It has been a drama-filled year for Bally Sports as it entered bankruptcy and left many wondering if it would keep MLB games. Now it looks like, for the time being, that Bally Sports will keep at least four of the MLB teams that are at risk. Earlier in the week, it was reported that the Twins have been paid $54.8 million to keep their games on Bally Sports for the rest of 2023. Now the Guardians have also reportedly been paid at least for th month of July.
The Rangers also received a payment of $60 million to keep their games on Bally Sports for now.
There are still two teams left that Bally Sports needs to make a deal with. Last month Bally Sports filed with the court to not to pay the Diamondbacks and said they will return the TV rights to the MLB on June 30th. At the last minute though the Diamondbacks and Bally Sports have agreed to push back the court hearing and keep their games on Bally Sports for now. For now, the two teams are still working out a deal as Bally Sports airs the games.
There is still one team left to be paid. Bally Sports has until July 15th to pay the Reds.
If Bally Sports fails to make payments to any of these teams, it would return the TV rights to the MLB. This comes as Diamond Sports ask the judge to clarify if they can get refunds for games they already paid for after they let the TV rights return to the MLB.
Earlier this year Bally Sports’ parent company Diamond Sports, also filled in the court, saying that they would not pay Raycom for ACC college football and basketball games. This means the ACC will need a new TV partner this fall for the games that ESPN did not pick up with their TV partner Raycom.
For now, we will have to wait and see what Bally Sports does next with the Reds and the Diamondbacks, but the Twins, Guardians, and Rangers have all been paid at least for now.