Twins Likely to Return to Bally Sports North, Limit In-Market Streaming, in 2024.

[John Bonnes]

We have some good news and some bad news.

Image courtesy of © Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

As part of the effort to emerge from bankruptcy proceedings, the owner of Bally Sports North, Diamond Sports Group, asked the court to approve a one-year deal to broadcast the Minnesota Twins on TV in 2024, per Evan Drellich of The Athletic. If that is approved, t would be good news for Twins fans hoping to watch the team on TV, but bad news for in-market fans hoping to stream the games: for another year, streaming would be limited to out-of-market households. 

The request is part of a plot twist that has proved to be a game-changer for the offseason saga surrounding the Twins' television and streaming rights. Last month, Diamond Sports, which had previously been faced with shutting down after 2024, reversed course, in part due to a partnership with Amazon. As a result, there was renewed interest in one-year, TV-only deals with several MLB teams, including the Twins. However, since Diamond wants to drive customers towards their TV channels, those deals preclude the Twins from distributing their games via streaming except to out-of-market customers.

It is unknown just how much those TV rights are worth, though Drellich revealed earlier this week that similar one-year deals with MLB teams have been worth about 85% of the previous agreed-upon rate. The Twins admitted last year that they had been making $55M annually for the TV and streaming rights from Diamond.

All of that revenue was in question this offseason, leading to a $25M-$30M cut in anticipated Opening Day payroll. As a result, the Twins have had a very quiet offseason, arguably getting worse, including trading away veteran second baseman Jorge Polanco to help free up payroll dollars.

Conceivably, the Twins could have an additional $40M in gross revenue that wasn't fully expected before this latest pivot. Could that mean a late addition from a free agent market that still has several big names available? If so, there are no indications that is the case yet. The Twins have announced they'll refrain from publicly addressing the TV deal until the deal is approved by the court, which is scheduled for Friday, February 9th. 

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[DJL44]

So the Twins negotiated a bad TV deal with a TV channel that nobody can actually access. What's the good news?

[danielp19653]

yeah I don't see any good news in this, screw the Pohlads and screw Bally. Guess I'm not watching this year.

[stringer bell]

I get the Twins on my “sports package” on DirecTV. I was hoping I could drop the otherwise worthless sports package and subscribe to mlb.tv. Not this year. 

[PseudoSABR]

8 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

So the Twins negotiated a bad TV deal with a TV channel that nobody can actually access. What's the good news?

The additional revenue. 

[Fire Dan Gladden]

So the Twins cried No TV contract and cut payroll when EVERYONE knew they were going to recoup most, if not all, of that money at some point during this offseason.

Now I expect them to say "there are no remaining FA the Twins want to sign" and pocket the money.

Welcome back to 1997.  Very, very sad.

[Parfigliano]

So basically last year's distibution framework at $40 instead of $55 million in rights fees.  

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, PseudoSABR said:

The additional revenue. 

Only if they spend it on players.....

[roger]

Interesting, yet, the Twins still don't know if they have a deal pending the court's approval.  John, have you heard if that is likely a formality?

Another question is what Amazon's role will be.  When they invested $100+M into Diamond Sports, there was talk that Prime may be streaming games.  Is that a possibility?  If so, a lot of us (or our wives) have Prime which would allow us to not be forced to return to DirecTV.

[CRF]

Now...let's see if they actually SPEND some of the dough. 

[nicksaviking]

10 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Only if they spend it on players.....

None of which that can be found on the free agent market as far as I'm concerned. Guess they might as well start handing out some questionable extensions to the whipper snappers.

Lucky for them, this and the Polanco trade wrapped up just as the Winter Caravan ended. Sooooo many missed opportunities for awkward questions. I'd love to have heard Bob from Bemidji ask Glen Perkins why the Twins traded his favorite player to cut salary, then got a big new media deal that won't let him watch the games.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

So am I able to get MLB subscription and watch or am I still blacked out in Iowa?  What is considered "in market?"

 

[nicksaviking]

13 minutes ago, CRF said:

Now...let's see if they actually SPEND some of the dough. 

I prefer they don't. Not only do I dislike pretty much every free agent left, but I'd rather the Twins not be able to try to save face by pretending that they actually went out and attempted to do right by the roster in free agency. Like going to the grocery store, forgetting your wallet and digging out all the coins from the ashtray and down in the seat cushions. 'No, see, I got it, it's the same amount! I just had to put back the milk, bread and Hamburger Helper. I still got the Doritos and Mountain Dew and that's REALLY what I needed.'

I mean, they knew they'd have some money to spend, even if they didn't know how much. It's not like they couldn't have signed one of the better players who didn't break anyone's bank.

[danielp19653]

4 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

So am I able to get MLB subscription and watch or am I still blacked out in Iowa?  What is considered "in market?"

 

Sounds like its really the same as last year just less money for the Twins, so if you were blacked out last year you will be again.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

The whole thing was is blackouts were going away,  especially for the 7 state area.  There is no way I should be considered in market when I live 6 hours away.  

[howeda7]

What makes no sense is why they won't just allow Bally's to stream it on their app for $20/month like the Wolves and Wild. Sure the app sucks and crashes half the time, but it's better than not allowing anything. The argument last year was, "the agreement was signed in 2011 and didn't foresee this and they're going bankrupt and might not pay us, so it makes no sense to renegotiate anything new with them."

This is an entirely new contract. To just leave the blackout in place and make yourself unavailable to half your fan base is insane.

[howeda7]

20 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

So am I able to get MLB subscription and watch or am I still blacked out in Iowa?  What is considered "in market?"

 

Most likely Iowa fans remain in the 6 team black-out twilight zone. I know courts being involved makes it harder but I can't believe MLB isn't putting a greater emphasis on fixing it.

[farmerguychris]

20 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

So am I able to get MLB subscription and watch or am I still blacked out in Iowa?  What is considered "in market?"

 

I am also in Iowa and it was blacked out - so my assumption is that it will continue to be blacked out.....not happy.

[stringer bell]

So, is Cory Provus going to apologize to the fan base during the first telecast? And has the team already apologized to Provus?

[danielp19653]

6 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

So, is Cory Provus going to apologize to the fan base during the first telecast? And has the team already apologized to Provus?

Yeah I'm sure he had a good reason for saying what he did, been in enough roles to know not to say things you aren't pretty confident in. Feels bad he got hung out to dry by the team like that, especially right when he just took the job.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

23 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I mean, they knew they'd have some money to spend, even if they didn't know how much. It's not like they couldn't have signed one of the better players who didn't break anyone's bank.

This.

The Twins approach this offseason should anger every Twins fan.  To take a WS contending team and let it fall apart due solely to save money that they annually promise to spend on payroll is extremely disappointing.

I have generally been a supporter of this administration over the last few years.  They aren't perfect, but you always felt they were trying to win.  This is the first year that it feels like they do not care about the product and only care about money.  I am having a very hard time getting excited for this season.

[DJL44]

47 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

So basically last year's distibution framework at $40 instead of $55 million in rights fees.  

Which, after revenue sharing, ends up being a $7.5M drop in local revenue. That will probably be offset by the additional revenue sharing from teams that are paying higher luxury taxes. Local revenue stays mostly the same, payroll goes WAY down. The Pohlads make more money and fewer people watch the games on TV.

[Twinsrtheworst]

Ok I have a question.  I do not and have not lived in any MLB team market for a long time, so forgive me for not understanding.  Does this mean if you live in market, you have no options to watch the Twins?  None so ever?   

[stringer bell]

1 minute ago, se7799 said:

Ok I have a question.  I do not and have not lived in any MLB team market for a long time, so forgive me for not understanding.  Does this mean if you live in market, you have no options to watch the Twins?  None so ever?   

You have to have Bally Sports. I have it on DirecTV. It isn't offered on many (any?) cable networks. 

[Mike Sixel]

Truly astounding that a business thinks having it's customers not able to consume their product is a good long-term strategy......(i get that they only care about the money from Bally, and don't actually care if customers can watch).

[Eris]

Is there anything in the arrangement that prevents Bally from selling streaming rights to Amazon. 

[stringer bell]

Here's the link from mlbtraderumors.com

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/diamond-sports-group-in-agreement-with-rangers-twins-guardians-for-2024.html

[Peter Labuza]

Just now, Eris said:

Is there anything in the arrangement that prevents Bally from selling streaming rights to Amazon. 

We can't see the full agreement that Evan posted a screenshot from the court filing, but this almost certainly does not include any digital rights. So Diamond/Bally could not lease anything to Amazon. (The whole reason for this existing is that if the Twins are easily accessible through other means be they Amazon, another streamer, or MLB TV but for local fans, there would be no reason anyone would sign up for cable).

[tony&rodney]

56 minutes ago, CRF said:

Now...let's see if they actually SPEND some of the dough. 

On who? 

[DJL44]

19 hours ago, stringer bell said:

You have to have Bally Sports. I have it on DirecTV. It isn't offered on many (any?) cable networks. 

This is the entire list

Cox
DirecTV
DIRECTV STREAM
Fubo
Mediacom
Optimum
Spectrum
Suddenlink
Xfinity
WOW!

Doesn't include the #1 provider - Comcast, #2 Charter, #4 Verizon FIOS, or #5 AT&T. Doesn't include Frontier or Dish Network, YoutubeTV, Hulu Plus or Sling. No options except $100+ per month.

Edit: thanks to others for pointing out that Comcast and Charter are on that list under other brand names. That means they are probably reaching 75% of cable/dish subscribers or about 36% of households in Minnesota (and none in Iowa).