Broadcaster Diamond says it will no longer carry 11 MLB teams in surprise move

Embattled broadcaster Diamond Sports Group says in 2025 it will stop carrying all but one of the 12 MLB teams it now televises, and those other clubs will either need to renegotiate new contracts with Diamond or find another option elsewhere.

Going forward, Diamond plans only to continue carrying the Atlanta Braves. Seven other teams were under contract with Diamond for 2025: the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

Four other teams, the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers, were on one-year deals with Diamond that expire after this season. In 2024, Diamond operated its regional sports networks under the Bally brand.

Diamond is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has the ability to assume and reject contracts as part of that process, which has to ultimately be court approved.

MLB’s representatives said they were “sandbagged” by this news and were not prepared to respond fully.

“We have no information about what is being done,” Jim Bromley, lawyer for MLB, said at a hearing on Wednesday. “We’ve had no opportunity to review and now we’re in front of the court and being asked to make our comments.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

(AP Photo / Jeff Roberson, File)