The News
Monday 23 of December 2024

MLB hopes to gain control of local broadcast deals


AP Photo, Rob Manfred,FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2019 file photo, Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, speaks during a news conference at owners meetings in Orlando, Fla. Major League Baseball and Reds are this season commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who pioneered professional baseball.  Manfred will be grand marshal Thursday, March 28 of the 100th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade in Cincinnati. The colorful parade featuring floats, marching bands and celebrities will begin winding through the city.  (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
AP Photo, Rob Manfred,FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2019 file photo, Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, speaks during a news conference at owners meetings in Orlando, Fla. Major League Baseball and Reds are this season commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who pioneered professional baseball. Manfred will be grand marshal Thursday, March 28 of the 100th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade in Cincinnati. The colorful parade featuring floats, marching bands and celebrities will begin winding through the city. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball hopes to gain control of local broadcasting agreements involving its teams, the reason behind its bid to purchase regional sports networks from The Walt Disney Co.

Disney acquired 22 RSNs as part of its $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment business this month, and the Justice Department said last June that Disney had to sell the networks as a condition of the deal.

The New York Yankees have a right of first refusal to buy back control of their YES Network and have arranged partners for their own deal. MLB wants to purchase the remaining networks.

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