Details regarding the Texas Rangers’ local media rights strategy are gradually becoming clearer. Earlier this offseason, the club revealed that instead of partnering with a traditional regional sports network or joining the league’s broadcast umbrella, they will pursue a unique approach to their local rights.
On Monday, fans received additional insights into these plans. According to a report by Mike Mazzeo in Sports Business Journal, the Rangers have established a new entity called Rangers Sports Media & Entertainment, which will manage the forthcoming Rangers Sports Network, tasked with producing and distributing the team’s local games. This operational split appears to be more of a formality rather than a significant shift in the Rangers’ television strategy; Mazzeo notes that the team has already been functionally operating under this structure for the past two months following decisions primarily made by owner Ray Davis.
Neil Leibman, who will step down from his role as team president to lead the new entity, reinforced this idea by telling SBJ, “[Rangers Sports Media & Entertainment] will be owned by the Rangers, so it’s all going in one pocket.” Earlier this month, the Rangers initiated their DIY approach to local rights by announcing a partnership with the direct-to-consumer streaming service Victory+, with subscriptions priced at $100 per season, which aligns with similar offerings across the league.
However, the specifics regarding availability on satellite and cable services have yet to be disclosed, as the new entity will need to negotiate carriage agreements with local satellite and cable companies. By launching their own network and integrating it with a streaming service, the Rangers aim to secure greater media rights revenue than if they were to sign a deal with an existing regional sports network.
