Twins president Dave St. Peter has dropped a significant hint regarding the future broadcasting landscape for Twins games beyond 2024. This offseason, the Twins experienced a whirlwind of speculation and rumors concerning roster changes and the elusive TV rights deal.
Rumors swirled about potential trades involving key players like Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler, only for the team to ultimately trade Polanco for a reliever and prospect. Despite losing pitchers Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda, the team made some high-risk acquisitions, notably Josh Staumont and Carlos Santana.
Off the field, the saga surrounding the TV rights deal caused anxiety among Twins fans. While there were discussions about games potentially airing on Amazon Prime, the Twins eventually secured a one-year extension to continue broadcasting on Bally Sports North.
However, with the deal now in place, St. Peter hinted at forthcoming changes. In an interview with The Athletic’s Evan Drellich, he discussed potential future developments. St. Peter hinted at the possibility of leveraging MLB’s rumored regional streaming service, indicating openness to exploring various options.
St. Peter’s mention of discussions with ‘other broadcasters’ suggests a potential shift away from a direct-to-consumer model, possibly seeking a stable partnership akin to their previous arrangement with Diamond Sports Group. Alternatively, the Twins might consider launching their own direct-to-consumer service, similar to networks like YES and Marquee, to broaden their reach beyond the viewing market.
The overarching goal, as emphasized by St. Peter, is to expand the reach of Twins broadcasts. While out-of-market fans currently rely on MLB.tv, a Twins-specific service would likely be more appealing. Moreover, creating their own network could serve as a local sports hub, potentially increasing revenue.
For now, Bally Sports North remains the home for Twins games for the upcoming season. However, indications suggest that changes are on the horizon, with the Twins exploring avenues to enhance their broadcasting strategy and revenue streams beyond 2024.
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