Texas Rangers React To Bally Sports Southwest 2024 Deal, Announce C.J. Nitkowski Replacement
The Texas Rangers' 2024 television broadcast rights were officially finalized today, and their games will continue to air on Bally Sports Southwest this season.
The agreement last week between Bally's parent company, Diamond Sports Group, and the club was approved, finally putting an end to DSG's year-long bankruptcy proceedings.
The agreement, however, does not address the Rangers' television rights in 2025 and beyond.
"We are happy to have an agreement in place and look forward to partnering with Bally Sports Southwest for what should be a very exciting year for our club," the Rangers said in a release. "At the same time, we will continue to work for ways to enhance and expand how our fans will be able to view Texas Rangers baseball in the future.”
Bally Sports Southwest will produce and air 153 regular-season Rangers games, plus four spring training games.
According to a Bally release, the Bally Sports app and BallySports.com will also provide streaming service for Rangers games and other Rangers-related programming for fans who sign in "and authenticate through their pay-TV provider."
Bally Sports Southwest begins its 2024 coverage with a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds on March 14. The other three spring training games to air on BSSW include a World Series rematch against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 16, a March 18 game against the Seattle Mariners, and a March 25 game against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field.
Bally's regular-season coverage begins with the March 30 game against the Chicago Cubs at Globe Life Field. ESPN is airing the Opening Day game against the Cubs on March 28.
Rangers lead television play-by-play voice Dave Raymond returns for his eighth season with the club, and Jared Sandler will provide television play-by-play for select games. Sandler is in his 10th season as a member of the radio broadcast team.
To replace former lead analyst C.J. Nitkowski, who left the club to do Atlanta Braves games, a trio of former Rangers players will fill the role, including pitcher Mike Bacsik Jr. (2nd year), outfielder David Murphy (6th year) and catcher Dave Valle (3rd year).
Emily Jones and Lesley McCaslin return as in-game reporters.
To find cable providers airing Bally Sports Southwest, fans can visit GetMyHomeTeams.com.
Bally Sports Southwest is available on cable providers such as Charter Spectrum, Comcast Xfinity, Cox, among others. It's also available on satellite with DirecTV and streaming providers such as DirecTV Stream and Fubo. Fans can live stream Rangers games on the Bally Sports app when they authenticate with their pay-TV provider.
Rangers TV Agreement Keeps Status Quo
You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.
Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and X.