Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that the Phillies have agreed to a new local TV contract with Comcast SportsNet, A spokesman for Comcast confirmed the deal, but did not reveal the terms.
“We’re pleased to confirm that NBCUniversal and Comcast SportsNet have signed a new long-term deal with the Philadelphia Phillies that will expand Comcast SportsNet’s role as the Phillies’ primary TV partner. Although the terms of the comprehensive deal are confidential, details surrounding the 2014 schedule of games will be provided in the coming months.”
The Phillies’ previous deal paid them around $35 million per season, but the terms of this new deal was described as “massive” by one insider and it might approach proportions close to the landmark TV deal signed by the Los Angeles Angels according to Kevin Cooney of the Bucks County Courier Times.
If that’s true, Philadelphia’s deal could be worth as much as $3.75 billion over 25 years. That’s “billion” with a “b”.
Cooney points out that that does not include the big cash that comes in from Major League Baseball’s deals with ESPN, Turner and Fox that kick in this season.
Can you imagine Ruben Amaro Jr. operating that team with this kind of cash infusion? I’m surprised that as part of the deal, Comcast didn’t insist on relieving Amaro of his duties.
I hope Fred and Jeff are paying attention… Nah… Who am I kidding…
