Royals on the Verge of Returning to Diamond Sports Amid Major Changes!

Royals fans might not be waving goodbye to Bally Sports Kansas City just yet, despite recent turmoil. The regional network has rebranded as the FanDuel Sports Network, but the channel is still under the umbrella of Diamond Sports Group, which just emerged from bankruptcy recently.

In a dramatic twist of events, Diamond Sports had indicated plans to stop broadcasting games for eight teams, including the Royals, by 2025. However, several teams have rekindled their contractual relationships, leaving fans wondering about the Royals’ future.

Evan Drellich from The Athletic reports that the Royals are currently in negotiations to finalize their return to Diamond Sports. According to Pete Grathoff of the Star, we could see an announcement shedding light on the future broadcasting plans within this week. If the Royals indeed rejoin, the broadcasting landscape would largely mirror last year’s setup—games available across most cable platforms and a direct-to-consumer streaming option, though many popular streaming services, such as YouTube TV, would still be left out in the cold.

In an exciting development for baseball fans, Diamond Sports has struck a deal to broadcast games on Amazon Prime Video for in-market viewers next year. While pricing details are still under wraps, this partnership adds a modern twist to sports broadcasting, following a trend where sports networks seek to broaden their reach on digital platforms. Just this week, Diamond announced plans to offer NBA and NHL games on an a la carte basis for non-subscribers at $6.99 per game—could we see similar options for MLB games soon?

However, fans should brace themselves for the possibility of seeing reduced financial support from Diamond Sports. The recent deal made by the St. Louis Cardinals reflects a 20 percent cut from their past earnings, signaling that the Royals may need to prepare for a leaner agreement as well. It’s noteworthy that the Cardinals’ contract lasts until 2028, when Major League Baseball’s national television deals are up for renegotiation, potentially paving the way for a more lucrative streaming arrangement.

Meanwhile, teams like the Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins have opted out of continuing their relationship with Diamond for 2025, choosing to have their games aired by MLB directly. This trend seems to be gaining traction, with the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers also making moves to leave Diamond behind for independent broadcasting solutions.

Diamond Sports, a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcasting, has had a tumultuous financial history, having taken on an $8 billion debt to acquire regional sports networks, including what was previously known as Fox Sports Kansas City. Their recent bankruptcy proceedings significantly decreased their debt, raising questions about the future direction of sports broadcasting as more teams reconsider their broadcasting partnerships.

As negotiations develop and announcements are expected soon, Royals fans remain poised on the edge of their seats, eager to see what the new broadcasting landscape will look like in the coming season! Stay tuned!