The Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians are two of the three Major League Baseball (MLB) teams that have not received payments from their broadcasting partner, Diamond Sports Group (DSG), this season. DSG declared bankruptcy just before the start of the 2023 season, and while Bally Sports continued to broadcast Twins and Guardians games, the teams have not seen any revenue from these broadcasts. In response, MLB has filed a motion against DSG to either pay the teams or terminate their contracts so the teams can take over the broadcasts.
This motion highlights the precarious position that teams are in due to the bankruptcy of DSG. Teams rely on television revenue to pay the bills, and the timing of the bankruptcy just before the start of the season put MLB and its teams in a tough situation. MLB is seeking an order by April 13 that would force DSG to either pay the Twins and Guardians or terminate the contracts so the teams can take over the broadcasts. If the motion is successful, it could lead to a dramatic shift for local broadcasts during the middle of the season and potentially result in blackout rules for some teams being significantly relaxed or removed entirely.
For fans of the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians, the news of MLB’s motion against DSG is a welcome development. It’s possible that the teams could soon receive the revenue they’re owed, and that blackout rules could be significantly relaxed or removed entirely. In the meantime, fans of these teams should keep an eye on the situation as the April 13 deadline approaches.