets uglier every time we see a new development

 

[savarese04]

what could go wrong? Just throwing things at the wall at this point.

Diamond Sports to offer per-game NBA, NHL prices

The nation's largest owner of regional sports networks, Diamond Sports Group, which owns 16 RSNs, announced Tuesday that it will offer single-game pricing for NBA and NHL games on its direct-to-consumer streaming package starting Dec. 5.

www.espn.com

 

[Bruce]

what could go wrong? Just throwing things at the wall at this point.

Diamond Sports to offer per-game NBA, NHL prices

The nation's largest owner of regional sports networks, Diamond Sports Group, which owns 16 RSNs, announced Tuesday that it will offer single-game pricing for NBA and NHL games on its direct-to-consumer streaming package starting Dec. 5.

www.espn.com

They are going to use this at the final court hearing, claim they will make some ridiculous number from this plan, that will make them profitable.

Reminds me, months ago, when they told the judge they hoped to be on YTTV soon, to make more per sub fees, made it seem like they were in negotiations with google without saying it.

Well they told the truth, they hoped to be, but YTTV actually came out and said they have no interest at all carrying the RSNs.

 

[prushing]

Braves are not happy, the Reds are going with MLB only-

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/08/mlb-baseball-braves-diamond-sports-reorganization-plan.html

Cincinnati Reds file intent to leave longtime TV partner, likely to join MLB platforms

The Cincinnati Reds and the parent company of Bally Sports (recently rebranded FanDuel Sports) filed a settlement in court to dissolve their contract.

www.cincinnati.com

The Braves have a cheaper deal and still have one of the most watched RSNs. They have 2 channels and a large footprint to be able to charge more people.

While the Braves want to get out, I'm not sure they should want out as long as Diamond continues to make payments. The open market isn't great, most teams are going with MLB because there is no other option. Maybe they can get some fees back from DTV/Comcast/etc to carry the games locally but no one is paying anywhere near the old RSN contracts.

With revenue going down from TV, the smaller teams are going to be in trouble. We could see a change in MLB because of this.

 

[Bruce]

Final Court hearing is today, then we wait on the Judge’s ruling.

 

[Bruce]

The Braves have a cheaper deal

Not that cheap, says in Forbes it is $100 Million a season.

Baseball’s Most Valuable Teams 2023: Price Tags Are Up 12% Despite Regional TV Woes

Last season’s record revenue for Major League Baseball translated into all-time-high valuations for its teams.

www.forbes.com

and still have one of the most watched RSNs.

Nope, again in the Forbes article, only 78,000 Households, 3% of the total Metro Area Population.

They have 2 channels and a large footprint to be able to charge more people.

Does not matter anymore if they have a footprint, the subscribers are leaving, which means less per sub fees.

The Atlanta Metro Area Household Population is 2.6 Million, nationwide, only about 30% have a service or a package that receives the RSN.

But it might be less for the Atlanta area, since Comcast is the primary Cable Company, they moved the former Bally Channel to the most expensive tier, where less people subscribe.

That means only two primary options, Xfinity and DirecTV, which has a combined 23 Million Households nationwide

Based on that, reduces it to the 20% of the Household population that receives the RSN.

So if the per sub fee is $6, then times that 20% of the Household Population, which is 520,000.

The RSN is taking in, roughly, $3.12M a month, that is less then $38 Million a year, they need to take in , roughly, $60M more just to cover the Braves contract.

And that shrinks with every reported quarter.

 

[prushing]

Not that cheap, says in Forbes it is $100 Million a season.

Baseball’s Most Valuable Teams 2023: Price Tags Are Up 12% Despite Regional TV Woes

Last season’s record revenue for Major League Baseball translated into all-time-high valuations for its teams.

www.forbes.com

Nope, again in the Forbes article, only 78,000 Households, 3% of the total Metro Area Population.

Does not matter anymore if they have a footprint, the subscribers are leaving, which means less per sub fees.

The Atlanta Metro Area Household Population is 2.6 Million, nationwide, only about 30% have a service or a package that receives the RSN.

But it might be less for the Atlanta area, since Comcast is the primary Cable Company, they moved the former Bally Channel to the most expensive tier, where less people subscribe.

That means only two primary options, Xfinity and DirecTV, which has a combined 23 Million Households nationwide

Based on that, reduces it to the 20% of the Household population that receives the RSN.

So if the per sub fee is $6, then times that 20% of the Household Population, which is 520,000.

The RSN is taking in, roughly, $3.12M a month, that is less then $38 Million a year, they need to take in , roughly, $60M more just to cover the Braves contract.

And that shrinks with every reported quarter.

Metro Atlanta isn't the only market area for the Braves. There are several states and one or both of the channels are available. The numbers you posted show they are one of the most watched teams. The others all have separate deals with their channels or own them.

You jump into argument mode for no reason and misunderstanding what I posted.

While yes the subscriber fee revenue is down, the Braves are the only team Diamond doesn't want to give up. I don't see how they are making enough money to cover the deal but they still want to pay the contract so they are getting something. I stated the Braves should want to keep the current contract because they wouldn't be able to replace it.

 

[comfortably_numb]

You jump into argument mode for no reason and misunderstanding what I posted.

 

[ncted]

Metro Atlanta isn't the only market area for the Braves. There are several states and one or both of the channels are available.

Indeed, the Braves market is huge, and it is where a lot of the population is moving to these days. This is a fan engagement map by county:

 

[Bruce]

Metro Atlanta isn't the only market area for the Braves. There are several states and one or both of the channels are available. The numbers you posted show they are one of the most watched teams. The others all have separate deals with their channels or own them.

You jump into argument mode for no reason and misunderstanding what I posted.

You accuse me of being argumentative ever time I prove you incorrect, you wrote the Braves have a cheaper deal, $100 Million is not cheap and is one of the most expensive deals.

Then the ratings, you wrote one of the most watched RSN, no, 3% is the average for the majority of the RSNs that have MLBs.

First off, Forbes published that rating from Nielsen, not me, which would be derived from all of the Braves viewing area, I only use the Metro Area, because I do not have the information they do.

That means the viewing area has increased, but not the number watching, which would reduce the rating’s percentage.

My jobs in this industry over the last couple of years has dealt with statistics/ analytics and future trends.

So I am not trying to argue with you, I am just a stickler for facts, which I had to be since, I assume, some decisions were based on my reports.

Hence why I always try to post links to prove what I am posting.

While yes the subscriber fee revenue is down, the Braves are the only team Diamond doesn't want to give up. I don't see how they are making enough money to cover the deal but they still want to pay the contract so they are getting something. I stated the Braves should want to keep the current contract because they wouldn't be able to replace it.

I expect Diamond to over exaggerate their potential future earnings to the Judge, not lying, but say things like ‘our potential future earnings from the the venture with Amazon is $xxxxxxxxxx’, while the real number will be less, cannot be proven for now.

Just like when they told the judge ‘we hope to be on YTTV to increase our per sub fees taken in’, which was true, they hoped to be, then after that, Google actually went public, which is rare for them, to say they have no interest.

 

[prushing]

Bruce, you don't understand because everything streaming is great because I have a job in streaming. You literally have drank the kool-aid and anything else is wrong.

You quote some 3% number. WHO CARES. If the average is 3% viewership across the entire subscriber base and the BRAVES ARE ONE OF THE TOP in viewership numbers, then guess what, they ARE AT THE TOP OF VIEWERSHIP. That makes their contract more valuable than the other ones.

You immediately jump to trying to prove out revenue. Nothing I said had anything to do with revenue other than they have a larger market size than most teams and definitely for the ones that are still with Diamond. Diamond values the Braves contract more, again it isn't for you to decide that they are losing money. I don't see how they would be making money but they still want to keep the contract and pay the Braves.

You also went on a long post to agree with me. I already said the Braves should want Diamond to continue to pay them as they won't be getting a better deal elsewhere.

 

[Bruce]

Bruce, you don't understand because everything streaming is great because I have a job in streaming. You literally have drank the kool-aid and anything else is wrong.

My job was not just in streaming.

With Disney, it was almost everything, Cable Channels, ABC and yes streaming.

I also had to do reports on the loss of TV Subscribers, because of per sub fees, along with lost revenue because of the loss/discount of advertising.

You quote some 3% number. WHO CARES. If the average is 3% viewership across the entire subscriber base and the BRAVES ARE ONE OF THE TOP in viewership numbers, then guess what, they ARE AT THE TOP OF VIEWERSHIP. That makes their contract more valuable than the other ones.

All I said was it was the average, there were a few teams with better rating, some in the 4-5% range, so no, it is not in the top.

You immediately jump to trying to prove out revenue. Nothing I said had anything to do with revenue other than they have a larger market size than most teams and definitely for the ones that are still with Diamond.

Everything has to do with revenue, even today’s court hearing, because if Diamond does not show it makes enough $$$$, it will be shut down.

Not enough revenue is why a bunch of cable channels are no longer producing new content.

Diamond values the Braves contract more, again it isn't for you to decide that they are losing money. I don't see how they would be making money but they still want to keep the contract and pay the Braves.

Who has said Diamond is making great or even good decisions

You also went on a long post to agree with me. I already said the Braves should want Diamond to continue to pay them as they won't be getting a better deal elsewhere.

No they will not, but MLB is about to have a epiphany regarding TV contracts, both Fox and ESPN have opt-out clause with the TV Contract, after the 2025 Season.

Fox is losing a average of $7 Million per game during the regular season that they air, no longer making enough of it back during the playoffs-offs/WS.

ESPN, MLB to start negotiations before opt-out clause

ESPN and Major League Baseball will reportedly begin negotiations prior to ESPN's opt-out period which occurs following the 2025 season.

awfulannouncing.com

 

[comfortably_numb]

Indeed, the Braves market is huge, and it is where a lot of the population is moving to these days. This is a fan engagement map by county:

View attachment 176250

I think that map might be outdated? The Dodgers territory doesn't extend into Wyoming..

 

[ncted]

I think that map might be outdated? The Dodgers territory doesn't extend into Wyoming..

View attachment 176260

I think it was from 2023. Probably just different methodologies used to make the two maps.

 

[Bruce]

And it is approved, give it 2 years before we are back, this time a Chapter 7-

FanDuel Sports Network Receives Court Approval of Reorganization Plan | Cord Cutters News

Diamond Sports Group, which operates as the FanDuel Sports Network, has announced that the company’s plan to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. In the coming weeks, DSG will complete its...

cordcuttersnews.com

 

[lordodogg]

View: https://x.com/reds/status/1857133809713500539?s=46&t=uTWXZarf9cpr2i2ipBZPLg

 

[comfortably_numb]

So, where does this leave KC and STL?

 

[Bruce]

So, where does this leave KC and STL?

It said in my link, Cardinals with Diamond, Kansas City is not listed, so MLB/OTA or both.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Kansas City is not listed, so MLB/OTA or both

Royals to announce broadcast plans for 2025 in coming days. Amazon is in the mix

The Royals are expected to announce their plans for how fans can watch games in the 2025 season sometime this week.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Bruce]

Royals to announce broadcast plans for 2025 in coming days. Amazon is in the mix

The Royals are expected to announce their plans for how fans can watch games in the 2025 season sometime this week.

sports.yahoo.com

From that article-

That gave the Royals two likely options: seek a new deal with Diamond Sports Group for less money or have Major League Baseball take over broadcasting its games on the league’s TV channel.

We know Diamond is out, so MLB.