美国国家公共电台 NPR--A regional sports network bankruptcy means some baseball fans may not see games on TV

A regional sports network bankruptcy¹ means some baseball fans may not see games on TV

Transcript²

Diamond Sports Group's bankruptcy filing last month could disrupt America's sports media industry and leave some fans in the dark — at least temporarily.

Spring has arrived, and with it, the return of a new Major League Baseball season. The sound of a wooden bat hitting a baseball is once again echoing through all 30 Major League ballparks.

For many fans, like lifelong San Diego Padres supporter Lance Richardson, the start of the season marks the beginning of an annual ritual that has become part of their DNA³.

"The team is practically like one of my children," Richardson says.

Watching baseball games on TV has become a daily routine for millions of fans across the country. But the bankruptcy of Diamond Sports, which owns and operates 19 regional sports networks across the U.S., has created some anxiety among fans, including Richardson.

"How or where I would be able to watch the games, there is a lot of uncertainty⁴," he says.

This uncertainty will continue as the company goes through the bankruptcy process.

Diamond Sports' regional sports networks, which are branded as Bally Sports, are broadcasting professional and college sports in specific geographic⁵ areas, such as Southern California or the Southeast.

Changing business model of regional sports broadcasting

The business model of regional sports networks has come under scrutiny⁶ in recent years.

This is primarily driven by cord-cutting, which refers to the cancellation⁷ of cable or satellite pay-TV subscriptions⁸ in favor of streaming services. Since 2012, about 25 million U.S. households have cut the cord, according to media reports.

"[Regional sports networks] were really hit by two things happening at once cord cutting, and then COVID came in at a very inopportune time because there were no more sports being broadcast anywhere," says Jon Lewis, owner and operator SportsMediaWatch.com.

As the trend of cord-cutting continues, cable and satellite providers are looking to reduce costs, and regional sports broadcasts are often the first casualties.

Regional sports channels not only attract a relatively⁹ small audience, but they are also some of the most expensive channels within pay-TV bundles. According to media research firm Kagan, a subdivision of S&P Global, many networks charge upwards¹⁰ of $5 per month per subscriber¹¹.

"The situation right now is pretty simple, [regional sports networks] are providing programming that is important to a very specific sector¹² of fan, but it does not necessarily matter to the broad TV viewing audience," says Lewis.

The loss of revenue, combined with the high costs of broadcasting rights deals, meant that Diamond Sports was bleeding money.

MLB set to take over

Diamond Sports owns the broadcast rights to 14 MLB teams, including the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers.

The league announced that it would take over the broadcast of any team affected¹³ by the situation.

"Major League Baseball is ready to produce and distribute games to fans in their local markets in the event that Diamond or any other regional sports network is unable to do so as required by their agreement with our Clubs," the league said in a statement emailed to NPR.

The league has more than 20 years of broadcast experience and hired local media professionals in anticipation¹⁴ of this potential development. But what a takeover by the league would mean for fans in terms of the viewing experience remains¹⁵ to be seen.

California Dreamin'

At age 54, Richardson is about as old as the San Diego Padres themselves.

Like many other Padres fans, he despises the Los Angeles Dodgers¹⁶ and hopes that 2023 will be the year when the San Diego secures its first World Series title.

"The excitement going into this season, it exceeds what I've seen in any prior season," says Richardson.

Last season, the team made it all the way to the National League Championship Series, where they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.

With so much hype around the team, any disruption – even a temporary one – would be unwelcome news for Richardson.

"I'd be very disappointed and a little bit bitter," he says.

1 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

4 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

5 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

7 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

8 subscriptions   

n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助

参考例句：

• Subscriptions to these magazines can be paid in at the post office. 这些杂志的订阅费可以在邮局缴纳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Payment of subscriptions should be made to the club secretary. 会费应交给俱乐部秘书。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

10 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

11 subscriber   

n.用户，订户；（慈善机关等的）定期捐款者；预约者；签署者

参考例句：

• The subscriber to a government loan has got higher interest than savings. 公债认购者获得高于储蓄的利息。 来自辞典例句
• Who is the subscriber of that motto? 谁是那条座右铭的签字者？ 来自辞典例句

12 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

13 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

14 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

15 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

16 dodgers   

n.躲闪者，欺瞒者( dodger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a crackdown on fare dodgers on trains 对火车逃票者的严厉打击
• But Twain, Howells, and James were jeeringly described by Mencken as "draft-dodgers". 不过吐温、豪威尔斯和詹姆斯都是被门肯讥诮地叫做“逃避兵役的人。” 来自辞典例句