Bally Sports update: MLB files emergency motion seeking payment for Cleveland Guardians

George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal
·1 min read
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Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan draws a walk during the third inning against the A's in Oakland, Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan draws a walk during the third inning against the A's in Oakland, Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

The saga of the Cleveland Guardians and Bally Sports just got more interesting, according to a report from The Athletic.

After filing for bankruptcy, Diamond Sports Group, Bally Sports’ parent company, recently declined to make rights payments to the Guardians and Minnesota Twins, two of the 14 MLB teams it holds broadcast rights.

MLB filed an emergency motion in the Diamond Sports bankruptcy case seeking an order for those payments. While Bally Sports will continue to air Guardians games, the motion asks the court to require payment by April 13.

If that does not happen, MLB is prepared to act and take over broadcasts. The league asks in the order that Diamond’s rights be ended if payment is not made.

“With the 2023 season underway, the Clubs are navigating a complicated and fragile situation without certainty in their ability to consistently provide games for the millions of fans who follow professional baseball through daily televised broadcasts,” their lawyers wrote in the motion.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: MLB intervenes on behalf of Guardians in Bally Sports issue