The Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball (MLB) have officially filed a forceful objection to Diamond Sports Group’s (DSG) reorganization plan, which could significantly impact the future of sports broadcasting under DSG’s FanDuel Sports Network banner. The Braves and MLB made their stance known in court documents filed Friday, citing fears that DSG’s current financial plan lacks the necessary stability to prevent another crisis.
Both MLB and the Braves underscored what they see as a lack of transparency from DSG. Their primary concern is that Diamond Sports has not provided enough information to back up its ambitious financial projections, especially around the company’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategy.
DSG anticipates an enormous uptick in subscribers—hundreds of percentage points by 2027—without a clear blueprint for achieving that growth. MLB and the Braves called out Diamond’s “refusal to produce information” about the subscriber base that’s supposed to anchor their future operations. MLB and the Braves argue that DSG cannot prove their plan is feasible without this data.
Adding to their objections, the Braves and MLB pointed out that much of the financial information DSG provided was either publicly available or had already been shared with MLB previously. Among the 181 pages of documents DSG submitted, they claim few new details were revealed, making it tough to assess DSG’s ability to follow through on its plans without plunging back into financial trouble.
Interestingly, while the Braves are raising concerns over DSG’s reorganization, they’re one of the few teams expecting payments in full for the upcoming season. According to sports journalist Evan Drellich, DSG has maintained a strong interest in keeping the Braves under their umbrella. This suggests that while MLB and the Braves may have deep reservations about DSG’s financial strategy, there may still be value seen in this relationship. DSG’s interest in retaining the Braves could indicate confidence—or perhaps an acknowledgment of the team’s strong fanbase and market value.
Meanwhile, other MLB teams, like the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins, are set to stick with DSG’s regional sports networks (RSNs) for another season. This alignment could mean some teams are hedging their bets, seeing DSG as a viable option in the short term, even as the company navigates its financial overhaul.
The hearing to confirm DSG’s reorganization plan is slated for November 14. All parties are looking toward a resolution that could reshape the broadcast landscape for MLB games in the near future. The outcome of this hearing could potentially set the tone for other sports networks’ financial reboots. MLB teams weighing their options in the unpredictable sports media space.
