After being told that it was looking to give the local television rights back to the MLB teams it holds the rights to, AT&T SportsNet is looking to exit the regional sports business.
The league is now in negotiations with distributors in Denver, Houston, and Pittsburgh — the former AT&T SportsNet markets — and believes it will not have a problem airing games on both linear television and on streaming when Opening Day rolls around.
AT&T SportsNet told the Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, and Pittsburgh Pirates, they have until March 31st to reach an agreement to reclaim their local television rights and have reportedly even offered them back to the clubs at no cost.
According to a report from John Ourand of Sports Business Journal, the move from Warner Bros. Discovery — the parent company of AT&T SportsNet — was not a shock to MLB, who has already begun discussing potential options with other distribution platforms in Denver, Houston, and Pittsburgh.
Pirates owner Bob Nutting appeared to confirm that report from Ourand in comments he made to The Athletic, noting that the only thing that will change for fans is potentially the channel number where their games will be found.
“I don’t see any chance we’re going to lose the broadcast,” Nutting said. “I just don’t think that’s realistic. We have been working for over a year on contingency plans.”
Nutting admitted that the “RSN ecosystem has significantly changed” but that fans are “gonna be able to turn on the TV” and watch Pirates broadcasts.
Warner Bros. Discovery also owns a 40% stake in ROOT Sports, with the other 60% owned by the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners have claimed that operations will continue as normal.
