A Main League Baseball brand at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, Could 22, 2022.
Ronald Martinez | Getty Photos
Main League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves have raised points with the reorganization plan and future viability of Diamond Sports activities Group, the nation’s largest proprietor of regional sports activities networks, in line with a Friday chapter court docket submitting.
The Braves and MLB stated within the objection that they’ve “grave issues” with the present plan, as “there’s a substantial probability that [Diamond Sports] will discover themselves as soon as once more in monetary misery and/or chapter court docket within the close to future.”
The submitting famous that each MLB and the Braves have a vested curiosity in Diamond Sports activities succeeding with a reorganization plan, however they don’t seem to be satisfied that the one presently proposed is viable.
A consultant for Diamond did not instantly touch upon the submitting. The corporate has till Wednesday to reply to the objection. In the meantime, Diamond will search approval of its reorganization plan from a U.S. chapter decide on Thursday.
MLB and the Braves’ concern stems from a lack of expertise in regards to the restructuring proposal, which consists of 20 paperwork for a complete of 181 pages, in line with the submitting. Diamond attorneys have stated in court docket there are limitations to what they will present partially due to the confidentiality agreements with the corporate’s distribution companions, resembling pay TV operators.
As well as, each the league and Braves have additionally requested extra readability on what Diamond’s proposed business partnership with Amazon will appear like. Diamond attorneys have beforehand stated in court docket that discussions with Amazon are nonetheless ongoing.
MLB and the Braves are additionally involved about confusion over Diamond Sports activities’ direct-to-consumer plan, a technique that has solely develop into extra essential as extra clients exit from conventional cable bundles.
This isn’t the primary time MLB has wished extra info on Diamond’s monetary plans. In October, an MLB lawyer stated in a court docket listening to that the league wished further info on the language utilized in a latest naming rights settlement deal Diamond struck with FanDuel for the regional sports activities networks, previously often called Bally Sports activities, that Diamond owns.
The Braves are a part of publicly traded firm Atlanta Braves Holdings after being cut up off from John Malone’s Liberty Media in 2023. Malone remains to be a shareholder within the new firm along with being chairman of Liberty Media.
Diamond Sports activities had beforehand stated it should retain its contract with the Braves as a part of its chapter plan, whereas trying to renegotiate its contracts with 11 different MLB groups it has offers with, or drop them.
The Friday objection doesn’t imply that the Braves have turned away from Diamond for his or her regional media rights.
As of Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals and Diamond agreed to phrases for his or her native rights, and in an October court docket listening to, attorneys stated that Diamond was nearing an settlement for the Miami Marlins.
On Friday, the Cincinnati Reds stated they might exit their regional sport community owned by Diamond, in line with a court docket submitting.
Three of the 11 groups that Diamond was trying to remodel contracts with have since turned to MLB to supply their native video games.
