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One upstream factoid the article is missing: We are beginning to see sports team bypass networks like ESPN entirely. In the wake of Bally Sports breaking contracts with various teams, MLB started some distribution on its own.

I doubt this will go unnoticed by other sports leagues. These are interesting times.

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I had not heard of that dispute. But I did notice that MLB.tv has recently added blackout-free subscriptions only for two teams: the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. Is that what this is about?

> Policy regarding local live game blackouts does not apply to purchasers that select MLB.TV Single Team Yearly or MLB.TV Single Team Monthly who select the San Diego Padres or Arizona Diamondbacks as their club.

When Bally’s imploded the Padres touted how going with mlb.tv expanded their reach from cable subscribers to the whole regional fan base

Of course those fans have to sign up for yet another service vs cable tv that would just pay a fraction per subscriber

As a padres fan it was fantastic. I could finally legally watch padres games without dealing with blackouts.

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