New deal means Amazon Prime could be streaming home for Royals, but questions remain
Cord-cutting Royals fans who have bemoaned options for watching the team’s games may be able to use a streaming powerhouse during the upcoming season.
Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of Bally Sports Kansas City, announced Wednesday it had a plan to emerge from bankruptcy with the help of a Restructuring Support Agreement that includes a financial deal with Amazon.
In a news release, Diamond said it had a plan that would allow it to continue beyond 2024. However, any agreement would have to be approved by a bankruptcy judge. Diamond filed for bankruptcy in March.
Under the new agreement, Prime Video would include all of Diamond’s channels, including Bally Sports Kansas City, along with the streaming rights for five teams that currently have digital-rights deals with Diamond. That includes the Royals.
The Royals declined comment since details of the deal have not been finalized.
“We are thrilled to have reached a comprehensive restructuring agreement that provides a detailed framework for a reorganization plan and substantial new financing that will enable Diamond to operate and thrive beyond 2024,” Diamond CEO David Preschlack said in the news release.
“We are grateful for the support from Amazon and a group of our largest creditors who clearly believe in the value-creating potential of this business. Diamond’s near-term focus will be on implementing the RSA and emerging from bankruptcy as a going concern for the benefit of our investors, our employees, our team, league and distribution partners, and the millions of fans who will continue to enjoy our broadcasts.”
Questions to be answered
Diamond’s agreement with Amazon would only affect the streaming rights for Royals games.
This likely means cable users would still be able to watch games on Bally Sports Kansas City, but that’s not certain. Since details of the deal aren’t final, that’s a question that remains to be answered.
Another is whether fans who have DirecTV Stream would still be able to get Royals games on their plan.
Then there is the cost. Royals fans balked at the $19.99 monthly cost to stream Royals games on Bally Sports+. There is no indication of what it would cost to stream games on Amazon.
And, finally, there is this: Would Royals games streaming on Amazon be available in areas of the country that have previously been blacked out by Major League Baseball’s rules?
“All of this came as a surprise; we knew nothing about it,” Jim Bromley, a lawyer for MLB, said in court Wednesday, per the Athletic.
Bromley added: “We are digesting an enormous amount of information. Until yesterday we were operating with the assumption that we were mediating … and nearing the conclusion of an agreement that was heavily negotiated. There’s a lot that is unable to be digested because it hasn’t been purchased, cooked or served.”
This story was originally published January 17, 2024 at 7:43 PM.
