Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of embattled regional sports network Bally Sports, is heading back to bankruptcy court and taking DIRECTV with it, according to TV Answer Man.
Diamond Sports argued DIRECTV owes it past carriage fees for carrying San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondback games.
Diamond alleges that DIRECTV was contractually required to continue paying for the two MLB teams even though Diamond didn’t provide the games. DIRECTV stopped paying the fees after its broadcast agreements ended last summer.
The hearing, scheduled for January 24, is just the latest proceeding as Diamond Sports navigates through the bankruptcy process. It’s still working on a plan to reorganize and exit bankruptcy, and is renegotiating contracts with the MLB, NHL, and the NBA to continue broadcasting games on Bally Sports through 2024.
The situation is just one of the numerous disputes Diamond is facing including being at odds with its former parent company Sinclair. Both Sinclar and the MLB have said they don’t expect Diamond to survive the year.
In its dispute with DIRECTV, Diamond is asking for the owed feeds plus damages. The company said DIRECTV’s payment is vital to its plans to right its financial ship.
A spokesman for DIRECTV wasn’t immediately available for comment.
So far, Bally hasn’t announced plans to shut down in 2024 and will continue its efforts to exit bankruptcy, but only time will tell what the future holds for the RSN.
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