Padres News: Friars Lose Bally Sports Partnership, MLB to Take Over Streaming

Another problem for the Padres.

The San Diego Padres's run with Bally Sports has unfortunately come to an end. There has been a whole ordeal with Diamond Sports that started gaining traction prior to this season about their bankruptcy and tonight was the company's deadline to pay their rights fee to continue streaming Friars games.

However, it appears that all fans that cannot be in attendance moving forward will have to stream matches directly from the MLB. This news was first reported by John Ourand.

Diamond skips Padres rights fee payment. Tonight is the last Padres game Bally Sports San Diego will produce.
MLB will produce and distribute tomorrow's Padres-Marlins game.

SBJ's story: https://t.co/pZdx3kkoFd

— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) May 30, 2023

"Diamond Sports' 20-year, $1.2 billion deal for the Padres local TV rights looks to be over, as sources tell SBJ's John Ourand the Sinclair subsidiary missed its rights fee payment. That means rights revert back to the Padres, and beginning Wednesday, MLB will start producing the games."

"MLB will produce the Padres' Wednesday game in Miami, with the same announcers -- who are employed by the team -- and many of the same producers and directors and camera operators, who work as freelancers. A source says MLB will stream the team’s games for free through Sunday. The league also plans to make the games available via outlets like Fubo, DirecTV, Cox and Charter. Station numbers will be released tomorrow."

(Via Sports Business Journal)

This has been a problem waiting to happen and it's just yet another issue that could hinder San Diego turning their season. Friars fans have remained loyal through their disappointing start and continued to sell out multiple home games at Petco Park but this will be a change for those who watch most matches from home.