Texas Rangers dipping toes into broadcast streaming following collapse of Bally Sports deal

The Texas Rangers are staring down a new frontier as their contract with Diamond Sports, the parent company of Bally Sports Southwest, wraps up at the end of the season. With that partnership coming to a close, the team is weighing their next move for how fans can watch their games going forward. Right now, the most ambitious option on the table is the creation of a regional sports network (RSN) that the Rangers would control. While no final deals are in place yet, it’s a possibility that would give them greater control over how their broadcasts are distributed and could potentially lead to more revenue in the long term.

The Rangers aren’t the first team to break from Bally Sports, and they won’t be the last. The Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars have already parted ways with Bally Sports Southwest and are working on their own broadcast solutions. The Rangers could take a similar path, but they’re also leaving the door open for a more conservative approach, whether that’s allowing Major League Baseball to handle the broadcasts or even returning to the negotiating table with Diamond Sports later in the offseason if things don’t go as planned.

However, it’s clear that the team is frustrated with the current reach of their games. “We have a five-state territory, 16.5 million households and only 16% - a little over 2 million people - can watch our games,” said Neil Leibman, the Rangers’ president of business operations and COO, during a recent symposium. “We have to fix that.”

Fixing it, though, isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. If the Rangers go the RSN route, they’ll have to strike distribution deals that allow fans across their broad territory to access Games. That’s a lot of negotiating, and it may take deep into the offseason before the full picture comes together. There are potential benefits in the long run. By owning their own network, the Rangers could offer streaming options, a traditional cable feed, and maybe even some over-the-air broadcasts. That kind of control could give them flexibility, not only in how fans watch Games but also in how they advertise and market the team.

For now, though, the Rangers remain in the exploratory phase. Diamond Sports reportedly offered the team a comPetitive fee to stick around, but the Rangers turned it down. They haven’t confirmed or denied the report, but it’s clear they’re keeping their options open.

After Sunday’s final game, the Rangers will essentially be free agents in the broadcast world. Whatever happens next will shape how the team connects with its fanbase for years to come. Whether they manage to launch their own RSN or find another solution, the Rangers are making it clear that the current system isn’t working for them - or their fans.