Los Angeles Angels Trying to Stick with Bally Sports
Los Angeles Angels Trying to Stick with Bally Sports
The Angels own 25% of Bally Sports West, and are reportedly trying to keep the channel viable for as long as possible.
The future can be a scary thing, especially when it holds prospects of lower income. That’s the type of uncertainty the Los Angeles Angels and other MLB teams are facing; 11 out of the 12 clubs whose local TV rights are held by Diamond Sports Group for broadcast on a Bally Sports channel were informed this week that they would be dropped by the company before the start of the 2025 season. Now, a report from the Orange County Register says the Angels are trying to find a path forward that allows them to stick with their regional sports network (RSN) partner Bally Sports West.
Key Details:
- The Angels are seeking a restructured deal that will allow them to stay on Bally Sports West at least one more season.
- The team is more confident in its ability to make money from Bally than it is by going to a broadcast or streaming outlet.
- The Angels own 25% of Bally Sports West, giving them more incentive to try to keep the channel going.
The Register reports that the Angels are discussing a restructured deal with Diamond that will keep games on Bally Sports West at least through 2025. The team wants to avoid disruption for fans, and also disruption of the revenues brought in by the channel.
Those revenues are still essentially guaranteed to be lower than they were in the 2024 season. Diamond reportedly approached baseball officials in September and offered rights fee payments 20% to 40% lower than what it was currently paying. The league rejected the idea, which led to Diamond’s eventual decision to drop all teams it held the rights to except the Atlanta Braves.
But even with 20% to 40% less than what they were making last year, the Angels would apparently prefer the security of Bally Sports West. Many teams across the NBA, NHL and MLB that partner with RSNs see streaming services or over-the-air broadcast options as offering even less in the way of revenue and financial stability, even with the fragile condition most regional sports channels are in.
One key factor driving the Angels is the fact that they own 25% of Bally Sports West. If the channel fails, the team loses that investment, so it behooves the Angels to keep Bally Sports West up and running for as long as possible.
Diamond Sports Group is still in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings, but will be holding a confirmation hearing for its reorganization plan soon. The company says that it will return the rights to NBA and NHL teams it currently holds if it doesn’t win approval for its reorg plan by Dec. 16.
Bally Sports+
Bally Sports+ was a direct-to-consumer streaming service that provided live, in-market games without requiring a cable or satellite subscription. It allowed fans to watch their local Bally Sports regional sports network (RSN) without a traditional TV package.