After a couple of months of fan frustration not being able to watch baseball on television, Comcast subscribers got some good news on Monday.
Diamond Sports Group, which owns and operates the regional sports brand Bally Sports, and Comcast announced that they have reached a carriage agreement for the distribution of Diamond’s 15 regional sports networks to Xfinity TV customers according to a report.
“We are pleased that Minnesota Twins baseball on Bally Sports North will again be available to Comcast and Midco subscribers throughout Twins Territory," said a statement from the team provided to WCCO Radio. "We appreciate Comcast and Diamond Sports Group working to reach a deal that restores television access on this important carrier, we thank Twins fans for their patience, and we look forward to the shared excitement of our postseason push these next two months.”
Under the agreement, subscribers to Comcast’s Xfinity Ultimate TV package in Bally Sports markets will gain access to games again effective August 1, 2024.
Additionally, Xfinity Ultimate TV customers will be able to stream that content with their Xfinity credentials on the Bally Sports app.
The contract deals were not disclosed but for fans it has been a long wait. Games have been blocked out on Comcast-Xfinity systems for 15 MLB teams since the start of May.
Those teams include the Minnesota Twins, the Atlanta Braves, the Miami Marlins, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Detroit Tigers, the Cleveland Guardians, the Kansas City Royals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cincinnati Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels.
Diamond Sports is currently in bankruptcy and has struggled to continue paying rights fees to teams across several sports.