MLB has made some significant changes based on its new media rights deal, which has created something of a roulette wheel for many of the smaller broadcast outlets doing games for different teams. The latest news on this front is that the Los Angeles Angels are one of nine teams that have terminated their contracts with FanDuel Sports Network and its struggling parent company, Main Street Sports Group, with the news reported by Evan Drellich of The Athletic.
This isn’t a new problem. Just down the freeway, the San Diego Padres had their broadcast agreement terminated a couple of years ago when their broadcast partner, Diamond Sports Group went belly up.
Back then Main Street Sports Group was Diamond Sports Group, hence the connection. As a result the Padres were one of six teams whose rights were picked up by MLB, with out-of-market broadcasts now being available on MLB.tv.
The other teams involved in this most recent cancellation are the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.
If you’re sensing a pattern there, it’s that this problem has been a particular issue for small-market teams where the financial environment for local media is a lot more competitive and difficult.
These deals could be reworked, however, according to Drellich. That’s what happened when Main Street cum Diamond was in bankruptcy from 2023-25, and Main Street issued a statement to that effect.
“We remain in active dialogue with all of our team partners regarding potential revised terms for agreements going forward,” Main Street said this week.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is an integral part of what’s happening here, and when he was asked about this change by reporters this week, he said the goal is to maximize revenue.
“Our focus, particularly given the point in the calendar, is to maximize the revenue that’s available to the clubs, whether that’s MLB Media or third party,” said Manfred via an AP report. “The clubs have control over the timing. They can make a decision to move to MLB Media because of the contractual status now. I think that what’s happening right now clubs are evaluating their alternatives. Obviously, they’ve made significant payroll commitments already and they’re evaluating the alternatives to find the best revenue source for the year and the best outlet in terms of providing quality broadcasts to their fans.”