Diamond Sports RSNs, Comcast Settle Carriage Dispute

After an impasse that kept 15 of the Bally Sports RSNs dark in Comcast systems for nearly three months, Diamond Sports Group and the cable giant have come to terms on a new carriage deal.

Per terms of the agreement, the RSNs will be bumped up to Comcast’s Xfinity Ultimate TV package, with a monthly subscriber fee about $20 higher than the basic tier that once housed Diamond’s local sports channels. The RSNs will go live again on Aug. 1, 92 days after talks between the two parties broke down. The successful negotiation is expected to put Diamond’s bankruptcy case back on the fast track toward rescheduling the crucial confirmation hearing that was postponed last week.

On Wednesday, Diamond counsel Brian Hermann informed the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas that the company would need a few additional days to finish cutting a deal with Comcast; originally set to take place on June 18, the twice-delayed confirmation session was supposed to have taken place earlier today.

Comcast and Diamond returned to the negotiation table earlier this month, following a long period of radio silence. The operator closed out the second quarter with 13.2 million video customers, which marked a year-over-year decline of 1.8 million subs.

“We appreciate Diamond Sports working with us to reach a solution that returns the Bally Sports RSNs to our … customers in a way that reflects the changing video marketplace for local sports,” said Greg Rigdon, president of content acquisition for Comcast, in a statement released Monday evening. “We look forward to making these networks available on Aug. 1, so customers can enjoy watching their favorite teams again.”

Among the dozen MLB clubs that had been sidelined in their hometown markets during the standoff include the Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers. On the whole, local baseball ratings took a 6% haircut during the impasse.

“Entering a new carriage agreement with Comcast, our third largest distributor, is a critical step forward in our restructuring effort,” David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond Sports, said. “With certainty on our distribution, we are focused on finalizing an agreement with the NHL and resolving our ongoing negotiations with the NBA.”

The Comcast deal leaves Diamond with 11 of its top 12 carriage deals sorted out, with the RSNs remaining dark only on Altice USA’s Optimum cable systems. Optimum serves some 2.1 million video subs across 21 states.

As of Monday evening, a make-up date for the postponed confirmation had yet to be submitted to the court.