Diamond Sports Group, operator of the Bally Sports RSNs, has officially filed for bankruptcy. Plus: a familiar ESPN face is making a move; Colorado football is already getting increased exposure in the Deion Sanders era.
Diamond Sports Group officially files for bankruptcy
In an expected move, Diamond Sports Group — which operates the Bally Sports-branded regional sports networks — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday. In a statement announcing the move, Diamond said it intends to operate the Bally RSNs as normal during the bankruptcy process and has $425 million cash on hand to accomplish that goal.
Per the same announcement, Diamond is finalizing a restructuring agreement with its creditors and parent company Sinclair Broadcasting to separate fully from the latter and “become a standalone company.” Diamond already operates as independent subsidiary of Sinclair, which over the past year ceded control to an outside board that in December appointed David Preschlack CEO of the company.
In response to the bankruptcy filing, Major League Baseball issued a statement Tuesday assuring fans that it is prepared to take over production and distribution of games in markets where “Diamond or any other regional sports network is unable to do.” (Diamond Sports Group/Business Wire 3.14)
ESPN host Torre moving to Meadowlark Media
ESPN host Pablo Torre is joining Meadowlark Media, the sports media company run by his former boss John Skipper and co-host Dan Le Batard, Variety reported Tuesday. Though he is for all intents and purposes leaving ESPN, he will remain a contributor to the network’s shows “Around the Horn” and “Pardon the Interruption.” Torre has been with ESPN since 2012 and at one point co-hosted his own daytime talk show “High Noon” alongside Bomani Jones. (Variety 3.14)
ESPN to carry Colorado spring football game
ESPN announced Tuesday that it will carry the Colorado Buffaloes’ spring football game on April 22, the only college football spring game that will air on the flagship network this season. The game will mark the on-field debut of new Colorado coach Deion Sanders.
Only one other spring game will air on one of the primary ESPN networks, defending champion Georgia’s “G-Day” on ESPN2 April 15. All other spring games are set for ESPN’s conference and team-oriented channels (ACC Network, SEC Network and Longhorn Network) or ESPN+. (ESPN PR)
