Comcast has recently blacked out 15 regional sports networks provided by Bally Sports due to an ongoing contract dispute with their distributor, Diamond Sports Group.
This blackout affects games played by 12 Major League Baseball teams across nine states, leaving fans unable to watch their favorite teams in action.
Diamond Sports Group, which distributes the networks under the Bally name, expressed disappointment over the blackout and accused Comcast of refusing to engage in meaningful discussions. On the other hand, Comcast claimed that Diamond had rejected several of its offers, including the option to unilaterally renew its existing agreement with Comcast for another year. As a result, Comcast no longer held the rights to the sports broadcasts as of Wednesday and had no choice but to cut them off. The company said it would be crediting its customers for the costs associated with the blacked-out broadcasts, with most customers automatically receiving monthly credits of $8 to $10.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Diamond is currently working to emerge from bankruptcy, which it declared just over a year ago due to heavy debt incurred in a previous financial transaction.
This dispute reflects a broader issue facing sports broadcasts in the age of streaming, as pay-TV subscriptions for both cable and satellite have experienced sharp declines in recent years. According to a study by Leichtman Research Group, the percentage of U.S. households paying for live TV services dropped from 78% in 2018 to 64% in 2023.
With fewer subscribers, companies like Comcast are pushing for regional sports to be moved into “tiered” subscriptions with higher price tags than basic service. However, companies like Diamond have resisted this move, arguing that an abrupt shift to a higher service tier would disrupt their finances and create problems for the teams that distributors pay for access to their games.
While the Comcast blackout currently only affects baseball games, it could potentially impact other sports if it continues for an extended period. Diamond currently holds the pay-TV rights to games played by 38 teams across the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and MLB.
The teams affected by the blackout include the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, and Los Angeles Angels.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.