Trying to sort out future of baseball broadcasting
(Many) of the sports fans in the Denver/colorado viewing area cannot view the Avalanche, and Nuggets (two teams actually in the playoffs) due to the Altitude-comcast standoff. Now with Warner Bros. Discovery on the verge of transferring the TV rights back to their teams — Rockies with AT&T Sportsnet — who would possibly be responsible for televising all of the team’s games? If commissioner Rob Manfred goes through with MLB covering those costs, would that not constitute revenue sharing?
— Robert Emmerling, Limon
PATRICK>> Regional sports networks (RSNS) have been struggling for a number of years and the writing of a pending fall was on the wall. Still, the people I have spoken to — including some of the folks at AT&T Sportsnet
Rocky Mountain — didn’t see this coming so soon.
The corporate folks are not talking right now, and neither are the Rockies or owner Dick Monfort. They are trying to figure this out before they say anything publicly.
Major League Baseball has promised that it has a plan in place to ensure fans can watch their teams when Bally and AT&T’S RSNS close shop. What local “channel” could pick up the telecasts? Would games only be available via a streaming service? I don’t know the answer to that right now.
I do believe that MLB’S increased involvement in televising games will put more money in the pot and increase league-wide revenue sharing.
There are a lot of questions about what this seismic shift will mean for local baseball broadcasts in 2023 and beyond.
Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper makes some excellent points in his recent article:
“For the baseball teams and MLB, the shift (away from RSNS to streaming) will be much more dramatic. The next era of baseball broadcasting may be very different. There are significant questions over whether teams can come close to recouping the revenue they received for local broadcast rights from RSNS if they sell directly to consumers through MLB.TV.”
Q>> I know it’s early, but who’s impressed you down in Scottsdale so far? Also are there any under-the-radar guys who could be a surprise addition to the opening-day roster?
— Mike, Denver
PATRICK>> You’re right, it’s very early and first impressions during spring training can be misleading. But here are some thoughts:
• Outfielder Zac Veen looks like a beast, adding nearly 25 pounds to his 6-foot- 4 frame since he was named outstanding offensive player of the Arizona Fall League. He’s shown power, good pitch recognition and aptitude on the bases. The plan remains for Veen to start at Double-a Hartford, and he needs to prove he can consistently hit quality pitching.
• Right-hander Peter Lambert, who’s had a long, difficult comeback from Tommy John surgery in 2020, has been sharp. I thought his career might have hit a dead end, but if he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be part of the starting rotation.
• Utilityman Harold Castro certainly catches your eye. He’s fast, puts the bat on the ball and can play middle infield and the outfield. His versatility is a plus and manager Bud Black likes having a player like Castro on the roster.