After filing a motion to force Diamond Sports Group to either pay the rights fees it owes to MLB franchises or give the rights back to the clubs, a judge has ruled that the regional sports network operator needs to pay half of the contracts.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said half of the balances owed to the teams need to paid next month due to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process the company filed for in March, according to a report from Sportico.
In the decision, Lopez said the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Texas Rangers, and Minnesota Twins must be given 50% of their scheduled payments, with the court, league, and company reconvening on Wednesday, May 10th. Lopez said he was “not concerned” about the “financial stability” of the MLB franchises, but added that the network should not use the ruling as “a leverage tactic to withhold as much cash as possible in hopes of seeking concessions.”
The motion did not mention the Cincinnati Reds. The club claims it was not paid its rights fee by the previously agreed upon April 17th deadline. However, a 15-day grace period in their contract with Bally Sports Ohio allows the company to pay the fee before May 1st without penalty.
