ATLANTA—After a busy week of adding regional sports networks covering Major League Baseball, Fubo TV and The Atlanta Braves announced a multiyear distribution agreement to provide BravesVision to its customers. BravesVision will be available on Fubo’s sports-first live TV streaming platform starting on the Braves’ Opening Day, Friday, March 27.

The deal follows a number of recent deals to expand its lineup of regional sports networks covering Major League Baseball. In addition to the Braves’ agreement, Fubo has added Spectrum SportsNet LA (LA Dodgers), 14 MLB-operated team channels, BravesVision and SNY (NY Mets) RSNs to its lineup.

Braves games will be available to subscribers of the FuboTV base plan throughout the six-state Braves Country territory, which is inclusive of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and western North Carolina.

Announced last month, BravesVision will produce more than 140 games, as well as extensive pre-game and post-game programming, throughout the 2026 regular season. The new BravesVision pre-game show, “Braves On Deck,” and post-game show, “Braves Postgame,” will offer news, analysis, and a look at the unparalleled gameday experience at Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta. To celebrate Opening Day, “Braves On Deck” will begin at 6 p.m. ET ahead of Friday’s opener against the Kansas City Royals.

Yesterday on March 26, Fubo announced that Fubo will stream SportsNet LA’s coverage of every available Los Angeles Dodgers game, including pre- and postgame shows and exclusive content, a first for the vMVPD.

At launch, SportsNet LA will be available to subscribers of the FuboTV base plan in the SportsNet LA footprint.

ST GALLEN, Switzerland & NEW YORK—Sportradar AG has announced a multi-year agreement with NBC Sports Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) to enhance the NBA viewing experience through real-time, cutting-edge broadcast solutions that enhance live game coverage.

NBC Sports Regional Networks reported that they will use Sportradar’s NBA Advanced Data and GameFrame across live NBA game broadcasts during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 NBA seasons. The solutions will be used on hundreds of NBA telecasts across NBC Sports’s regional networks, delivering more dynamic coverage to fans in multiple NBA markets nationwide.

“This agreement builds upon our long-standing relationship with NBC and reflects how we continue to expand the ways we support their live sports coverage,” said Brian Josephs, vice president, The Americas, Sportradar. “As NBC continues to evolve how it serves fans across platforms, Sportradar is helping deliver the data-driven tools that bring greater clarity and context to live games, creating more engaging NBA viewing experiences for fans.”

A key component of the deal is GameFrame, which uses AI to transform live NBA player-tracking data into on-air graphics, animated replays, shot charts, and customized digital assets. GameFrame supports in-game analysis and storytelling by helping on-air talent explain plays, positioning, and outcomes as the action unfolds.

“Enhancing the viewing experience is essential to our NBA coverage across regional sports networks,” said Jon Slobotkin, senior vice president, content and live programming, NBC Sports Regional Networks. “Sportradar’s GameFrame offers a new way to add data-driven insights directly into live coverage, bringing visually stunning stories that resonate with today’s fans.”

BOSTON and NEW YORK—The sports network NESN has announced that it has selected ViewLift provide solutions and technologies to upgrade the viewing and streaming experiences available for NESN 360, the direct-to-consumer streaming home for the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and other New England sports programming.

The upgraded DTC and TVE streaming offerings, which will use ViewLift’s “out of the box” features and functionality, are scheduled to relaunch this summer. NESN 360 allows fans to stream all locally-available games live on major devices, including mobile, web and connected TV platforms.

“The fan experience continues to be at the forefront of everything we do. By entering into this partnership, we will continue to focus on delivering dynamic, first in class products for fans of the Red Sox, Bruins and all of our programming,” said NESN president and CEO David Wisnia. “We’re excited about partnering with ViewLift to power feature-rich, reliable streaming for the next iteration of NESN 360.”

In making the announcement, the companies noted that NESN has a long history of tech innovation, which the current agreement continues. NESN was the first to provide fans with High-Definition broadcasts and then the first to offer 4K game broadcasts. In 2022, NESN was the first to launch a direct-to-consumer streaming platform in NESN 360.

“We are particularly proud to work with NESN, a consistent innovator in live sports,” said Rick Allen, CEO of ViewLift. “Our platform now streams 14 US pro teams and five RSNs, more than our competitors combined, and we will bring this experience to bear for the passionate fans of the Red Sox, Bruins, and the other pro and collegiate teams that New Englanders have come to enjoy from NESN.”

With the new deal, ViewLift’s roster of clients now includes streaming platforms for the NHL, and 14 professional teams across that League and the NBA, WNBA and MLB, as well as the Professional Fighters League, LIV Golf, and other sports leagues and teams around the world. The company reported that its robust cloud-based platform ensures seamless, buffer-free streaming and supports flexible monetization models, real-time analytics, fan personalization, and rapid deployment.

SOUTHPORT, Conn.—Diamond Sports Group said it has emerged from Chapter 11 bankuptcy as Main Street Sports Group with a significantly deleveraged balance sheet.

The news follows a lengthy bankruptcy restructuring process that will see the new Main Street Sports Group, doing business as FanDuel Sports Network and operating regional channels with local TV rights to 13 NBA teams, eight NHL teams and eight MLB teams. During the bankruptcy proceedings, the company concluded a naming rights agreement with FanDuel to use the FanDuel Sports Network name for its 16 RSNs.

In the NBA those teams include the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs.

In the NHL, those teams include the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning.

In the MLB those teams include the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers.

As previously reported, the reorganization plan was confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on Nov. 14, 2024. The plan received nearly unanimous support from its funded debt holders. Funds managed by PGIM Fixed Income, Hein Park Capital Management LP, Discovery Capital Management, Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, Alta Fundamental Advisers LLC and others, have received equity for their funded debt claims. The restructuring reduced about $9 billion of Main Street Sports’ pre-petition debt to $200 million.

Since commencing Chapter 11 proceedings in March 2023, the company reported that it has “resolved complex legal matters, completed its operational separation from [former parent company] Sinclair, and secured key go-forward agreements with its top team, league and distribution partners. Importantly, terms were also reached on prominent partnerships with Amazon’s Prime Video and FanDuel that bolster the Company’s platform and direct-to-consumer (DTC) offerings.”

“Emerging from this process is the culmination of over 20 months of incredibly hard work to transform our business and position us to better serve passionate local fans across our markets,” Main Street Sports CEO David Preschlack said. “I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this restructuring possible—our new owners, partners, advisers and especially our dedicated employees. With a stronger balance sheet, key partnerships, supportive new owners, we are modernizing our business to thrive in a changing media landscape.”

With cord-cutting and the decline of the pay TV industry already wreaking havoc on regional sports networks, analysts at Lightshed Partners say the blackout of MSG Networks on Altice USA’s Optimium systems could push MSG Networks into bankruptcy, making it the latest casualty of declining RSN ecosystem.

“We do not expect a resolution anytime soon, if at all,” of the MSGN blackout that began on Jan. 1, analysts Brandon Ross, Richard Greenfield and Mark Kelley wrote in a note to investors. “This could set off a bankruptcy for MSG Networks, which would have an impact on SPHR [Spere Entertainment, the parent company of MSGN], MSG Sports and the wider sports media ecosystem.”

Altice’s decision to drop the MSG and MSG Sportsnet channels is part of a wider trend across pay TV, “as RSN pricing became strongly divorced from viewership and MVPDs have become focused on video’s standalone profitability,” the analysts argued. “MSG Networks, at a cost of $10-plus per subscriber, has been one of the largest overearners. With alternatives such as Gotham Sports App (MSG+), there is little reason for distributors to lose money. Indeed, if you follow the QR code on MSG Networks Optimum feed, they suggest the Gotham app or Fubo (with a discount).”

The MSG and MSG Sportsnet networks carry games involving the NBA’s New York Knicks and the NHL’s New York Rangers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils to Optimum subscribers in the New York City market.

Altice has also been putting together new packages of content, pushing RSNs out of the bundle.

This puts MSGN in a difficult position, given that “MSGN has already been in workout with lenders on its debt, which was already due and MSGN cannot repay,“ the Lightshed analysts said. “Lenders are now facing a two-front war with Altice and Sphere (MSGN’s parent). Without Altice carrying MSGN, we estimate that segment becomes EBITDA breakeven leaving nothing for interest payments. Plus, we believe there is a renewal with Charter coming at the end of 2025. The result seems to be heading toward Chapter 11, even as Dolan has likely tried to avoid that scenario, hoping to work something out with his relationship banks.”

Bankruptcy would improve Sphere Entertainment’s balance sheet but would hurt MSG Sports in the near term, the analysts said.

The analysts also argue this will have a larger impact on the NBA, which has been looking to centralize local OTT rights. “The biggest impediment to that is the deals from some large-market teams, especially the Knicks and [Los Angeles] Lakers,” the analysts wrote. “Perhaps a MSGN bankruptcy could catalyze those ambitions.”

SOUTHPORT, Conn.—Diamond Sports Group LLC and Comcast have reached a new carriage agreement for the distribution of Diamond’s 15 regional sports networks ("RSNs") to Xfinity TV customers.

The deal will end a blackout that lasted nearly three months and is an important step forward in Diamond’s efforts to demonstrate to creditors and the bankruptcy court overseeing its restructuring that it can emerge from Chapter 11 as a viable concern. Diamond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March of 2023. 

The carriage agreement with Comcast follows Diamond’s previously announced distribution agreements with Charter Communications, DirectTV, Cox Communications and Fubo.

Under the agreement, subscribers to Comcast’s Xfinity Ultimate TV package in Bally Sports markets will gain access to live, local MLB, NBA and NHL games and pre- and post-game content on Diamond’s RSN channels, effective August 1, 2024. Additionally, Xfinity Ultimate TV customers will be able to stream Diamond’s RSN content by authenticating using their Xfinity credentials on the Bally Sports app.

"Entering a new carriage agreement with Comcast, our third largest distributor, is a critical step forward in our restructuring effort, and we are pleased that fans will again be able to access broadcasts of their local teams through Xfinity,” explained David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond Sports. “With certainty on our distribution, we are focused on finalizing an agreement with the NHL and resolving our ongoing negotiations with the NBA. We are mindful that time is of the essence with basketball and hockey seasons fast approaching, and once agreements with our team and league partners are complete, we intend to move expeditiously to present a plan of reorganization to the Court."

"We appreciate Diamond Sports working with us to reach a solution that returns the Bally Sports RSNs to our Ultimate TV customers in a way that reflects the changing video marketplace for local sports," said Greg Rigdon, president of Content Acquisition for Comcast. "We look forward to making these networks available on August 1, so customers can enjoy watching their favorite teams again."

Financial terms of the carriage agreement with Comcast were not disclosed.

Additional information regarding Diamond’s Chapter 11 cases, including court filings and information about the claims process are available at https://cases.ra.kroll.com/DSG.

SOUTHPORT, Conn.—Diamond Sports Group has reached a multi-year renewal of its distribution agreement with FuboTV Inc. for the continued carriage of Diamond’s portfolio of regional sports networks (“RSNs”).

Under the renewed agreement, Diamond’s RSNs will continue to be available to fans through Fubo’s Pro package. 

“We are thrilled to renew our agreement with Fubo, a major player in the vMVPD space and a leader in live sports streaming, to continue providing high quality local broadcasts to fans,” said David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond. “With the vast majority of our distribution partners in multi-year carriage agreements, Diamond remains focused on completing our reorganization and emerging as a sustainable, profitable business.”

Depending on the market, Fubo subscribers have streaming access to Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Oklahoma, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports West and Bally Sports Wisconsin.

The agreement with Fubo follows Diamond’s previously announced agreements with Charter Communications, DirecTV, and Cox Communications.

Diamond has not, however, managed to conclude an agreement with Comcast. 

Financial terms were not disclosed.

SOUTHPORT, Conn. and EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—Diamond Sports Group (“Diamond” or the “Company”) and DirecTV have announced that they have reached a multi-year renewal of their distribution agreement for the continued carriage of Diamond’s portfolio of regional sports networks (RSNs). 

Diamond’s agreement with DirecTV follows Diamond’s previously announced multi-year renewal of its distribution agreement with Charter Communications, Inc and Cox Communications and the failure of its talks with Comcast, which dropped the RSN’s on April 30. 

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, DirecTV and DirecTV STREAM customers who select a CHOICETM, ULTIMATE or PREMIER package will maintain access to live, local MLB, NBA and NHL games and team related content featured on Diamond’s several RSN channels. Additionally, these customers will soon be able to stream Diamond’s RSN content by authenticating with their DirecTV subscription credentials on the Bally Sports app. 

Any DirecTV or DirecTV STREAM customers who do not have direct access to Diamond’s RSN channels as part of their primary video service will be able to purchase Diamond’s Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) product via DirecTV and access the full complement of local DTC content for any teams to which Diamond retains DTC rights, the companies said. 

“We are pleased to extend our relationship with DirecTV to provide high quality local sports telecasts for passionate fans in the home markets of our team partners,” said David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond. “This is a significant development for Diamond, and we highly value the relationship we have built with DirecTV and their customers over the course of many years. We remain focused on executing the steps necessary to reorganize Diamond with a structure that drives sustainable value for our stakeholders, including our distributors and league and team partners.”

“DirecTV has always been a sports leader and we continue to see significant opportunity for both our residential and commercial customers in local sports,” Rob Thun, chief content officer of DirecTV, stated:  We want to ensure our customers receive more flexibility, choice and value, and this agreement provides them with those capabilities. Diamond’s regional sports networks remain a key component of our live sports offering, and we look forward to working with Diamond and the many popular MLB, NBA, NHL, and other teams it retains for years to come under this new agreement.”

Bally Sports Regional Networks were taken off Comcast’s systems on April 30 when their existing distribution agreement expired and Diamond Sports Group was unable to reach a new agreement with Comcast. 

“We have been very flexible with Diamond Sports Group for months as they work through their bankruptcy proceedings, providing them with an extension on the Bally Sports Regional Networks last fall and a unilateral right to extend the term for another year, which they opted to not exercise," Comcast said in a released statement Tuesday. "We’d like to continue carrying their networks, but they have declined multiple offers and now we no longer have the rights to this programming. We will proactively credit our customers for the costs associated with them – most will automatically receive $8 to 10 per month in credits.”

The blackout impacts such teams as the Minnesota Twins, the Detroit Tigers, the Atlanta Braves, and others. Overall, Comcast carried 15 of Diamond's RSNs before the blackout according to Sportico. 

Diamond Sports Group complained in a statement that “It’s disappointing that Comcast rejected a proposed extension that would have kept our channels on the air and that Comcast indicated that it intends to pull the signals, preventing fans from watching their favorite local teams. Comcast has refused to engage in substantive discussions despite Diamond offering terms similar to those reached with much larger distributors of ours.”

Diamond also noted that the networks continue to be available on Fubo, DirecTV,  DirecTV Stream, or through its direct-to-consumer offering, Bally Sports Plus, for the teams for which Diamond retains DTC rights.

The failure to reach an agreement is a blow to Diamond's efforts to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization where it needs to show creditors that it has distribution for its ongoing businesses. 

SOUTHPORT, Conn.—As it moves towards finishing bankruptcy reorganization of its debts and operations in Chapter 11, Diamond Sports Group has announced that it has reached a multi-year renewal of its distribution agreement with Charter Communications to carry Diamond’s portfolio of regional sports networks (“RSNs”).

Under the new agreement, customers will continue to have access to live, local MLB, NBA and NHL games and pre- and post-game content on Diamond’s RSN channels through Charter’s Spectrum TV Select Plus package. 

Additionally, Spectrum TV Select Plus customers will be able to stream Diamond’s RSN content by authenticating with their subscription credentials on the Bally Sports app. Customers who do not have access to Diamond’s RSN channels as part of their service will be able to purchase Diamond’s Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) product, including from Spectrum, to access all local DTC content for the teams for which Diamond retains DTC rights.

“Extending our distribution relationship with Charter is a key milestone and an important part of our go-forward plan, as we remain focused on restructuring the company and moving forward as a sustainable, profitable business,” David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond, stated. “We expect this agreement to generate value for Diamond, Charter and our team and league partners, and enable us to continue providing high quality broadcasts for passionate local fans. We believe this agreement can serve as a model in the ongoing time-sensitive negotiations with our other distribution partners to reach carriage agreements that work for all parties.”

LONDON—NBC Sports Regional Networks and the British Basketball League have inked a media rights deal that will bring basketball action of the league’s 2023-24 season to the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago and Philadelphia markets.

“This deal between NBC Sports Regional Networks and the British Basketball League signifies a major step forward for our league,” said league CEO Aaron Radion. “Bringing the excitement of British basketball to fans across these regions gives us an opportunity to welcome new fans into our League and showcase our world-class talent –a number of whom hail from American colleges—to new audiences.”

Two weekly games, each Thursday and Friday during the season, will appear on NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Philadelphia. Coverage of league play kicks off today with a game between the Leicester Riers and Surrey Scorchers,

Men’s and Women’s tentpole events, including the 2024 Basketball League Trophy Finals, Jan. 27-28; the 2024 British Basketball League All-Star Game, March 17; and the 2024 British Basketball League Playoff Finals, May 19; are covered under the deal. The regional sports networks also will present other programming, such as the new “UNBEATABLE” magazine show. 

“As the CEO of the League and a former NBC Universal employee, I am incredibly proud of this partnership because I know the opportunities this gives our organization, and British basketball, to reach new fans,” added Radion.

LAS VEGAS and CINCINNATI—Scripps continues to expand its rights to air local sports with a new multi-year agreement to air the Vegas Golden Knights NHL hockey games for free to residents of Nevada and surrounding states within the team’s broadcast territory.  

The agreement, which begins with the 2023-34 season, allows The E.W. Scripps Company to televise all non-nationally exclusive Golden Knights games with full distribution on cable, satellite and over-the-air television. 

Financial terms are not disclosed. The deal has obtained the necessary approvals from the National Hockey League.

Scripps will air Golden Knights games on its local station KMCC-TV, which is currently airing programming from ION, Scripps’ national entertainment network. 

ION programming will continue to be available to Nevadans over-the-air, on pay TV and on connected TV platforms through a move to another Las Vegas broadcast channel, Scripps said. 

Scripps said that it plans to rebrand KMCC, channel 34, as an independent station before the 2023-24 NHL season begins. In addition to the Golden Knights games, the new KMCC will broadcast local and national news, local sports and additional entertainment programming. 

Scripps also owns the Las Vegas ABC affiliate, KTNV, which will provide a strong marketing platform for KMCC and the Golden Knights telecasts and has carried VGK preseason games since the franchise’s inaugural season of 2017-18.

“This deal is a significant win for our fans because they will be able to see our games on television and for free, if they wish,” team president and CEO Kerry Bubolz said. “That was our goal in finding a new TV partner. We wanted to serve our fanbase in the best way possible.”

The Golden Knights and Scripps also said that they are committed to providing fans with a direct-to-consumer streaming option as part of this partnership. Details on the streaming option will be announced when plans are finalized, the companies said. 

The deal provides another example of the ongoing turmoil in the regional sports business, which led to Sinclair Broadcast’s Diamond Sports Group to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year, citing $9 billion in debt spread across its 19 Bally Sports regional sports networks.

Warner Bros. Discovery, which had carried Golden Knights games on AT&T SportsNet since 2017, has said it is leaving the regionals sports network business.

In the wake of those problems, other broadcasters like Gray Television and Scripps have been looking to expand their sports offerings. 

The Vegas Golden Knights broadcasters, led by the multi-Emmy Award winning duo of Dave Goucher and Shane Hnidy, will remain on the call for Scripps Sports’ games.

Broadcasts will include pregame and postgame coverage for every game, with additional distribution into Idaho (Boise, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls), Montana (Billings, Butte-Bozeman, Glendive, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula), Nevada (Reno), Utah (Salt Lake City) and Wyoming (Casper-Riverton and Cheyenne-Scottsbluff). 

“We have been impressed by the Golden Knights’ commitment to winning and their desire to connect and engage with fans in Vegas and outer markets, as well,” said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. “This is going to be a wonderful partnership, and it’s the fans who will benefit most. We launched Scripps Sports with the belief that we could help teams reach more fans through our stations, which do not depend on subscriptions and added fees for the consumer.” 

The Golden Knights are the first professional sports team to reach a deal with Scripps Sports, which launched in December. It is the second deal Scripps has announced in the past 15 days. The first was an agreement with the WNBA, announced April 20, to televise games on ION on Friday nights during the regular season starting May 26.

BALTIMORE—Sinclair Broadcast’s Diamond Sports Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday citing $9 billion in debt spread across its 19 Bally Sports regional sports networks. In its filing, it said the RSNs will continue to operate and that it has approximately $425 million in case to finance its operations and restructure. 

Sinclair said it plans to spin off Diamond to become a standalone company with ownership going to its creditors and secondary and unsecured creditors. 

The filing came as little surprise as warning signs of the RSN’s imminent bankruptcy had been known for months. Sinclair acquired the RSNs from Fox in 2019 for $10.6 billion and $8 billion in debt. But as more consumers cut the cord, cancelling their pay-TV subscriptions and pro sports leagues continue to increase their rights fees, the financial pressure has increased among all regional sports networks, with Warner Bros. Discovery—which operates three RSNs—informing sports leagues last month that it plans to exit the business, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Diamond—which missed a $140 million interest payment last month—owns the rights to broadcast to 14 MLB teams as well as several NBA, NHL and WNBA teams. In a news conference in February, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred commented on DSG’s tenuous position. 

"We've been really clear that if Diamond doesn't pay, under every single one of the broadcast agreements, that creates a termination right, and our clubs will proceed to terminate those contracts,” Manfred said. In the event that MLB stepped in, what we would do is we would produce the games, we would make use of our asset, the MLB Network, to do that. We would go directly to distributors — meaning Comcast, Charter, the big distributors — and make an agreement to have those games distributed on cable networks.

"We would also be seeking flexibility on the digital side, so that when you look at MLB.tv, you'd go in, you can buy your out-of-market package like you've always had, but you would have the option to buy up into in-market games, which I see as a huge improvement for fans."

According to CNBC, DSG has missed only one rights payment to a sports team, the Arizona Diamondback, to which it has yet to secure streaming rights.   

David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond, said DSG filing Chapter 11 will allow the company “to reset our capital structure and strengthen our balance sheet through the elimination of approximately $8 billion of debt. The financial flexibility attained through this restructuring will allow DSG to evolve our business while continuing to provide exceptional live sports productions for our fans.

“DSG will continue broadcasting games and connecting fans across the country with the sports and teams they love, Preschlack continued. “With the support of our creditors, we expect to execute a prompt and efficient reorganization and to emerge from the restructuring process as a stronger company.”

In a provocative note to investors, three analysts at LightShed Partners take up the question of retransmission fees, which have become one of the largest revenue sources for local TV station groups, and conclude that it “[f]eels like management and investor expectations for revenue growth are inflated, with serious headwinds growing.”

The post by Richard Greenfield, Brandon Ross And Mark Kelley noted they were prompted to take up the issue after hearing Dish Network chairman Charlie Ergen argue that RSNs are on the way out and that retrans fees are on the way down.

““The fact that the local networks now are going the path of regional sports where the cost gets so high that… any rational company will make more money by not having the service…broadcasters themselves are cutting back on the content, and so they’re not producing the high-value drama shows and stuff are going somewhere else to OTT,” Ergen complained in the Q4 conference call with investors. [Edits to the transcript here were made by the Lightshed analysts.] “Customers are following them there…our customers are going to find alternatives to the [broadcast] networks. And even the mainstay of professional football, which is probably the one mainstay they [broadcasters] have, is readily available to a number of sources today. So the next step in retrans is down, not up… I said it about regional sports, I’m saying it now. That’s where that’s going. And it’s a shame because the local broadcasters are caught in a vice between the network and the distributors. So we have some empathy for their plight, but we cannot be their bank unless we get a return. And right now, we don’t get a return.”

The LightShed partners analysts noted that “broadcast TV station groups have been incredibly savvy over the past decade leveraging an antiquated regulatory system that dates back to the 1992 Cable Act to drive retransmission consent fees....Given the inability of government officials to update the television regulatory landscape, annual retrans fees now exceed the $12 billion (tax) we forecasted back in 2013.”

Looking forward, they note that cord cutting, the shift of sports rights to streaming, the growing investments in streaming content and other factors are however making the local stations less valuable to operators. 

“All major new general entertainment programming has shifted to streaming platforms vs. broadcast TV, with more and more sports content shifting from broadcast to streaming (most notably Thursday Night Football, which was the #2 series on broadcast before moving to Amazon Prime)....Time spent watching broadcast TV is falling rapidly, yet the annual cost of retrans continues to rise,” they wrote. 

“We could not help but think broadcast TV stations are headed for massive disruption,” they conclude. 

On major factor is that "cord-cutting is hovering today around 7% and all signs point to a meaningful acceleration over the next couple of years,” they wrote, adding that the “price/value of multichannel video bundle is worsening. Cost of the bundle to the consumer continues to rise, even as there is less and less quality programming, as legacy media companies now launch all their new shows direct-to-streaming.”

They also argued that “as the Regional Sports business model literally melts down in 2023,...diehard sports fans are getting new ways to access local sports without a multichannel bundle. Just this past week, MSG+ was announced at a $30/month price point to access Knicks/Rangers/Islanders/Devils/Sabers content, no bundle required.”

They also suggest that the bargaining position of stations with vMVPDs is deteriorating, citing the recent retrans spat with FuboTV. 

“Earlier this year, the CBS Affiliate Board rejected CBS’ retransmission consent agreement for vMVPDs,” they argued. “In turn, Fubo lost access to CBS affiliates across the country. However, CBS (owned by Paramount), was able to replace the local affiliate feed with the national feed of CBS. Importantly, that national feed includes CBS primetime programming, national morning shows, national news, late-night national talk-shows, and, maybe most importantly, Sunday afternoon local/regional NFL games.”

Local station groups like Nexstar have argued that their local news programming still gives them tremendous leverage. 

“We hope NXST [Nexstar] management does not actually believe that as retrans would be a tiny fraction of what it is today without the power/leverage of NFL games on Sunday,”  Richard Greenfield, Brandon Ross and Mark Kelley at LightShed wrote. 

In addition, viewers, they argue, viewers have other choices for local news, both from digital media and other local stations. 

BALTIMORE—Financial woes in the regional sports network sector escalated this week as Sinclair’s Diamond Sports Group announced this week that it had decided to not to make $140 million interest payment on its debt, a move that will trigger a 30-day grace period during which it can negotiate with creditors. 

Diamond Sports Group, an independently-managed and unconsolidated subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., owns the Bally Sports, which owns and operates 19  regional sports networks (RSNs).  

Sinclair’s financially troubled regional sports network operator said that skipping the payment would “maximize its financial flexibility” and that it would “use the 30-day grace period to continue progressing its ongoing discussions with creditors and other key stakeholders regarding potential strategic alternatives and deleveraging transactions to best position Diamond Sports Group for the future.”

Diamond Sports Group also said that it “expects that its business will continue as usual, and it will keep broadcasting quality live sports productions for fans while it addresses its balance sheet.”

RSNs around the country have been struggling as cord-cutting has accelerated and pay TV operators have looked for ways of cutting programming costs. 

This week Sportico reported that the Bally Sports networks weren’t the only ones facing financial woes. “According to multiple league, finance and network sources, the three AT&T SportsNet brands [owned by Warner Bros. Discovery] in recent weeks have handed over lighter-than-expected envelopes to their respective MLB franchise partners,” Sportico reported. 

In response to Diamond’s announcement that it will not pay the interest on its senior secured second-lien notes, senior secured third-lien notes, and senior unsecured notes due Feb. 15, 2023, S&P Global Ratings issued a statement saying it “views the missed interest payments as a default. Therefore, we lowered our issuer credit ratings on Diamond Sports Holdings LLC and subsidiary DSG to 'D' from 'CCC-'. At the same time, we lowered our issue-level ratings on DSG's senior secured second-lien notes to 'D' from 'CCC-' and senior unsecured notes to 'D' from 'C'. The company's senior secured third-lien notes are unrated."

S&P also said “We do not expect the company to make its interest payments within the 30-day grace period to preserve financial flexibility. DSG is discussing strategic alternatives with creditors and other key stakeholders, which we believe will likely result in a comprehensive debt restructuring or bankruptcy filing.”

Evoca TV, a startup based in Meridan, Idaho that used a network of low-power ATSC 3.0 TV stations to offer a first of its kind over-the-air pay TV service, shut down on Dec. 31, after failing to receive additional funding to continue operations. 

In an email to its customers, the company said "We are grateful for your support as we challenged the media monopolies to make regional sports and local content more accessible and affordable. Unfortunately, we could not secure the funding that we need to continue operations into 2023."

Evoca told its customers that it could keep its Android set-top boxes and would cease billing them the monthly $25 subscription fee. 

The company, which was started by CEO Todd Achilles in 2020 was an attempt to build a business model upon the still emerging ATSC 3.0/NextGen TV standard that combines over-the-air broadcast with internet protocol. The standard is currently being deployed nationwide by broadcasters and is expected to reach 75% of U.S. households by the end of 2023. 

Evoca was not just a service, however. It also worked with partners, like ENENSYS to work on new methods to greatly increase spectrum efficiency in the ATSC 3.0 domain. In April, 2022, it announced a demo it had conducted with its tech partners that used Multiple Input and Multiple Output, or "MIMO" to increase the availability of 4K or even 8K channels over NextGen TV. 

Evoca was available in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Michigan and offered a cable-type service that bundled local broadcast channels, some cable channels and RSNs. A year ago, it added Denver RSN Altitude Sports, and was among the cheapest—and only—ways to access the service, which has been in litigation with Comcast over a carriage dispute.

In early December, Achilles warned customers that a lack of new funding could force the service to shut down by the end of the year and at the time, had stopped signing up new customers. 

“This is a difficult economy for a company like ours to raise the funding that we need to grow,” the company told its customers. “Should we be unable to raise more capital, we are sad to say that Evoca TV will discontinue operations and programming on December 31st, 2022.”

At the time, it had launched a change.org petition drive to “save” Evoca to garner customer support to keep the RSNs on Evoca. “Sign this petition and tell your favorite team’s owner to support Evoca and keep it on the air so fans always have an affordable, reliable way to watch,” the petition read. The petition logged just under 3,000 signatures.

NEW YORK—FuboTV has inked a deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group that will bring Bally Sports’ 19 regional sports networks (RSNs) to Fubo in the coming weeks. 

The Bally Sports RSNs are owned and operated by Diamond Sports Group, a subsidiary of Sinclair. This agreement expands the existing partnership, which already includes the carriage of Sinclair’s owned local broadcast stations, Tennis Channel and Marquee Sports Network (television home of the Chicago Cubs), on Fubo TV.

The deal will allow cord cutters to access local sports on Sinclair’s RSNs without having to subscribe to traditional cable or satellite and will expand FuboTVs live sports footprint. 

How much of an impact the deal will have on Sinclair’s struggling Diamond Sports Group RSNs remains to be seen. Since Sinclair acquired the Bally Sports RSNs from Disney and rebranded it as Diamond, the broadcaster has incurred more than $9 billion in debt as sports rights costs explode and subscribers continue to cut the cord. Sinclair reports that Diamond lost more than $1 billion in its most recent quarter and according to a report in the New York Post over the weekend, the division could face bankruptcy if MLB, NBA and NHL—which have expressed interest in acquiring Diamond—back out.  

With this new agreement, FuboTV will provide subscribers with access to their respective local Bally Sports RSN(s), including: Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Oklahoma, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports West and Bally Sports Wisconsin.

FuboTV, which currently has 1.2 million subscribers, will offer fans a new streaming option for Bally Sports RSNs as well as a leading choice for RSN coverage with a total of over 35 networks in its portfolio, and most available in its base channel package (Pro). Fubo’s sports offering includes more than 50,000 live sporting events annually, with many streaming in 4K, from RSNs, local broadcast networks and national sports networks ESPN, FS1, CBS Sports Network, the Pac-12 Networks and many more. In addition to sports, FuboTV also streams popular live entertainment and news programming and features more than 40,000 TV shows and movies on-demand each month.

“RSNs are integral to FuboTV’s sports-first content strategy and our mission to superserve local passionate sports fans,” said Henry Ahn, chief business officer, FuboTV. “We are very pleased to bring Fubo subscribers significant local sports coverage through our new partnership with Bally Sports, the nation’s leader in local sports rights. Sinclair has been a great partner and we’re pleased that we were able to work together well to get a deal done that is meaningful and beneficial for both sides. We’re looking forward to bringing the Bally Sports RSNs to Fubo subscribers in the coming weeks.”

“FuboTV has long been associated with connecting sports fans to their favorite teams and we are thrilled to be expanding our partnership to include the Bally Sports regional sports networks across their platform, providing Fubo’s subscribers with streaming access to their favorite hometown Bally Sports teams,” said Will Bell, SVP, head of distribution and network relations, Sinclair. “Fubo has been a great partner, and we are excited to continue to grow our relationship to serve our collective viewers.”

LOS ANGELES—The LA Clippers have announced that they will be the first team in the NBA to launch their own direct-to-consumer streaming platform, ClipperVision, which will stream more than 70 games live in-market in its first season. 

The service, which will offer six different streams and is priced at $199 a year, will allow subscribers of ClipperVision to watch the games and other content without a pay TV subscription.  

The move adds to the ways that viewers can watch the team's games. The NBA team recent agreed to show 11 of its regular season games on Nexstar's broadcast station KTLA-TV and it has renewed its regional sports network deal with Sinclair's Bally Sports SoCal. 

The new direct-to-consumer service will use cutting-edge technology to enhance the live game-watching experience with augmented reality and alternate-language commentary options. It will launch with six different stream options, and additional features are in the plans.

“I have wanted to create a product like ClipperVision since the day I came to the Clippers. Years of effort, hard work and development have led up to its launch,” said Clippers chairman and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “ClipperVision’s augmented reality and interactivity will let us transform the experience our fans have watching games, and provide them with more platforms to watch the Clippers.”

ClipperVision expands from the Clippers CourtVision Beta, which was introduced in 2018 as the very first live, augmented sports broadcast available and won numerous awards for its innovation. 

ClipperVision is powered by the NBA’s new integrated digital platform, which also runs the new NBA app.

ClipperVision’s six streams will include:

• BallerVision – BallerVision will feature live commentary from some of Clipper Nation’s biggest and most well-known personalities -- Baron Davis, Paul Pierce, Quentin Richardson, and Matt Barnes -- along with guest appearances from Steve Ballmer and celebrity Clippers fans. 
• Traditional Clippers Broadcasts – The app will provide access to live game streams from Bally Sports SoCal and KTLA featuring traditional on-air talent and graphics.
• CourtVision powered by AWS – Fan-favorite augmented reality streams are back. The CourtVison stream, similar to ShotIQ Mode in the Clippers CourtVision Beta, will carry over augmented graphics for real-time shot probability, statistics, and more. 
• CourtVision Mascot Mode powered by AWS – This stream will feature new and enhanced animations, graphics, and special effects added in real-time with machine learning, an expansion of the similar mode from Clippers CourtVision.
• ClipperVision in Korean – The Korean-language stream on ClipperVision will be the first Korean-language commentary available OTT in the L.A. market, and it will be called live from Korea by commentator Yong-Gum Jeong, former basketball player and Korean Basketball League champion Tae-Sool Kim, and basketball reporters Hyun-Il Cho and Dae-Bum Son. 

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Dish Network has notified subscribers that they’re going to lose more regional sports networks on April 1 when its deal to carry the NBC Regional Sports Networks expires.

The timing is odd, coming days after Dish announced a deal with DraftKings, which wants viewers watching sports and betting on the outcomes.

Under poker player and chairman Charlie Ergen, Dish has been folding its relationships with RSNs, which he had deemed offering too low a return for too high a price. 

Dish dropped the Fox RSN’s last year. The Walt Disney Co. acquired those RSNs when it bought 21st Century Fox, but had to sell them to Sinclair to satisfy regulators.

Sinclair last year made a deal with Bally’s and is renaming the RSNs with the Bally’s brand and plans to launch a new app that will let viewers play interactive games and connect them to Bally’s sports book, where they can make bets.

As sports betting becomes legal in more states, most media companies are looking for ways to cash in on gambling money. In most cases the media companies bring the live sports.

That seems to be what DraftKings was counting on in its deal with Dish. 

“Dish TV and the technology behind it immerses customers within a next-generation viewership experience and reaches these fanbases in a completely new way," said Paul Liberman, president of product and technology and co-founder at DraftKings when the deal was announced. "This is a unique opportunity for fans to watch games and engage with our real-money products while the technology also allows for further innovation ahead." 

Instead, Dish seems set to live without another group of RSNs. 

This is what Dish emailed its subscribers: “As of 4/1/2021, NBC Regional Sports Networks will no longer be on Sling. We are committed to providing the best value with the flexibility our customers deserve and, unfortunately, we were unable to come to an agreement on those terms.”

A spokesman for NBCU said, “The NBC Regional Sports Networks offered to continue distribution on fair market terms. Dish and Sling declined those terms and will be dropping the networks."

Other NBCU programming remains on Dish and the two companies are in talks over distribution of Peacock, NBCU's streaming service, which also carries some sports.

The NBC RSNs carry teams including the Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings in basketball, the Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks in hockey; and the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.

They televise more than 1,500 live professional games and reach about 35 million homes.

That some of those viewers will join the subscribers leaving Dish not just for streaming but for distributors who carry the RSNs seems to be a pretty good bet.

WASHINGTON—The FCC has clarified its position in regards to the ongoing dispute between Hulu and Sinclair Broadcast Group over carriage of certain regional sports networks, with Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel saying that the commission is not able to wade in to help with any negotiations.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) wrote a letter in January to execs of The Walt Disney Company, which owns Hulu, and Sinclair, about the desire to end the dispute that has seen 21 Sinclair-owned RSNs unavailable on the Hulu + Live TV service, which threatens to cut off more than 100,000 Ohio Hulu subscribers' access to local sports content. In the letter he asks that the FCC monitor and help facilitate a resolution.

“As the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen and more sports venues close their doors to fans, it is more important now than ever that we foster community, hope and social connection by offering Ohioans and communities across the country reliable access to local sporting events,” wrote Sen. Brown.

However, Rosenworcel pointed out in a response dated Feb. 16 (released by the FCC on Feb. 25) that the FCC’s program carriage rules only allow it to govern negotiations between third-party video programming vendors and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs). Hulu + Live TV is a non-MVPD over-the-top linear video provider, Rosenworcel explained, meaning the FCC does not have jurisdiction over carriage disputes.

“Nevertheless, I share your interest in the parties continuing to negotiate in good faith and hope they will come to agreement to minimize any disruption to Hulu + Live TV subscribers,” Rosenworcel wrote.

TV Tech’s sister publication Multichannel News reports that there have been some talks to revive the effort previously led by Tom Wheeler when he was FCC chair to classify OTT platforms as MVPDs, especially as the role of streamers has grown in recent years. 

BALTIMORE & PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Sinclair Broadcast Group and Bally Sports have debuted the Bally Sports logo and regional monikers for Sinclair’s owned and operated regional sports networks. The Bally Sports logos will replace the current Fox Sports regional logos when the official rebrand takes place.

“We are extremely proud to unveil the Bally Sports logo as it signifies a new, transformative chapter in the regional sports business and is representative of our cohesive partnership with Bally’s,” said Steve Rosenberg, president of Local Sports, Sinclair Broadcast Group. “The upcoming rebrand across our RSN footprint is incredibly exciting, not only for our entire portfolio, but for loyal sports fans across the country.”

As part of the rebrand, Sinclair’s Prime Ticket will become Bally Sports SoCal and Sports Time Ohio will become Bally Sports Great Lakes, monikers that Sinclair and Bally say align with the region’s true geographical roots. 

In addition, Fox Sports Carolinas and Fox Sports Tennessee will sunset as part of an effort to streamline offerings. The live games available through these RSNs, which include Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes games, will head to Bally Sports South (previously Fox Sports South) and Bally Sports Southeast (previously Fox Sports Southeast).

Nineteen total RSNs will be rebranded. In addition to the above mentioned, the new RSN monikers include Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Oklahoma, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports West and Bally Sports Wisconsin.

The new logo was created by Interbrand and features Bally’s traditional red script above a red “Sports” typography.

No official date for the rebranding has been announced, with Sinclair saying that it will take place “in the coming months.”

For more information, visit www.sbgi.net.

SAN BRUNO, Calif.—YouTube TV will no longer carry Sinclair Broadcast Group regional sports networks as of Oct. 1, as the SVOD service shared through a series of tweets.

Following an extension negotiated in March of this year that kept Sinclair RSNs on its service, YouTube TV notified its subscribers that the extension is set to end on Oct. 1. The goal of the extension, according to YouTube TV, was to keep the RSNs available for subscribers through the end of the NHL, NBA and MLB seasons—the NHL wrapped up earlier this week, while the NBA Finals and MLB playoffs are beginning and are available on national TV networks.

The networks that will no longer be available to YouTube TV subscribers include Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Carolinas, Fox Sports Detroit, Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports Kansas City, Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports New Orleans, Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Oklahoma, Fox Sports San Diego, Fox Sports South, Fox Sports Southeast, Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports Sun, Fox Sports Tennessee, Fox Sports Wisconsin and SportsTime Ohio.

In addition to the channels being dropped, YouTube TV says that library recordings from the Fox RSNs will also no longer be available.

“This was a difficult decision made after months of negotiations,” tweeted YouTube TV. “We hope we can bring FOX RSNs back in the future.” Subscribers set to lose these channels were to be notified by email, per YouTube TV.

No official comment from Sinclair has been released on this decision.

BALTIMORE—Sinclair Broadcast Group is establishing an emergency fund that will provide eligible freelancers that work at its Fox Regional Sports Networks, as well as the Marquee Sports Network, with financial support because of the coronavirus having halted the production of live sports.

Beginning April 3, eligible freelancers—of which Sinclair says there are nearly 1,000—can receive an immediate $2,500 interest-free advance from the emergency fund. The advance can be made up with small deduction when games return.

To be eligible for the Sinclair emergency fund, freelancers must have worked regularly on an RSN’s games in a home market last year.

“This is an unprecedented time for the world and the media, but few in our industry are feeling the impacts of the coronavirus more than those who work in sports,” said Chris Ripley, Sinclair CEO. “Across the nation, these nearly 1,000 freelancers work tirelessly season after season to bring fans the best in live sports. As we face this extraordinary event, we are hoping that this fund will provide integral assistance to our key team members.”

For more information, visit www.sbgi.net.  

BALTIMORE—Sinclair Broadcast Group has reached an agreement with YouTube TV for carriage of 19 of its 21 Fox regional sports networks. The two RSNs the two sides did not reach a deal on will no longer be carried on the streaming service, effective immediately.

The last week saw negotiations heat up between YouTube TV and Sinclair, at first with YouTube TV announcing that the RSNs would not be available as of Feb. 29 but the two sides reaching a temporary extension prior to that blackout.

With the deal, Sinclair-owned RSNs that will remain available on YouTube TV include Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports San Diego, Fox Sports South, Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports Southeast, Fox Sports Sun, SportsTime Ohio and more.

The two RSNs not remaining on YouTube TV are Prime Ticket and Fox Sports West, which primarily cover the sports scene in the greater Los Angeles area. These stations are in addition to YouTube TV dropping YES Network, which covers the New York Yankees and other New York sports, another RSN that Sinclair owns.

“We are pleased that YouTube TV was able to agree to terms on 19 of our RSNs and that they will continue to provide subscribers with access to some of the most in-demand sports networks in the nation,” said David Gibber, senior vice president and general counsel of Sinclair.

Gibber continued: “We value our ongoing relationship with YouTube TV, however, we are deeply disappointed with its decision not to carry certain RSNs. We offered competitive market terms but, ultimately, YouTube TV declined.”

Sinclair say YouTube TV subscribers who lost access to Prime Ticket and Fox Sports West can check on what other streaming services the networks are available using www.keepmyhometeams.com.  

NEW YORK—YES Network is trading in mouse ears for pinstripes, as the regional sports network has been purchased by Yankee Global Enterprises—the owners of the New York Yankees—from the Walt Disney Company. With the help of strategic partners Sinclair Broadcast Group and Amazon, Yankee Global Enterprises is acquiring the 80% of YES Network it did not previously own for a value of $3.47 billion.

Disney was required to divest a number of its regional sport networks as a condition of its acquisition of Fox earlier this year.

YES Network is an RSN that broadcasts games, programs and specialty content for the Yankees, Brooklyn Nets, Major League Soccer’s New York City FC and the WNBA’s New York Liberty.

The trio of Yankee Global Enterprises, Sinclair and Amazon will work together to enhance the network and position it as a leader in sports broadcasting across all forms of distribution, per the official announcement. Jon Litner will remain in his existing role of the YES Network.

“This transaction brings the YES Network and all of its popular programming even closer to the organization that inspired its very development,” said Hal Steinbrenner, CEO of Yankee Global Enterprises. “Along with our partners, we look forward to greatly expanding the way that sports content is delivered and consumed by fans everywhere.”

In addition to Sinclair and Amazon, additional equity investments for the deal were provided by RedBird Capital, and funds were managed by Blackstone’s Tactical Opportunities business and Mubadala Capital.

BALTIMORE & BURBANK, Calif.—The Sinclair Broadcast Group and Disney have finalized a deal that will see Sinclair acquire 21 regional sports networks, as well as Fox College Sports, from Disney for a total price of $9.6 billion, which the Department of Justice has given its approval. Disney was required to divest the RSNs following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

To acquire the RSNs, Sinclair created an indirect subsidiary, Diamond Sports Group LLC, with Byron Allen agreeing to become and equity and content partner. According to Sinclair CEO and President Chris Ripley, Jeff Krolik, president of the RSNs, as well as of the RSN management team and staff, will now join Sinclair.

“We are very excited about the transformational aspects the RSN acquisition will have on Sinclair and are eager to bring those opportunities to life,” said Ripley.

With the deal, Sinclair now have the exclusive local rights to 42 professional teams, including 14 for MLB, 16 NBA and 12 NHL teams. The deal excludes the YES Network.

Here is the complete list of RSNs acquired by Sinclair: Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Detroit, Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Sun, Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Ohio, SportsTime Ohio, Fox Sports South, Fox Sports Carolina, Fox Sports Tennessee, Fox Sports Southeast, Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports Oklahoma, Fox Sports New Orleans, Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports Kansas City, Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports San Diego, Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Dish customers have been blacked out on 16 Fox regional sports networks since July 26, and according to the satellite provider’s chairman Charlie Ergen, customers could have to get used to those channels not being available through the service.

In a conference call discussing Dish’s Q2 results, Ergen highlighted where the two sides differ, with Dish calling the fees to carry the RSNs too expensive and Fox’s claim that they are simply seeking fair value for the content. Ergen would go on to say after a certain amount of time, customers may forget that the RSNs were even a part of the service to being with.

Read the full story on TVT’s sister publicationMultichannel News.

WASHINGTON—Three of the Democratic candidates for president are weighing in on the proposed Sinclair Broadcast Group purchase of 21 regional sports networks from Disney (formerly owned under the Fox banner). Senators Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Bernie Sanders (VT) and Corey Booker (N.J.) have co-signed a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Mark Delrahim asking the two organizations to look at the proposed deal.

“Given Sinclair’s market power in the local television broadcasting industry and its continued push ‘to inject conversative-tinged coverage into local markets,’ this acquisition raises serious questions about the effects such a deal would have on competition in the industry, prices for consumers and delivery of perspectives in local media and sports content,” the letter reads.

The letter goes on to detail arguments from the senators through examples in recent years where they say Sinclair has attempted to garner more stations under its banner so that it can raise prices for consumers as well as relaying partisan political messages to its viewers, and how this most recent deal is another attempt to do so.

As a result, the senators are asking that the FCC and DOJ answer the following questions by July 8:

• “Have Sinclair Broadcast Corp. and/or The Walt Disney Company filed applications seeking your Department’s consent to transfer control of Disney’s 21 Regional Sports Networks and Fox College Sports to Sinclair? If so, when did they file these applications?
• Does your Department plan to issue a Public Notice that the application has been accepted for filing? Does your Department plan to issue a Public Notice setting a schedule for the public to submit comments on the application?

The Free State Foundation, a free market think tank, issued a rebuff of the senators’ letter, saying that neither the FCC or the DOJ can judge whether Sinclair’s programming is partisan or conservative.

“For either agency to do what the Senators ask is inconsistent with the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech and freedom of the press,” Free State President Randolph May wrote. “Aside from whether their characterizations of Sinclair’s programming are even accurate, their purpose, an improper one, is to use government power to influence’s Sinclair’s editorial discretion.”

PITTSBURGH—ACA Connects isn’t a fan of the recently announced deal that would see Sinclair Broadcast Group acquire 21 regional sports networks from Disney-Fox. It’s opposition centers around the same reason it opposed the eventually scrapped deal between Sinclair and Tribune—the possibility that Sinclair would raise prices to consumers, including those served by ACA Connects.

“Big 4 broadcast network programming and RSN programming are both critical for ACA Connects members,” said ACA Connects President and CEO Matthew Polka in a statement. “By jointly negotiating these assets when they serve the same market, Sinclair can raise prices to cable operators for both offerings.”

The deal with Disney would see Sinclair take over 21 RSNs and Fox College Sports, including the rights to 14 MLB teams, 16 NBA teams and 12 NHL teams.

The deal does not contain any licenses, so is not subject to review by the FCC, but it will be looked at by the Department of Justice for any antitrust issues. Sinclair already owns Marquee Sports Network, the Tennis Channel, Stadium, Ring of Honor Wrestling and some high school sports programming.

News as a result of the announced deal caused Sinclair’s stock to go up more than 30% on Monday, May 6.

Ultimately, Polka believes that antitrust regulators will reject the proposed deal between Sinclair and Disney.