Detroit Tigers fans may see another change in the way they watch their favorite team soon. Bally Sports Detroit is facing challenges that could spell an end to the deal with MLB to broadcast games in local markets.
As it’s the only way to watch many Tigers games in the state, it would create a lot of concerns for fans and Michigan sports bettors who spend their summer days watching the team.
Sinclair enormously overpaid designed for MLB local broadcast legal rights
A recent court case included incriminating testimony that doesn’t bode well for the future of Bally Sports. According to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, Sinclair, the owner of the RSN, threatened to sink the networks if the league didn’t accept cheaper payments for the rights.
Recently, Bally Sports reneged on its commitment to broadcast games for the San Diego Padres, which could mean changes for baseball fans on their TV screens once again. It was only two years ago that Bally stamped its name onto the RSNs after years of being owned by Fox Sports (as in Fox Sports Detroit and Fox Sports Kansas, etc.).
The RSN is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group & Entertainment Studios and operated under its Diamond Sports Group division. Sinclair bought the RSN and the rights to broadcast sports in 21 local markets in 2019. In 2021, it sold the naming rights to Bally Sports, a gambling company that also produces content for the pregame and game broadcasts, but otherwise has no ownership in the RSN.
However, Sinclair claims that the value of the broadcast rights, which includes Tigers games on Bally Sports Detroit and 12 other markets along with MLB games, has dropped dramatically. It also clearly overpaid for the RSNs. According to MLB, Sinclair paid $900 million more than the next closest bid to acquire the networks from Fox Sports. Now, just a few years into the deal, they have buyer’s remorse.
In May, Sinclair announced it could not afford to produce Padres games while also paying the broadcast fees to MLB. In negotiations, Sinclair CEO David Smith told Manfred that he would shutter Diamond Group and the RSN if MLB didn’t accept a much lower rate.
MLB managed to secure alternative broadcast partners for Padres games and rescued the fan base by providing games on a combination of streaming and broadcast platforms.
Way forward for Tigers contacts on Bally Sports appears uncertain
It appears likely that Sinclair will follow a similar path with its other commitments to MLB contracts in all markets, including Detroit. Bally Sports, which paid just to have its name on the broadcasts, is stuck in the middle. The future of Tigers games on Bally Sports Detroit is uncertain.
Tigers fans are accustomed to changes in television broadcasts. In the 1980s, the Tigers were one of the first MLB teams to appear on a local cable system when Pro-Am Sports System (PASS) debuted. That network, originating from Detroit, lasted from 1984 to 1997, airing as many as 75 games each season. Eventually, it was acquired by a group that flipped it to Fox Sports as part of its RSN in the early 2000s.
Tigers games are currently only available on TV in the Michigan market through Bally Sports. No broadcast TV network has a deal with MLB for rights to games, except for national games on a rotating basis. Tigers games are available online through MLB.TV but only in markets outside the broadcast reach of Detroit and Michigan cable network regions. These are known as “blackout restrictions.”
Exodus in order to streaming providers could finish RSN type
Many fans have decried the blackout policy by MLB and other leagues, arguing that it limits options and expensive cable subscriptions. Given the changes in viewing habits of consumers, local sports networks and their geo-centric model may become a thing of the past.
According to research by Insider Intelligence in 2022, over 46 million American households have eliminated cable subscriptions from their budget. More consumers are now opting for streaming packages and à la carte options. Yet, local sports programming, especially in many MLB, NBA, and NHL markets, are still tied to the local sports network system, which is largely bundled with cable services.
Currently, none of the four major professional leagues in North America have offered a video broadcast package that allows fans to watch their own teams in their markets without being tied to a cable service or third-party app.
Sinclair has not threatened to cease broadcasting of any other games this year, but starting in 2024, many of their RSN contracts will begin to expire. The Tigers’ deal with Sinclair to have games seen on Bally Sports runs through the 2025 season.
Dan Sherlock is a Michigan resident who writes about sports betting, sports media, casino, and gambling legislation. He’s the author of three books and has previously reported on Major League Baseball, as well as the National Football Hall of Fame and Museum. He lives near Lake Michigan with his children.
