The MLB franchise is considering its alternatives for local TV now that its deal

with operator Diamond Sports Group has expired.

The Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball have decided to cut salary and

look at other local TV options after their contract with the insolvent regional

sports network operator Diamond Sports Group expired.

Twins general manager Derek Falvey stated he doesn’t think the team will

duplicate the club record $156 million collective player payroll it carried in the

just concluded 2023 MLB season during remarks made earlier this week at a

league-wide general managers meeting.

In the meantime, Diamond revealed in a bankruptcy court filing on

Wednesday that the Twins’ contract, which paid them an estimated $54.8

million to appear on Bally Sports North this past season, has terminated.

Furthermore, there was no word on whether the former Sinclair Broadcast

Group affiliate, which is currently renegotiating contracts with every club

under the Bally Sports banner, would be renewing its Twins relationship.

Diamond intends to go with 10 of the 12 teams that were on Bally Sports

channels at the conclusion of the 2024 season as of the next MLB season,

according to a source familiar with Diamond’s Chapter 11 restructuring who

spoke with Next TV earlier this week. So, aside from the Twins, there’s another

discordant MLB team.

The Twins announced last week that they were looking into other local TV

alternatives. Dick Bremer, the team’s play-by-play announcer for the previous

40 seasons, is retiring at the same time as this.

Due to Diamond’s reorganization last season, the San Diego Padres and

Arizona Diamondbacks were excluded from the Bally Sports ecosystem. The

other MLB clubs “backstopped” both teams, giving them 80 cents for every

dollar they were unable to make up through alternate local broadcast arrangements.

For the Twins, Padres, and Diamondbacks in the upcoming season, there is,

however, no backstopping plan.

Since declaring bankruptcy in March, Diamond has had difficulty developing a

workable restructuring strategy to pay off its $8 billion in debt.

The NBA and the firm announced a deal earlier this week that will keep 15

NBA clubs on Bally Sports networks until the 2023–2024 season, at which

point their contracts will be terminated.

In an effort to buy some time and stave off liquidation, Diamond also worked

out a short-term agreement with Comcast and is currently negotiating

something similar with the NHL.

A source familiar with Diamond’s negotiations told Next TV on Monday, “I’m

fairly sure you can expect Ballys to carry on and find a buyer or buyers, and

maybe even continue on in some manner.”