In recent events, the Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball have withdrawn their objection to Diamond Sports Group’s (DSG) bankruptcy restructuring plan. This update comes just days after the original objection was filed, as The Athletic’s Evan Drellich reported. While the reason for the swift withdrawal remains unclear, speculation suggests it could be due to the practical realities many MLB teams face regarding television contracts and broadcasting continuity.
Diamond Sports Group, which owns FanDuel Sports Network, has been navigating a complex bankruptcy process with the aim of emerging from Chapter 11 while retaining broadcast rights to multiple MLB teams. Initially, DSG had expressed a strong interest in maintaining the current contract with the Braves, one of the league’s most valuable franchises.
However, recent filings indicate that the Braves’ broadcasting agreement with DSG has now been “amended,” a significant development that was not previously anticipated. This amendment aligns the Braves’ situation with that of other MLB teams, who have been reworking their broadcasting contracts to accommodate DSG’s new financial reality.
The Braves join the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, and St. Louis Cardinals, all of whom will continue to have their games broadcast through DSG’s regional sports networks in the upcoming season. According to Drellich, DSG’s amended agreements with these teams allow for a flexible, direct-to-consumer model. This approach opens the door for in-market streaming rights. This means fans in the team’s local regions will be able to access game broadcasts through a DSG subscription service or an additional package on Amazon Prime.
The specifics of the Braves’ amended contract have not been fully disclosed. However, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed that the Braves are included in this group of teams that now offer in-market streaming rights. This setup expands FanDuel Sports Network’s regional offerings, including its networks in the South and Southeast regions where the Braves’ games will be aired.
The bankruptcy court hearing set for Thursday is expected to clarify DSG’s future and, by extension, the future of baseball broadcasting for several teams. A successful exit from Chapter 11 could bring stability to DSG’s regional sports network model, but the viability of this new streaming approach will depend on the bankruptcy judge’s ruling and on the market response to the changes. Fans will likely get more transparency on how amended deals are structured and whether they can provide sustainable revenue for DSG and MLB teams.
As DSG attempts to reset regional sports broadcasting standards, teams are exploring innovative pathways for reaching fans, acknowledging the industry’s shift toward streaming and digital access. This direct-to-consumer model may represent a trend that the MLB and its franchises continue to build on, especially as sports media evolves to meet changing viewer expectations in the digital era.
