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

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

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

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. 

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

56 minutes ago, CRF said:

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

On who? 

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).