At the outset of cable television, the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball team, under the leadership of Ted Turner, achieved a remarkable feat. Few other sports teams had managed to gain a national audience beyond just a "Game of the Week." With the establishment of a "superstation" in WTBS-17, Turner brought Braves baseball during the Dale Murphy era, before its ascent to the top of the National League in the 1990s, across the entire nation. Now, a different Channel 17 is on the verge of bringing Braves games back to broadcast TV, this time with a focus on the Atlanta DMA.

Partnership with Gray Media: A Multiyear Endeavor

The team, which is traded as "BATRA" and "BATRK" on Nasdaq, has joined forces with Atlanta-based Gray Media in a multi-year partnership that kicks off with the 2025 MLB season. Gray-owned WPCH-17, "Peachtree TV" in Atlanta, has agreed to simulcast 15 regular season games produced and aired by Diamond Sports Group-owned FanDuel Sports Network, the Braves' rightsholder partner (formerly branded as Bally Sports). These 15 regular season games will be distributed throughout the season, and the specific games will be announced at a later date. Additionally, Gray will exclusively produce and air 10 Braves spring training games.This partnership is set to increase the reach of the selected games, providing fans with a new avenue to watch Braves baseball. Gray will carry the Braves in 24 markets across six states within the Braves' home television territory, one of the largest in professional sports. This means that a greater number of fans than ever before will have access to the games.Outside of Atlanta, digital multicast networks such as Peachtree Sports Network (PSN), Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network, the Tennessee Valley Sports & Entertainment Network, and portions of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network will also air the Braves games. Moreover, a "select" number of games will be broadcast on some of Gray's ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and CW affiliates outside of Atlanta, as depicted below.

Benefits for Fans

Atlanta Braves President/CEO Derek Schiller expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to partner with Gray Media to offer our fans more opportunities to watch a simulcast of certain games and access our content all across the Southeast. This partnership makes Braves baseball even more accessible, allowing fans throughout Braves Country the ability to watch in a way that best suits them, whether that is on cable, local TV, or streaming."Hilton Howell Jr., the Chairman/CEO of Gray Television (publicly traded), added, "Gray Media is thrilled to partner with the Atlanta Braves to bring baseball back to local broadcast television across the Southeast. We are proud to give Braves fans a new way to watch their favorite players and one of the best franchises in baseball history."Gray is also working with the MLB club to develop ancillary programming that will air outside of the MLB season. This additional content, potentially featuring Braves players, coaches, and alumni, will expand the opportunities for viewers to follow the team beyond live game coverage and connect with the Braves on a new level.More details about the selected games and the additional content will be disclosed prior to the start of the season, generating even more excitement among Braves fans.