Everyone seems to agree that RSNs, and particularly Sinclair, are in deep shit
"Sinclair does not have enough digital rights from enough clubs in order to have a viable direct-to-consumer product."
Archives
Sinclair agrees to partnership with Bally’s for naming rights to Fox Sports regional networks
You're watching Atlanta Braves baseball on... Bally's Sports South?
Sinclair took a $4.2 billion writedown over its regional sports networks, posted a quarterly loss of $3.2 billion
Distribution losses, including with Hulu+Live TV and YouTube TV, played a big role in this write-down.
Sinclair’s regional sports networks unit is facing a possible debt restructuring, and has been called their “Achilles’ heel”
Sinclair's purchase of the former Fox RSNs from Disney at a $10.6 billion valuation (with $9.6 billion exchanged) had some merit at the time, but those RSNs are facing some dire challenges now.
Fox RSNs go dark on Dish and Sling TV, causing issues for many MLB fans, and the sides are now reportedly “far apart”
After a temporary extension Sunday, the Fox RSNs have now gone dark on Dish and Sling TV. And the sides don't seem close to a deal.
Dish/Sling TV agree to temporary extension to keep Fox RSNs, FX, and National Geographic
The agreement between the sides expired Sunday, but they've worked out a temporary deal. Will a longer one follow?
Charter has reportedly agreed to a RSN carriage deal in principle with Sinclair, even before Sinclair’s RSN purchase closes
This may help alleviate some of the immediate worries about the RSNs' future carriage under Sinclair.
Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley wants to offer “pitch-by-pitch” prop bet abilities on their new RSNs
"If you're interested in gaming, we're going to add on extra stats, the ability to do prop bets in the game, pitch by pitch, play by play. You can play along and wager while you watch."
Sinclair stock soars after purchase of Fox Sports RSNs, but distributors are wary of the new ownership
Many investors are happy with Sinclair's purchase of the RSNs, but distributors are concerned about the negotiations ahead.
Analyst says “best scenario” for RSNs is losing half their distribution, and they could lose as much as 75 percent
Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson expects the Fox RSNs to lose 50 to 75 percent of their distribution in the next couple of years. "It's really hard to see any good outcome for a RSN."
Sinclair appears to have officially landed the former Fox RSNs for “more than $10 billion”
It looks like the 21 former Fox RSNs still out there are in fact heading to Sinclair, with an announcement expected Friday.
Sinclair is the reported winner of the former Fox RSNs, with a “handshake agreement” to buy them for up to $10 billion
It looks like the 21 remaining former Fox RSNs have been sold to Sinclair, which only reportedly reemerged as a bidder earlier this month.
Final Fox RSN bids see Liberty and MLB team up, Sinclair back in the game, and the BIG3 still bidding “for the culture”
Liberty and MLB have reportedly combined their bids, and Sinclair's now bidding again. The BIG3 bid is also there.
BIG3 claims to FCC that Charter has already decided not to carry RSNs the BIG3 hasn’t even won yet
"Charter's conduct risks effectively excluding BIG3 from the bidding process and tainting the auction. It has been suggested to BIG3's ownership that Charter has disseminated its threat to drop the (regional sports networks) to other members of the industry."
Liberty Media is now apparently bidding for the former Fox RSNs, and Sinclair and Apollo Global now apparently aren’t
As one bidder enters, two others apparently leave.
Disney’s sale of the former Fox RSNs has three formal bids, with all reportedly way below original $20-22 billion estimates
After the second round of bids, the former Fox networks still aren't attracting offers close to what many originally estimated they were worth.
Despite initial reports, Charter did not submit any bids for Fox RSNs, leaving Disney with few suitors
As we know now, the first round of bidding for the 22 Fox regional sports networks that Disney...
The first round of bidding for the Fox RSNs was a confusing, muddled affair, with Amazon not fully involved and digital rights debate
It turns out Amazon may not have put in a full bid for the whole RSN package after all, and other bidders were reportedly confused about what MLB digital rights were included.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says they “have preferences” for who gets the Fox RSNs, are “looking at the RSNs ourselves”
MLB might wind up being yet another bidder for the Fox RSNs.
If one of the private equity firms bidding for the former Fox RSNs wins out, what could that mean for consumers?
RSNs owned by private equity might look very different, especially when it comes to non-game programming and carriage negotiations.
One private equity firm pursuing the Fox regional sports networks is trying to land LeBron’s Uninterrupted as “a strategic partner”
"Apollo's talks with James' multimedia platform have focused on a strategic partnership deal that could see James contributing and advising on content for the networks."
Fox executives are reportedly discussing buying back their regional sports networks from Disney
Meet the new Fox, same as the old Fox?
Private equity firms, tech companies and Sinclair all reportedly interested in Fox RSNs, possibly to bundle with other stations
There are a whole lot of bidders in the mix for these regional sports networks.
Fox Sports produces “Cape Cod: A Journey To The Bigs” special for FS1, regional networks
The special will premiere on FS1 Tuesday night and air on Fox Sports regional networks Wednesday.
The price is right: Why Fox would sell to Disney and what it means
How will ESPN run RSN day-to-day operations? What is the future of FS1?
