Bally Sports and MSG RSN Are Reportedly Preparing For Bankruptcy

[Don in CT]

I can't post this full article because it is behind a paywall, but John Ourand, an industry expert, says that that this is not a long term agreement like many outlets are reporting. The agreement is only for the baseball season and expires in September.

The Yankees’ Comcast Trump Card, More WNBA Caitlinsanity & The NBA-NFL Battle Over Christmas

John Ourand Welcome back to The Varsity, my twice-weekly private email on the people who sit in the owners’ boxes. I’m busy packing for the annual broadcasters convention in Vegas. Then I’ll be in Gotham for a panel organized by the Center for Communication, alongside Brian Stelter, Oliver...

puck.news

This is what I'm hearing. That it's another stop gap deal.

 

[Don in CT]

Comcast wants to move YES to the higher tier and the Yankees are balking at it.

 

[Bruce]

Cost Cutting has started for Fan Duel.

FanDuel Sports Network Cuts Back Pregame and Postgame Coverage Amid Cost-Cutting Measures | Cord Cutters News

FanDuel Sports Network, the regional sports broadcaster formerly known as Bally Sports, is implementing significant changes to its pregame and postgame programming across its network of channels. The overhaul, which began with NBA and NHL coverage this season, is now extending to Major League...

cordcuttersnews.com

 

[comfortably_numb]

They use the STL Cardinals broadcasts as their primary example. Wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the team has played like sh*t for at least the past few years. St Louis is a baseball town first and foremost, hockey second.

I was shocked that the Cardinals didn't seize on the opportunity to produce their own broadcasts, and return some Sunday games OTA to KSDK like they used to do.

 

[zippyfrog]

Now we see why the cutbacks...

"Main Street Sports Group, owner of the FanDuel Sports Network RSNs, will "wind down and dissolve its business" at the end of the NBA and NHL seasons unless it is able to complete a sale to DAZN"

FanDuel Sports Network RSNs could shut down without DAZN deal

After seemingly landing on stable -- if not solid -- ground, the FanDuel Sports Network RSNs are again on the brink of shutting down.

www.sportsmediawatch.com

 

[comfortably_numb]

What a mess. Does the whole thing have to completely collapse before a stable business model emerges?

 

[savarese04]

Honestly, why would DAZN buy something at any decent valuation that is going out of business imminently? if you want to break into the US sports market, start by gobbling up like MLS or something.

I'd be offering peanuts for Main Street, which you won't they won't accept.

 

[Bruce]

What a mess. Does the whole thing have to completely collapse before a stable business model emerges?

There is no stable business model, since Cable/Satellite ( where the games are carried) are still losing 6-7 Million subscribers a year.

Out of the 68 Million that still subscribe to Pay Live TV, only 45 Million are getting it from Traditional Providers, in 2018, 100 Million were getting service from Cable/Satellite, the vast majority were receiving the RSNs.

Now with 55 Million that has left Cable/Satellite, that is a lot of per sub fees lost.

 

[comfortably_numb]

There is no stable business model

The teams will find a way to get the games broadcast for the fans, I have no doubt of that.

 

[Jimbo]

Hopefully there will be Someone that will step up and offer MLB baseball this year as a whole, not 17 different apps for the teams ...

MLB.tv i think is what it has been the last few years ....

It would be nice if I could get MLB.tv again (like most years for Out of Area game) and also add an option to where you can get your Local team if desired as well .... instead of having to get multiple subscriptions.

For me last year it was MLB. TV and Fan Duel for local teams.

Last year was about $150 for ALL teams Out of market) and another $100 on top for just the local team.

 

[zippyfrog]

Hopefully there will be Someone that will step up and offer MLB baseball this year as a whole, not 17 different apps for the teams ...

MLB.tv i think is what it has been the last few years ....

It would be nice if I could get MLB.tv again (like most years for Out of Area game) and also add an option to where you can get your Local team if desired as well .... instead of having to get multiple subscriptions.

For me last year it was MLB. TV and Fan Duel for local teams.

Last year was about $150 for ALL teams Out of market) and another $100 on top for just the local team.

This is what I wish it was for all the out of market packages - that there would be an add-on where you can get all local teams.

 

[mikew]

This is what I wish it was for all the out of market packages - that there would be an add-on where you can get all local teams.

Same here. Right now, I'd have to pay $19.99 for the Padres, $19.99 for the DBacks and I'd still need DirecTV for Dodgers, Giants, A's and Angels. It will be different when the A's become the only "local" team, but that's still two seasons away.

 

[Howard Simmons]

Fan Duel is the old Bally Sports and you know where that went.