FAQ: What to know about Diamondbacks' new TV arrangement for 2024

After an offseason of surveying options, the Diamondbacks announced Thursday that Major League Baseball will once again distribute and produce their games in 2024. Broadcasts will be available to fans via DBACKS.TV, a direct-to-consumer streaming platform.

MLB stepped in to broadcast Diamondbacks games last summer after the parent company of the team’s previous regional sports network, Bally Sports Arizona, went bankrupt.

The Diamondbacks explored a range of other possibilities before moving forward with MLB, including over-the-air telecasts, akin to what the Suns and Coyotes have in place, as well as a potential hybrid model. Ultimately, the team went with a broadcast partner with which they are already quite familiar.

“We took time to weigh all of our broadcast options for the upcoming season and how they would each impact our fans,” Hall said in a team press release. “MLB Media stepped in last year when we needed them to and ensured a seamless transition for all viewers. They reached more households than our prior partnership, improved production quality dramatically, and offered a top-of-the-line streaming product with no blackouts.”

With Diamondbacks spring training games slated to begin on Friday, here is a quick rundown of everything we know about the team’s new TV arrangement.

1. What does DBACKS.TV include, and how much does it cost?

DBACKS.TV includes access to all Diamondbacks games and is not subject to blackouts, with the exception of exclusive national broadcasts, such as games on ESPN or FOX. Fans can watch games on a wide variety of devices. The service costs $19.99 per month or $99.99 for the year.

The team plans to broadcast five spring training games for free. Those games are Saturday, Feb. 24, against the Colorado Rockies, Tuesday, March 5, against the San Diego Padres, Thursday, March 14, against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, March 17, against the Los Angeles Angels and Monday, March 25, against the Cleveland Guardians.

You can sign up at dbacks.tv.

2. Can I still watch Diamondbacks games through my cable provider? What about other streaming platforms?

DBACKS.TV is a direct-to-consumer streaming service only, but games are still expected to be available through a variety of cable providers and streaming platforms. The Diamondbacks said on X that details for these carriers are still to be determined, and they expect to have more information closer to Opening Day.

In the meantime, the aforementioned five spring training broadcasts will be available on DBACKS.TV for free.

3. Is DBACKS.TV included with an MLB.TV subscription?

DBACKS.TV is not included with a standard MLB.TV subscription. However, viewers can save by purchasing a bundle that includes both DBACKS.TV and MLB.TV. The bundle costs $199.99 per year or $39.99 per month.

For reference, a standard MLB.TV package costs $149.99 per year or $29.99 per month, so upgrading to the bundle that includes DBACKS.TV is an extra $50 per year, or $10 per month.

4. What does ‘no blackouts’ mean?

DBACKS.TV not having blackouts means that subscribers in the Diamondbacks market will be able to watch games. This runs in contrast to a standard MLB.TV package, which restricts viewership to those who are not in either team’s broadcast market.

It should be noted that DBACKS.TV subscribers are still subject to blackout restrictions for other teams outside the Diamondbacks’ market. For example, if a DBACKS.TV subscriber is in Atlanta while the Diamondbacks are playing the Braves, that game would be blacked out. (That game would not be blacked out, however, if that subscriber were back in the Arizona market.)

5. What does the new TV deal mean for Diamondbacks TV revenue?

When asked on Monday if he expected the team to take a financial hit on its new TV deal, Hall was quick to say yes.

“We knew it was coming even last year looking at our projections for going forward,” he said.

The Diamondbacks’ previous TV deal, signed in 2015, was reportedly worth around $1.5 billion over 20 years, which works out to $75 million per year. It is not yet known how much the team expects to earn from its partnership with MLB in 2024.

Last year, MLB promised to backstop 80 percent of the revenues that teams had been slated to receive under their previous contracts with Diamond Sports Group, the operator of Bally Sports Arizona. However, that arrangement is not expected to continue for 2024.

Helped by an extended postseason run that brought an influx of extra cash, the Diamondbacks were one of the more active spenders this offseason and will enter the 2024 season with their highest payroll in franchise history. Presumably, future TV revenues — as well as the team’s impending stadium deal negotiations — will have a meaningful impact on where payroll goes from here.

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Top photo: Rob Schumacher