Lip Man 1 Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 https://awfulannouncing.com/local-networks/milwaukee-brewers-return-fanduel-sports-network-2025.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 https://awfulannouncing.com/local-networks/reds-reverse-course-ink-deal-with-fanduel-sports-network.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/texas-rangers-launch-network-produce-distribute-local-games.html https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/minnesota-twins-broadcast-rights-streaming-price.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 Major League Baseball could reportedly “walk away” from ESPN in the event the network opts out of its current rights deal after next season. Andrew Marchand and Evan Drellich of The Athletic reported Thursday that MLB would be “unlikely” to reach a new deal with ESPN should it opt out of its contract, a move that the network has long been expected to make. The thought has been that ESPN would opt out and reach a new deal with MLB that would potentially include a lower rights fee or some local rights. Both ESPN and MLB are able to opt out of the deal next month, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday, though there is no expectation that MLB would be the one to pull the trigger. Manfred said the sides are in talks. ESPN currently owns rights to Sunday Night Baseball, a handful of other exclusive regular season windows (including Opening Day), the Home Run Derby and the entire Wild Card round of playoffs. Its rights fee of $550 million/year is actually a reduction from its previous contract ($700m/year), which included considerably more regular season coverage. John Ourand of Puck reported last year that ESPN was irked about the minuscule rights fees streamers have paid for their MLB packages. ESPN’s inventory is not dramatically different than that of Apple, which pays just $85 million/year for exclusive Friday night doubleheaders. (Apple of course does not have marquee events like Opening Day, the Derby or the Wild Card round, but even those ESPN properties would surely not make up a $465 million/year gap.) https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/02/mlb-espn-contract-talks-opt-out/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted February 28 Author Share Posted February 28 (edited) MLB has held early discussions with Netflix, Amazon and Comcast about its media rights, John Ourand of Puck reported Thursday, but those talks have not focused specifically on the ESPN package that expires after this season. Instead, discussions are said to have focused just as much on 2028, when all of the MLB media rights will be available. Amazon’s Prime Video service currently offers locally-produced MLB games by way of partnerships with Main Street Sports Group (formerly Diamond Sports) — operator of the FanDuel Sports Network RSNs — and a separate agreement with YES Network. Comcast owns a handful of RSNs that carry MLB games and previously owned a $30 million/year Sunday morning package of MLB games from 2022-23 that it elected not to renew. Netflix, which is growing a burgeoning sports operation, has never carried MLB. https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/02/mlb-media-rights-talks-amazon-nbc-netflix-espn-2028/ Per Ourand, Fox Sports has expressed interest in one piece of the ESPN package, the annual Home Run Derby. ESPN is also said to “expect to reengage” with MLB, as the company’s decision to opt-out of its contract was always believed to be a step toward a renegotiation, rather than a full split. Amazon’s Prime Video service currently offers locally-produced MLB games by way of partnerships with Main Street Sports Group (formerly Diamond Sports) — operator of the FanDuel Sports Network RSNs — and a separate agreement with YES Network. Comcast owns a handful of RSNs that carry MLB games and previously owned a $30 million/year Sunday morning package of MLB games from 2022-23 that it elected not to renew. Netflix, which is growing a burgeoning sports operation, has never carried MLB. Edited February 28 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted March 9 Author Share Posted March 9 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2025/3/1/24375277/marquee-sports-network-comcast-xfinity-higher-tier&ved=2ahUKEwic97y6mf6LAxWzOTQIHWNNDN4QrAIoAHoECDkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1Af6MWQm6b6gfnwdUCYnTm Marquee Sports Network likely moving to higher tier with Comcast/Xfinity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted March 10 Author Share Posted March 10 (edited) It may soon be possible to bundle ESPN and local RSNs in the same streaming package, but do not expect those networks to be part of any ESPN service in the near future. ESPN and Main Street Sports Group — operator of the FanDuel-branded regional sports networks — have discussed bundling their streaming offerings, but have not discussed the possibility of ESPN including the FanDuel RSNs as an add-on to ESPN+ and its upcoming direct-to-subscriber service, John Ourand of Puck reported Thursday. The arrangement would solely constitute a bundle of the separate streaming services, akin to the existing bundle of Disney+, Max and Hulu. https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/03/espn-main-street-fanduel-rsns-discuss-bundling-services/ Edited March 10 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewokpelts Posted Wednesday at 12:02 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 12:02 PM On 3/9/2025 at 6:54 PM, caulfield12 said: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2025/3/1/24375277/marquee-sports-network-comcast-xfinity-higher-tier&ved=2ahUKEwic97y6mf6LAxWzOTQIHWNNDN4QrAIoAHoECDkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1Af6MWQm6b6gfnwdUCYnTm Marquee Sports Network likely moving to higher tier with Comcast/Xfinity Cuba can’t risk the loss of that sweet sweet tv money. They gotta pay off those biblical losses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted Wednesday at 12:05 PM Author Share Posted Wednesday at 12:05 PM 7 minutes ago, ewokpelts said: Cuba can’t risk the loss of that sweet sweet tv money. They gotta pay off those biblical losses! Marquee will cost more, however, on Xfinity’s higher tier, which in some markets is called “Ultimate TV.” At this time I don’t know what that higher price will be, though the Sun-Times article says in some other markets it’s been $20 a month. Comcast recently moved the Giants channel NBC Sports Bay Area onto its higher tier in that market, and I don’t know the extra cost there either. The Agrest article notes: When Comcast moved Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, home of the Nationals and Orioles, a year ago, it offered the Ultimate tier for free for three months followed by $10 per month for the next three months before charging full price. It’s unknown whether such a promotion will be available in the Chicago market. It’s a risk for Comcast. They could wind up with more cord-cutters than people who want to pay the premium, and lose money in the balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewokpelts Posted Wednesday at 12:16 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 12:16 PM I keep thinking that the feds were wrong to force Disney to sell the Fox RSNs. ESPN could have easily absorbed the stations and even cut costs without dumping teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted 18 hours ago Author Share Posted 18 hours ago (edited) Elsewhere in the TV right world, things are very much in flux. For fans, however, 2025 presents a refreshing, encouraging new era of ballwatching. Fans of 27 teams (all but Houston, Baltimore and Washington) can watch their favorite clubs in-market on MLB.TV, without the infuriating blackouts that for so long frustrated fans across the country. That, amid all the confusion around local TV carriers, bankruptcies and the ESPN situation, is unequivocally a good thing. yahoo.com sports Edited 18 hours ago by caulfield12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted 8 hours ago Share Posted 8 hours ago https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/cleveland-guardians-announce-plans-local-tv.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nardiwashere Posted 7 hours ago Share Posted 7 hours ago 11 hours ago, caulfield12 said: Elsewhere in the TV right world, things are very much in flux. For fans, however, 2025 presents a refreshing, encouraging new era of ballwatching. Fans of 27 teams (all but Houston, Baltimore and Washington) can watch their favorite clubs in-market on MLB.TV, without the infuriating blackouts that for so long frustrated fans across the country. That, amid all the confusion around local TV carriers, bankruptcies and the ESPN situation, is unequivocally a good thing. yahoo.com sports Wait, we can get mlb.tv in market now?? I just bought an antenna and dvr device for it for $100! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kba Posted 6 hours ago Share Posted 6 hours ago On 3/9/2025 at 7:54 PM, caulfield12 said: Marquee Sports Network likely moving to higher tier with Comcast/Xfinity With Comcast moving Marquee to a higher tier and Sinclair looking to exit as the Cubs' partner, Marquee's future is looking shaky. Wonder if a merger with CHSN is in the cards. A combined channel probably wouldn't be a huge money maker like RSNs used to be, but at least it would get the four Chicago teams on Comcast (albeit on a higher tier) and allow them to share production expenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittBurnsFan Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago 13 hours ago, caulfield12 said: Elsewhere in the TV right world, things are very much in flux. For fans, however, 2025 presents a refreshing, encouraging new era of ballwatching. Fans of 27 teams (all but Houston, Baltimore and Washington) can watch their favorite clubs in-market on MLB.TV, without the infuriating blackouts that for so long frustrated fans across the country. That, amid all the confusion around local TV carriers, bankruptcies and the ESPN situation, is unequivocally a good thing. yahoo.com sports I hope that reads like I think it reads...although I am not sure I believe it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago 1 hour ago, kba said: With Comcast moving Marquee to a higher tier and Sinclair looking to exit as the Cubs' partner, Marquee's future is looking shaky. Wonder if a merger with CHSN is in the cards. A combined channel probably wouldn't be a huge money maker like RSNs used to be, but at least it would get the four Chicago teams on Comcast (albeit on a higher tier) and allow them to share production expenses. The funniest thing about this is that this is where they all were, five years ago, and the cubs couldn’t wait to get out and do their own thing. And here we are, all four teams needing the exact same thing that was broken up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittBurnsFan Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago 36 minutes ago, BrittBurnsFan said: I hope that reads like I think it reads...although I am not sure I believe it! Yeah...I clicked on the games for all of the teams the state of Iowa is blacked-out from...and each link provided on MLB.TV said those games are blacked-out! So still no White Sox, Cubs, Brewers, Twins, Royals or Cardinal games for those living in Iowa via MLB.TV...UGH! Wonder that that article was intending because the way I read it made it sound as though only 3 teams will be blacked out on MLB.TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted 27 minutes ago Author Share Posted 27 minutes ago https://sports.yahoo.com/article/chicago-white-sox-remain-blacked-153000554.html White Sox remain blacked out on Comcast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted 25 minutes ago Author Share Posted 25 minutes ago 4 hours ago, BrittBurnsFan said: Yeah...I clicked on the games for all of the teams the state of Iowa is blacked-out from...and each link provided on MLB.TV said those games are blacked-out! So still no White Sox, Cubs, Brewers, Twins, Royals or Cardinal games for those living in Iowa via MLB.TV...UGH! Wonder that that article was intending because the way I read it made it sound as though only 3 teams will be blacked out on MLB.TV. In-market...which is definitely not Iowa, having grown up in the QC. So local/Chicagoland metro area viewers shouldn't be blacked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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