"Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers have successful networks" - MLB sportscaster on Rob Manfred's plan to package 25 teams for streaming in 2028
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has big plans in place concerning broadcasting deals after 2027 when all baseball streaming contracts are set to expire. The broadcasting debacle started after Diamond Sports Group, the owner of Bally Sports, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to address accounting issues and pay off more than $8 billion in debt.
This bankruptcy has resulted in the Diamond Sports Group terminating contracts with the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays. The company is now set to cut deals with seven other teams during the offseason. Moreover, four other teams lack agreements with the network beyond this season.
On Thursday, analyst Lee Hackshaw Hamilton revealed details of Manfred's vision for the future of MLB broadcasts. Inspired by the NFL's centralized model, MLB aims to establish a universal streaming partner for 25 teams, excluding the Seattle Mariners, LA Dodgers, New York Yankees, Mets and Boston Red Sox.
"Rob Manfred’s idea of going to what he once called ‘Team 30’ was to secure the streaming rights to all Major League teams, but that’s not going to happen," Hamilton said (1:00 onwards). "Teams like the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and Dodgers, which have their own successful regional networks, are not giving those rights back to baseball."
"But Manfred has a game plan targeting 2028 ... His blueprint involves securing the streaming rights for the other 25 teams, packaging them and approaching major streaming platforms like Amazon, DirecTV, Apple and others. The goal is to create a universal baseball streaming program where fans can pay to access their team without any blackouts."
Lee Hackshaw Hamilton highlights reasons behind Rob Manfred's plan
Baseball has gained viewership in recent years, prompting MLB to put consistent efforts to sustain growth while also ensuring all teams reap benefits.
Talking more about Rob Manfred's plan and the reasons behind it, Lee Hackshaw Hamilton said:
"It’s projected to be dynamic in generating revenue. The model is based on TV viewership growth, increasing team attendance and streamlining access for fans. Meanwhile, baseball reserves the right to offer specialty broadcasts on networks like ESPN, Fox and TBS for All-Star games, playoff qualifiers, wild card games and special matchups."
"The proposed revenue from the streaming program would be equally split among the 25 participating teams, following a model similar to the NFL’s. This would eliminate the disparity where the Yankees, Dodgers, or Red Sox can earn significantly more from their networks while smaller markets like the Mariners get far less."
Rob Manfred believes that the equal revenue-sharing arrangement, which will be implemented in 2028, will transform the landscape of baseball broadcasting. However, Diamond Sports is likely to operate with fewer teams by 2025, and its long-term viability remains uncertain.