Could Bally Sports Hearing Delay Mean Texas Rangers' TV Limbo Is Nearing End?

Diamond Sports Group's bankruptcy hearing with MLB delayed until Jan. 19, but that could mean a settlement is close. The Texas Rangers await Bally Sports Southwest's fate.

The long wait for a resolution continues for the Texas Rangers' television future.

Diamond Sports Group's bankruptcy court hearing scheduled for today has been postponed to Jan. 19.

DSG, a Sinclair Broadcasting subsidiary company which owns the Bally Sports regional networks that includes Bally Sports Southwest, has been negotiating with MLB over unpaid rights fees, including the Rangers and Cleveland Guardians.

DSG owes the Rangers about $111 million in rights money for the 2024 season as part of a 20-year, $3 billion deal they signed with Fox Sports Southwest in 2010. DSG bought the Fox regional networks in 2019.

The delay could actually be good news, however, if it means the two sides believe they're close to reaching a settlement without a judge's ruling.

Rangers general manager Chris Young said in December that the broadcast rights limbo did impact the club's overall financial health, which could affect free agent spending. The Rangers have yet to make any major moves this winter.

According to The Athletic, DSG only wants to broadcast 2024 Rangers and Guardians games if the terms of the current contracts are revised.

Amazon offered to invest about $150 million into DSG last week to take over streaming broadcast rights for the 11 teams Bally Sports carries, according to the New York Post. MLB rejected the deal because Amazon wanted a multi-year streaming deal, the Post reported.

DSG filed for Chapter 11 protection in March.

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