Miami Marlins Offer Bally Sports For Free – Why Don’t More Teams Do That?

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, I see that the Miami Marlins are giving away a sub to Bally Sports Plus because of the Comcast blackout. Why don’t more teams do this, like the Twins?! — Roger, Duluth, Minnesota.

Roger, Comcast on May 1 lost the Bally Sports regional sports networks due to a carriage dispute. As of this moment, there is no indication of an imminent settlement which is why the Miami Marlins have decided to offer the Bally Sports Plus standalone streaming service for free for two months. The offer, which is good until July 31, 2024, would enable Marlins fans in the Miami market to watch the team’s games without a cable, satellite or live streaming subscription. After the two-month promotional period, the regular $19.99 a month subscription price would apply unless the fans cancel. (You can learn more about the offer here.)

The promotion has prompted a few Comcast subscribers in Bally Sports markets to ask The TV Answer Man why their local teams are not offering the same two-month free pass to Bally Sports Plus. It’s a good question but it has a good answer.

Diamond Sports, the owner of the Bally Sports RSNs (regional sports networks), only has the streaming rights to five MLB teams: the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. Consequently, there would be no point in the Twins offering a free sub to Bally Sports Plus because the app does not have the team’s games via streaming. (Bally Sports does have the cable/satellite rights to the Twins.) The same goes for the Braves and Cardinals and other Bally Sports teams in markets where Comcast also offers cable TV service.

The irony here is that Diamond Sports has attempted to secure the streaming rights for the other teams it carries (Braves, Cardinals, Guardians, Twins, Reds, Angels and Rangers) but has been rebuffed. MLB and the teams have been reluctant to provide the streaming rights in part because of Diamond Sports’ ongoing bankruptcy reorganization effort. However, if they had sold the streaming rights, their fans in Comcast markets could now subscribe to Bally Sports Plus to watch their games.

Roger, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.

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