How to watch the Angels and Dodgers next year amid MLB’s uncertain TV future

How to watch the Angels and Dodgers next year amid MLB's uncertain TV future 1

As a longtime sports enthusiast who has spent countless hours glued to my television, I can wholeheartedly say that the current state of broadcasting baseball games is nothing short of frustrating. The idea of being able to watch my favorite teams without having to pay for dozens of other channels I don’t care about or deal with blackouts is a dream come true.


20 months ago, the firm possessing the Angels’ televised games rights officially exited bankruptcy proceedings in a federal court on Thursday, remaining a viable business entity and maintaining control over the Angels’ television broadcasts.

Much ado about nothing? To the contrary.

Over the subsequent four years, it will become apparent how many supporters are prepared to subscribe to a streaming service to view their preferred team, along with how much they’re ready to spend on such a subscription. Major League Baseball will conduct a similar test, but with various other teams participating instead.

As a film enthusiast, by that time, I’d have a solid understanding of what media outlets – not just the regular players like ESPN, Fox, and TBS, but also tech titans such as Apple, Amazon, and YouTube – might be ready to invest in MLB broadcast rights post-2028. The way we engage with baseball beyond 2028 could undergo a significant transformation compared to our viewing experiences next year.

2

How can I watch the Angels next year?

How to watch the Angels and Dodgers next year amid MLB's uncertain TV future

All the same ways you did this year, and more.

The Angels have struck a fresh arrangement with FanDuel Sports Network, now known as Bally Sports. As was the case last year, you can tune in through a cable, satellite, or online streaming platform to catch the games.

Alongside securing exclusive rights, FanDuel now enables Angels games streaming exclusively through their platform. No additional subscriptions are needed; you can simply join FanDuel directly or opt for an easy sign-up via Amazon Prime. However, please note that the fee for this service will be added to your Amazon Prime bill as a separate charge, rather than being included within it.

Despite no official prices being disclosed yet, it’s important to note that Major League Baseball (MLB) live-streamed San Diego Padres games during the previous season for a monthly fee of $19.99 or an annual subscription costing $99.99.

3

How can I watch the Dodgers next year?

How to watch the Angels and Dodgers next year amid MLB's uncertain TV future

You can repeat the action as you did this year by subscribing to a cable, satellite, or streaming service that includes SportsNet LA, or opt for a streaming-exclusive plan that necessitates acquiring both broadband and TV services from Spectrum.

On Thursday, a representative from Spectrum stated there are no new developments to share. To reduce potential losses due to the Dodgers’ massive $8.35-billion local TV deal, Spectrum positions itself as the sole provider of Dodger games. This unique positioning helps them promote subscriptions for various other packages and services.

SportsNet LA is not one of the FanDuel channels, so it was not part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

4

What if I want to watch the Dodgers or Angels but I do not live in the L.A. market?

As a passionate film buff, I’d be thrilled to share that if you’re an MLB enthusiast looking to catch out-of-market games, you’ll have to invest in an MLB.tv subscription. This year, it’s set at $29.99 per month or $149.99 annually. With this subscription, you can savor every out-of-market game. If, however, you’re a die-hard fan of a particular team and want access only to their games, you’ll need to shell out $129.99 each year.

5

Why can’t I pay one price to watch the Dodgers or Angels, wherever I live and however I want to watch, and without any games getting blacked out?

How to watch the Angels and Dodgers next year amid MLB's uncertain TV future

For Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, this is the holy grail.

Over the past few decades, in return for spending billions on Major League Baseball teams, local TV broadcasters have insisted on exclusivity. This means if you wanted to catch your home team’s games, you had to subscribe to cable or satellite services, which often included numerous channels that you didn’t actually watch.

In this futuristic landscape, there’s no longer a need to shell out money for CNN or the Hallmark Channel in order to catch your beloved baseball games.

In simpler terms, it was announced that the company which owns FanDuel’s channels filed for bankruptcy. Commissioner Manfred expressed hope that Major League Baseball (MLB) teams would reclaim their broadcasting rights and transfer them to the league instead.

Last year, 14 teams under the Bally’s umbrella negotiated new partnerships with FanDuel. Currently, Major League Baseball (MLB) holds the rights for the Padres and six additional teams. The Kansas City Royals are still undecided, while the Texas Rangers are preparing to broadcast their own content.

6

Why is the year 2028 so important?

How to watch the Angels and Dodgers next year amid MLB's uncertain TV future

According to legal documents, the parent company of FanDuel anticipates a significant increase in streaming revenue for its channels, such that they could still turn a profit despite a substantial decrease (approaching 50%) in revenue from cable and satellite subscriptions over the next four years.

It’s been reported that although Major League Baseball (MLB) may not be entirely convinced, the Los Angeles Angels have still signed a three-year contract, and five other FanDuel teams have also agreed to short-term deals that will expire no later than 2028.

At that juncture, the leagues’ contracts for national broadcasts with ESPN, Fox, and TBS come to an end. The streaming rights might tempt one or more of these broadcasters to pay a premium to continue airing MLB games, and they could also attract new bidders such as Apple, Amazon, or YouTube.

As long as prominent teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, along with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, continue to rake in substantial revenue independently, it’s highly improbable that they will transfer their broadcasting rights to Major League Baseball (MLB).

By the year 2028, if Major League Baseball (MLB) consolidates the teams they currently broadcast with those affiliated with FanDuel, it is possible that approximately half of the league’s teams could be assembled into an appealing package. This combination might be enticing for fans of these teams, as it could potentially eliminate blackouts.

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2024-11-15 15:31

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