For Comcast subscribers who are avid baseball fans, recent changes in carriage agreements have impacted their ability to watch games on television. The agreement between Comcast and Diamond Sports Group, which owns 18 regional sports networks, expired this week, leaving many customers unable to view their local Major League Baseball teams on TV.
The traditional local sports media business model has long relied on sports teams selling their rights to regional sports networks, who then sold carriage rights to cable companies. However, with the rise of streaming services, consumers now have more options and can choose to purchase only what they want instead of a whole bundle. Some fans have resorted to pirating games as a result of these changes.
Recently, some sports teams have started selling their rights to local broadcasting affiliates rather than regional sports networks. This shift allows fans to access games through cable or even with a basic antenna, providing free access to a broader audience. It’s a trend that harkens back to how sports were watched in the ’70s and ’80s.
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