Rays Make Streaming Rights Deal With Bally Sports

Will there be a 2022 baseball season? Who knows! But that isn’t stopping Bally Sports from pushing the pedal to the floor on its streaming service.

The company announced on Wednesday that it had agreed to terms on a deal for in-market streaming rights with a fifth Major League Baseball team. While the company did not name the team, sources tell Sportico’s Anthony Crupi that it is the Tampa Bay Rays. They join the Brewers, Marlins, Royals, and Tigers, who all have similar deals with Bally Sports.

Sinclair is serious about getting its Bally Sports streaming service off the ground. The MLB markets will be used for a soft launch. That is especially important for Tampa, as Sinclair’s carriage agreement with Spectrum ends at the end of March. That would leave nearly 99% of Hillsborough without access to Bally Sports Sun, where the Rays’ games are shown.

The wrench, of course, is Major League Baseball. The uncertainty surrounding the 2022 season is well publicized. Earlier this week, owners told the MLBPA that if a deal isn’t reached by Monday to end the lockout, the start of the season will be delayed.

There is also the issue of the league’s own streaming plans. Last year, The New York Post reported that the league is exploring launching its own streaming service by 2023.

BSM Staff