Who will broadcast the A's games? - and more generally the broadcast situation with MLB
Jun 14, 2023 7:06:05 GMT -8
Post by LVfan on Jun 14, 2023 7:06:05 GMT -8
Currently broadcast by NBC Sports California. Assumption by some is they and the A's will part ways upon the A's relocation, but NBC Sports could stay involved, although unlikely, as described below in 3).
The possible options are 1) Bally Sports Regional Networks, 2) Spectrum SportsNet, 3) NBC Regional Sports Network, 4) MLB.TV (either via streaming or a cable or satellite provider), and 5) local broadcasters.
1) Bally Sports Regional Networks are separate from the Bally's Corporation, who holds the naming rights to the networks. Currently the nearby networks include Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, and Bally Sports West. These networks are owned by the Diamond Sports Group, a joint-venture owned in part by the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair is already in the Las Vegas market as the owner of KSNV Channel 3, an NBC affiliate.
Diamond Sports Group has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The result could be a separation from Sinclair. Additionally, the relations between MLB and Diamond are poor and MLB has already removed Padres broadcasts from Bally Sports San Diego and the Diamondbacks from Bally Sports Arizona, which now comes from MLB.TV, streaming directly and available via cable and satellite providers.
2) Spectrum SportsNet includes SportsNet LA, the Dodgers’ regional sports network. They already serve customers in Southern Nevada, and could be expanded to include the A's, possibly on a sister network. Although Dodgers are part owners, not clear they would oppose A's broadcasts if they did not believe they would take away from the strong Dodgers fanbase.
3) NBC Regional Sports Network. The current networks are NBC Sports California (A's), NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants), NBC Sports Boston (no MLB team), NBC Sports Chicago (White Sox), NBC Sports Philadelphia (Phillies), NBC Sports Washington (no MLB team). If NBC stayed involved with the A's, they could either create a new network or continue with the existing arrangement with NBC Sports California. Both options are considered unlikely. Currently each network is colocated with the teams, so that would tend to rule out any of the current networks. They also support more than one sport, so that would tend to rule out NBC starting a new network.
4) MLB.TV (via streaming and a cable or satellite access). This could be the future model for other teams, greatly changing how baseball is delivered to viewers. The issue with the Padres, the Diamondbacks, and the Colorado Rockies suggests the current Regional Sports Network business model may have become untenable.
5) Local broadcasters, possibly in conjunction with one of the other options. For example, the Vegas Golden Knights (VGK) are teaming up with Scripps Sports, the parent company of Las Vegas Channels 13 and 34. Scripps will televise all non-nationally exclusive VGK games on cable, satellite, and over-the-air television. The games will air on KMCC, channel 34, which was rebranded as an independent station. The plan will provide the games free to residents of Nevada and surrounding states within the team's broadcast territory. Scripps will have rights for full distribution on cable, satellite and over-the-air television. It is not clear if MLB would approve such an arrangement, especially if it infringed on any of MLB's rights.
Whatever the option turns out to be, there is the opportunity to broadcast into the huge Southern California market. Las Vegas remains an extremely popular location for Southern Californians. While the A's will never encroach into Dodger, Angel, or Padres fans, just getting a small percentage of viewers in this huge market will be substantial.
The possible options are 1) Bally Sports Regional Networks, 2) Spectrum SportsNet, 3) NBC Regional Sports Network, 4) MLB.TV (either via streaming or a cable or satellite provider), and 5) local broadcasters.
1) Bally Sports Regional Networks are separate from the Bally's Corporation, who holds the naming rights to the networks. Currently the nearby networks include Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, and Bally Sports West. These networks are owned by the Diamond Sports Group, a joint-venture owned in part by the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair is already in the Las Vegas market as the owner of KSNV Channel 3, an NBC affiliate.
Diamond Sports Group has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The result could be a separation from Sinclair. Additionally, the relations between MLB and Diamond are poor and MLB has already removed Padres broadcasts from Bally Sports San Diego and the Diamondbacks from Bally Sports Arizona, which now comes from MLB.TV, streaming directly and available via cable and satellite providers.
2) Spectrum SportsNet includes SportsNet LA, the Dodgers’ regional sports network. They already serve customers in Southern Nevada, and could be expanded to include the A's, possibly on a sister network. Although Dodgers are part owners, not clear they would oppose A's broadcasts if they did not believe they would take away from the strong Dodgers fanbase.
3) NBC Regional Sports Network. The current networks are NBC Sports California (A's), NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants), NBC Sports Boston (no MLB team), NBC Sports Chicago (White Sox), NBC Sports Philadelphia (Phillies), NBC Sports Washington (no MLB team). If NBC stayed involved with the A's, they could either create a new network or continue with the existing arrangement with NBC Sports California. Both options are considered unlikely. Currently each network is colocated with the teams, so that would tend to rule out any of the current networks. They also support more than one sport, so that would tend to rule out NBC starting a new network.
4) MLB.TV (via streaming and a cable or satellite access). This could be the future model for other teams, greatly changing how baseball is delivered to viewers. The issue with the Padres, the Diamondbacks, and the Colorado Rockies suggests the current Regional Sports Network business model may have become untenable.
5) Local broadcasters, possibly in conjunction with one of the other options. For example, the Vegas Golden Knights (VGK) are teaming up with Scripps Sports, the parent company of Las Vegas Channels 13 and 34. Scripps will televise all non-nationally exclusive VGK games on cable, satellite, and over-the-air television. The games will air on KMCC, channel 34, which was rebranded as an independent station. The plan will provide the games free to residents of Nevada and surrounding states within the team's broadcast territory. Scripps will have rights for full distribution on cable, satellite and over-the-air television. It is not clear if MLB would approve such an arrangement, especially if it infringed on any of MLB's rights.
Whatever the option turns out to be, there is the opportunity to broadcast into the huge Southern California market. Las Vegas remains an extremely popular location for Southern Californians. While the A's will never encroach into Dodger, Angel, or Padres fans, just getting a small percentage of viewers in this huge market will be substantial.
