NHL, MLB and NBA might buy Bally Sports RSNs

[Doggy]

I don't know if this was posted elsewhere but this could be a big deal for us cord-cutters who have complained about not being able to watch CBJ games.

MLB, NBA and NHL may buy biggest owner of regional sports TV networks: sources

The leagues are expected to soon begin talks with Diamond Sports, which operates 21 Bally regional sports networks, sources said.

nypost.com

Click to read more...

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

I think it is going to be a big deal because if the company files bankruptcy we might end up with no options to watch the CBJ, Reds, Guardians and Cavaliers. I'm not sure this matters to the Crew after this season since Apple is taking over game broadcasting for the league.

In any event, I sure these game will then get moved to some streaming service we'll have to pay for if we don't already

 

[Jackets Woodchuck]

I've heard that MLB has a backup plan to air games in the interim if BSN goes suddenly bankrupt. not sure if the NBA and NHL do.

 

[MAHJ71]

I've heard that MLB has a backup plan to air games in the interim if BSN goes suddenly bankrupt. not sure if the NBA and NHL do.

They think they can at least do this season

From the article:

Diamond has been telling the leagues in recent days if it goes bankrupt it will be able to keep broadcasting games, but will not need to pay teams their rights fees as it will have protection from creditors, sources close to the talks said.

No wonder Bally priced it at $20 a month, they really need the cash lol

 

[5th Line Fanatic]

I don't know if this was posted elsewhere but this could be a big deal for us cord-cutters who have complained about not being able to watch CBJ games.

MLB, NBA and NHL may buy biggest owner of regional sports TV networks: sources

The leagues are expected to soon begin talks with Diamond Sports, which operates 21 Bally regional sports networks, sources said.

nypost.com

Thanks for passing along this article. For the life of me, I can't figure out how the regional sports networks aren't printing more money than they can count. The best place to make money in all of media is live sports, yet somehow Sinclair is losing twice as much as they make. Just bad decision after bad decision followed by poor execution.

MLB being involved in this gives me a lot of confidence that they will get it right. MLB is bad at a lot of things, but they figured out streaming years before the other Leagues. I have absolutely no confidence the NHL would get this right.

I would have to imagine Amazon, Apple, or ESPN+ will be the ultimate destination for the vast majority of local games and that would be fine with me. I just hope they allow me to watch an out of market game if I want. With the rise in online sports betting, that would seem to be a smart choice.

 

[JacketFanInFL]

Anything that gets us closer to getting rid of Jeff Rimer, no matter the cost, I am for.

 

[DEF]

Sinclair way overpaid Fox for the RSN's. Now they are in over their heads. Who did the math on this blunder?

 

[Viqsi]

Sinclair way overpaid Fox for the RSN's. Now they are in over their heads. Who did the math on this blunder?

Fools and idiots who thought they could strongarm the carriers into paying much more at a time when the carriers were cutting back. "Yes, we're paying a ruinous price, but we'll be able to blackmail our broadcast partners so it'll all be worth it!" Atrociously stupid way to do business.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Sinclair way overpaid Fox for the RSN's. Now they are in over their heads. Who did the math on this blunder?

Probably Kevin Collins.

 

[Doggy]

Fools and idiots who thought they could strongarm the carriers into paying much more at a time when the carriers were cutting back. "Yes, we're paying a ruinous price, but we'll be able to blackmail our broadcast partners so it'll all be worth it!" Atrociously stupid way to do business.

While I agree with you, FTR the cable and satellite companies (minus Dish who is notoriously frugal) still carry the RSNs. The issue was the streaming services who refused to cave.

The problem for Sinclair was once the streaming services dropped the RSNs and the streaming services lost whatever sports fan base they had there was no negotiating leverage. The streaming services looked at who was left of their subscriber base after the diehard 'can't live without my RSN' left and decided they could live with that. They didn't need to have RSNs. If anything they probably made a few more bucks because I don't believe they dropped their monthly fees but dropped one of their most expensive rebroadcast products.

Besides, for us cord cutters there are other ways to get your sports without the RSNs. Especially for someone like me who does not watch baseball or basketball where my only concern is the CBJ.

I remember the commissioner of MLB saying that the Fox-Sinclair deal would have been a bad deal for Sinclair even at half the price. But it is amazing that in an era where live TV and particularly sports is the biggest money maker in TV that Sinclair could screw this up so bad.

 

[aRussian]

Not to tell on myself, but a feed that you pirate is better than the actual feed you get with BSN app for $20 /month. Mandatory crashes with a force-fed ad every time you restart outside the normal corporate bullshit (a.k.a. "ads") 5-6x game so far, random resolution drops below that of 1080p, Corporate bullshit plays without interuption and with pristine quality, unexplained crashes, and limited ability to actually rewind/record/etc. with the feeds. For $20 a month I'd expect SOMETHING of quality. Not like I'm unwilling, but you make it a penalty plus pay for it? I paid for Sling, then Hulu just to have access over the years. Now, "legally", it's $100/month for direct tv if I want to watch it or $20/month if I want to watch it through a kaleidoscope over a toilet bowl after a bad taco night. Not much of a choice anymore. Bally/Sinclair really screwed it all up with their greed

 

[Michael Smitley]

I really feel pain for you in market folks. I'm so used to watching the games on ESPN+

 

[CBJx614]

I really feel pain for you in market folks. I'm so used to watching the games on ESPN+

I'm in Illinois and it's amazing. The only games I can't watch are when they are in Chicago, maybe STL as well.

Also why the f*** do we still have blackouts.

 

[5th Line Fanatic]

I just opened the app to watch the Guardians game. I no longer have access, even though I have a DirecTV subscription, unless I sign up for a 19.99 plan or a 29.99 plan. I can't tell what the difference is- they both include Cavs, Blue Jackets, and Crew. Neither plan indicates the Guardians are part of it. What a shit show!

 

[5th Line Fanatic]

You have to think at some point the smart people who run the Sports Books or Fanatics are going to figure out they need to be in charge of the RSNs. If there is someone, somewhere who wants to watch a game because they are a fan, betting on it, or might want to buy apparel, we'll give them the opportunity to watch it and we'll sell ads around it.

 

[5th Line Fanatic]

Or better yet, the really smart person who figures out how to pay me to watch. If a streaming service figures out how to share the ad revenue with me to watch and respond to the advertisers. That person will win the streaming war.

 

[koteka]

You have to think at some point the smart people who run the Sports Books or Fanatics are going to figure out they need to be in charge of the RSNs. If there is someone, somewhere who wants to watch a game because they are a fan, betting on it, or might want to buy apparel, we'll give them the opportunity to watch it and we'll sell ads around it.

Considering illegal stream sites are getting advertisements from the competitors of Bally’s (from what I am told), I would bet that Bally will figure it out.

At some point the people that run the sports leagues are going to need to think about the next generation of fans. They are going to need them to watch their games. My kids don’t watch sports nearly as much as I watched sports. They have so many more things competing for their eyeballs - video games, tik tok, youtube, discord, pornography, weird Asian comics, etc. When I was 12 my options for entertainment on the weekends were to watch what was on tv (sports) or ride my bike to hang out with friends. Now every 12 year old carries a device in their pocket that gives them access to anything and everything. Also we played a different sport every season. Kids nowadays specialize so young, and focus on one or maybe two sports by the time they leave elementary school. By middle school you either play a ton of baseball across multiple seasons (the regular spring season plus summer travel and fall ball) or you don’t play. Hockey is year round. Club soccer teams want serious commitments. I have a friend whose son was a good high school football player - his coaches didn’t want him playing anything else.

I think esports are ridiculous, but kids watch other kids (either kids they know or various celebrities a guy my age has never heard of) play video games. High schools and colleges now have esports teams. Ohio has high school esports competitions. Check out how many schools participate. At some point local tv new coverage will start including the results of big esports rivalries.

Member Schools

Esports Ohio HS Member Schools

www.esportsohio.org

 

[Doggy]

I see the newspaper up in Cleveland just posted an article that BallySports+ has just started in Cleveland.

The direct-to-consumer streaming product allows fans to subscribe directly to Bally Sports Ohio and/or Bally Sports Great Lakes without a third-party live TV provider such as a cable or streaming service. Prices start at $19.99 a month or $189.99 a year for either Bally Sports Ohio or Bally Sports Great Lakes, or both for $29.99 a month.

I don't know what the difference is between BSO and BSGL and the prices sound outrageous. But I guess when you overpay for a product and you are bleeding money the solution is to try and take advantage of your customers. They must have gone to the Peloton School of Business.

 

[Youngguns80]

At some point the people that run the sports leagues are going to need to think about the next generation of fans. They are going to need them to watch their games. My kids don’t watch sports nearly as much as I watched sports. They have so many more things competing for their eyeballs - video games, tik tok, youtube, discord, pornography, weird Asian comics, etc. When I was 12 my options for entertainment on the weekends were to watch what was on tv (sports) or ride my bike to hang out with friends. Now every 12 year old carries a device in their pocket that gives them access to anything and everything. Also we played a different sport every season. Kids nowadays specialize so young, and focus on one or maybe two sports by the time they leave elementary school. By middle school you either play a ton of baseball across multiple seasons (the regular spring season plus summer travel and fall ball) or you don’t play. Hockey is year round. Club soccer teams want serious commitments. I have a friend whose son was a good high school football player - his coaches didn’t want him playing anything else.

I think esports are ridiculous, but kids watch other kids (either kids they know or various celebrities a guy my age has never heard of) play video games. High schools and colleges now have esports teams. Ohio has high school esports competitions. Check out how many schools participate. At some point local tv new coverage will start including the results of big esports rivalries.

Sorry quick rant - It's funny you say this, when I was at the game last night I saw majority of the rows in front of us on their phones - Social Media Sites, Games and etc - while the game was being played. Not for just 30 seconds but constantly for most of the 3 periods.

I took my 15 year old nephew to the game and I asked him before we got there to not bury his face in his phone. I pointed out the fact out during the game all the other people around us were on there phones and not talking to each other or watching the game.

I just want to point out I work professionally in Technology and Data. He said to me afterwards that he was excited to go to another game and had a lot of fun (3 times he picked up his phone - selfie picture of us, recorded warm-up and recorded the open of montage on the video board). He forgot about his phone and we talked and watched the game.

Point is you are right the younger generation attention span (even attending a game) is hard to hold.

Rant over - Bally's is horrible and something needs to be figured out because not everyone can afford season tickets (attend some games), time constraints (to attend) or just want to follow away games as well. While this still is a gate driven sport - they need to figure other financial avenues to keep the casual or next generation fans. Please no more logos on jerseys or pants that is the lazy way.

 

[Monstershockey]

I see the newspaper up in Cleveland just posted an article that BallySports+ has just started in Cleveland.

The direct-to-consumer streaming product allows fans to subscribe directly to Bally Sports Ohio and/or Bally Sports Great Lakes without a third-party live TV provider such as a cable or streaming service. Prices start at $19.99 a month or $189.99 a year for either Bally Sports Ohio or Bally Sports Great Lakes, or both for $29.99 a month.

I don't know what the difference is between BSO and BSGL and the prices sound outrageous. But I guess when you overpay for a product and you are bleeding money the solution is to try and take advantage of your customers. They must have gone to the Peloton School of Business.

Before Ballys took over there was Fox Sports Ohio and Sports Time Ohio. The Indians and some Monsters games were on STO, while Jackets and Cavs were FSO. Not sure where the Reds were. When it changed over, FSO became Bally Sports Ohio, and STO became Ballys Great Lakes. They are sister channels, basically the same except for the names.

 

[Doggy]

Considering illegal stream sites are getting advertisements from the competitors of Bally’s (from what I am told), I would bet that Bally will figure it out.

At some point the people that run the sports leagues are going to need to think about the next generation of fans. They are going to need them to watch their games. My kids don’t watch sports nearly as much as I watched sports. They have so many more things competing for their eyeballs - video games, tik tok, youtube, discord, pornography, weird Asian comics, etc. When I was 12 my options for entertainment on the weekends were to watch what was on tv (sports) or ride my bike to hang out with friends. Now every 12 year old carries a device in their pocket that gives them access to anything and everything. Also we played a different sport every season. Kids nowadays specialize so young, and focus on one or maybe two sports by the time they leave elementary school. By middle school you either play a ton of baseball across multiple seasons (the regular spring season plus summer travel and fall ball) or you don’t play. Hockey is year round. Club soccer teams want serious commitments. I have a friend whose son was a good high school football player - his coaches didn’t want him playing anything else.

I think esports are ridiculous, but kids watch other kids (either kids they know or various celebrities a guy my age has never heard of) play video games. High schools and colleges now have esports teams. Ohio has high school esports competitions. Check out how many schools participate. At some point local tv new coverage will start including the results of big esports rivalries.

Member Schools

Esports Ohio HS Member Schools

www.esportsohio.org

I am not one to cast stones because I take plenty of ridicule because I will occasionally watch the pro pickleball tournaments (but that's like those who watch golf...you watch because you play).

My niece works at a university and her job is connected to athletics. They have an esports team though it is not varsity. Yet. It might be coming. I doubt I will ever watch but if there is a market for it then I wish them the best. Of course the closest I have gotten to a video game in the last two decades is Sudoku on my phone.

Before Ballys took over there was Fox Sports Ohio and Sports Time Ohio. The Indians and some Monsters games were on STO, while Jackets and Cavs were FSO. Not sure where the Reds were. When it changed over, FSO became Bally Sports Ohio, and STO became Ballys Great Lakes. They are sister channels, basically the same except for the names.

So BSO airs CBJ and Cavs and BSGL airs Indians? So an Indians and Cavs fan would have to pay $30/month on the Bally Sports subscription? Well, now we really know what the "BS" in BallySports+ stands for.

 

[Monstershockey]

So BSO airs CBJ and Cavs and BSGL airs Indians? So an Indians and Cavs fan would have to pay $30/month on the Bally Sports subscription? Well, now we really know what the "BS" in BallySports+ stands for.

When I had directv they were two separate channels, 660 and 662 I believe. I have cox now and it is channel 58 for both. If there is a conflict, they send one game to channel 58 and the other to channel 98. Only problem is 98 isn't HD, and that is where the Jackets get sent for me when the Cavs are playing on the same night. I just use the app on roku to get HD for the Jackets, which isn't too bad as I get less commercials. I'll get a place holder saying the game will resume when the commercials are over.
I guess if they pulled Ballys from cox, I would have to get both to watch baseball and hockey.
What sucks is I have the center ice package, but because I am considered in the Columbus market, and Ballys is available in my area, the package blacks it out. Just like directv offers AT&T so I would get Penguin games with the package. But since cox doesn't carry AT&T, I get all Penguin games black out because technically thier network is available in my area, and for some stupid reason Cleveland is also considered in the Pittsburgh market.
I hate how all this is because sometimes you really have to dig to find out where any of these games are.

 

[5th Line Fanatic]

Considering illegal stream sites are getting advertisements from the competitors of Bally’s (from what I am told), I would bet that Bally will figure it out.

At some point the people that run the sports leagues are going to need to think about the next generation of fans. They are going to need them to watch their games.

Member Schools

Esports Ohio HS Member Schools

www.esportsohio.org

I agree with all your points about kids and sports. Mine are 8 and 10 and just going through all of this now and it's exactly as you describe..

I wanted to specifically respond to this quoted portion of your post. It's funny to me because I didn't even think about Bally's being a sports book. I'm not a sports bettor at the moment, but probably will be occasionally when it's legal in Ohio. I see nothing but ads all the time for Draft King's, Fan Duel, Barstool, etc. I don't even think about Bally's in that realm. I think of Bally's Total Fitness when I hear that name. What an epic fail from a branding standpoint. Further, based on the experience I've had with the Bally's TV app, I would never use their product, whatever it is. Whomever allowed Sinclair to ruin what brand Bally's had should be fired.

 

[koteka]

It's funny to me because I didn't even think about Bally's being a sports book. I'm not a sports bettor at the moment, but probably will be occasionally when it's legal in Ohio. I see nothing but ads all the time for Draft King's, Fan Duel, Barstool, etc. I don't even think about Bally's in that realm. I think of Bally's Total Fitness when I hear that name. What an epic fail from a branding standpoint. Further, based on the experience I've had with the Bally's TV app, I would never use their product, whatever it is. Whomever allowed Sinclair to ruin what brand Bally's had should be fired.

100%. I always think of Bally’s Total Fitness too. From Wikipedia it looks like the company now called Bally’s bought the Bally’s name from Caesars a couple of years ago. They also own a fantasy platform called Monkey Knife Fight that I have never heard of. That is an old Simpsons reference so I would remember it.

 

[OWSH45]

I don't know if this was posted elsewhere but this could be a big deal for us cord-cutters who have complained about not being able to watch CBJ games.

MLB, NBA and NHL may buy biggest owner of regional sports TV networks: sources

The leagues are expected to soon begin talks with Diamond Sports, which operates 21 Bally regional sports networks, sources said.

nypost.com

That's the story I told you about. What I would like to know is whether or not Bally Sports has a non-pay Roku app.