Comcast, Diamond Sports Group Nearing Deal to Get Twins Back on Television

Diamond Sports Group’s regional sports networks have been off the air since May 1 because of a dispute with Comcast Xfinity. Diamond is fighting through bankruptcy proceedings and trying to find a way to be profitable in an ever-changing television landscape. Now, a deal between Diamond and Comcast is coming to a head, which should put the Twins back in front of many fans who have been unable to watch for three months. 

Diamond Sports, the owner of Bally Sports North, could not come to a deal with Comcast before their contract expired at the end of April. Many fans have been forced to switch to other limited streaming options like DirecTV or FuboTV to watch the Twins. Both options have pros and cons, so fans must decide on the best option. There were likely many fans who canceled their cable subscriptions because Comcast was no longer carrying the Twins. All of that might be changing in the near future. 

Earlier this week, a lawyer representing Diamond Sports spoke in court and seemed like a deal was imminent. “We believe that we have made substantial progress on resolving our issues with Comcast, and we have the intention of fully documenting and executing an agreement with Comcast to broadcast our RSNs in the very near term.”

The Twins are also optimistic that the situation will be changing soon. Twins president Dave St. Peter was on WCCO earlier this week and discussed the situation with Comcast. “Yeah, there’s all kinds of urgency. Certainly, the baseball team, which we’re not a part of that negotiation, are urging all sides to come together and to get a deal done,” St. Peter said. “I do know there’s some ongoing conversations and I think that’s good. I’m hopeful that you’re gonna see Twins baseball back on Comcast soon.”

Earlier this year, Amazon invested money in Diamond Sports to keep the company afloat amid its bankruptcy issues. Starting on Monday, there will be a confirmation hearing where the judge will evaluate Diamond Sports’ plan to bring the company out of bankruptcy. There is still a possibility that the company may need to liquidate, but signing a new deal with Comcast might help avoid that negative outcome. 

The Twins also found out this week that they are among a handful of clubs eligible to receive revenue-sharing dollars due to their television situation. Eligible teams with lost TV revenue will be eligible for up to $15 million each, with the league expected to cap payouts at a total of $75 million. It is a one-year deal, meant to serve as a bridge to help teams for the 2024 season. MLB and MLBPA hope the influx will help impacted teams spend money on players in the short term, but a long-term solution remains unsolved. 

Hopefully, the resolution between Comcast and Diamond Sports will come swiftly before even more fans tune out for the season. Thankfully, the two sides seem close to a deal that should allow Twins fans to do what they’ve wanted all season… watch the Minnesota Twins play baseball. 

How are you watching the Twins this season? What’s your prediction for where the Twins will be available in 2025 and beyond? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.