Longtime Universal TV Exec Steve Rosenberg Out as President of Diamond Sports Group
Bankrupt operator of the Bally Sports regional sports networks sheds another Sinclair-appointed exec as it tries to get right with Major League Baseball
Change is coming quickly for Diamond Sports Group, with the bankrupt Sinclair Broadcast Group subsidiary parting ways Monday with its president, veteran Universal executive Steve Rosenberg.
The news was first reported by Sports Business Journal.
Rosenberg's role will be filled by Diamond chief financial officer David DeVoe, with his reports answering on an interim basis to CEO David Preschlack.
Rosenberg, who headed Universal Television in the late 1990s and aughts, was hired by Sinclair in July 2020, ahead of the company's move to place management of its Bally Sports regional sports networks in subsidiary Diamond.
Diamond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week, and it has reportedly told the court and its various creditors and partners that it's making progress on deal restructuring with the NBA and NHL.
However, Diamond and Major League Baseball are still said to be far apart on a newly restructured pact. With MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and his group said to be not that fond of Sinclair’s management team, Diamond's loss of a top-level Sinclair-appointed operative doesn’t seem to hurt its cause.
For his part, Preschlack hinted at this in a memo announcing Rosenberg’s departure. “With the recent appointments we have made to the senior leadership team, and the talented staff we have throughout the organization, I am confident in this team’s ability to work together to execute our strategic goals at this time.” ■
NEXT TV NEWSLETTER
The smarter way to stay on top of the streaming and OTT industry. Sign up below.
Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!