Locked On Angels - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Angels · Locked On Podcast Network, Mike Frisch, Jon Frisch

GAMECHANGER or CHANNEL-CHANGER: The Angels Could CONTROL Their Destiny with Their Own TV Network

·35 min·3 clips

The Angels could launch their own sports network by 2026, giving them full control over broadcasts and revenue.

The Frisch brothers, John and Mike, host this episode exploring the possibility of the Los Angeles Angels launching their own television network. They analyze this potential move in the context of the team's current broadcast uncertainty following the collapse of the regional sports network model. The hosts begin by reviewing the Angels' known options, which include having MLB produce broadcasts or partnering with the streaming service Victory+. A report from the Sports Business Journal indicates the Angels are exploring a third option: starting their own network by buying out Main Street Sports' stake in the existing Bally Sports West. This model would see the Angels gain full control, potentially keeping LA Kings broadcasts on the channel by paying them a rights fee. The hosts note the Angels have asked MLB for more time to decide on the league's broadcast proposal, creating uncertainty about televised spring training games. They explain that the existing production infrastructure, including cameras and crew, is already in place regardless of the final path chosen. A key insight is that owning a network could allow the Angels to control their broadcast narrative completely, though this risks creating a solely positive, "state-run media" environment like their radio station AM 830. The hosts argue that direct ownership could be the best financial path, as it would let the Angels capture all advertising revenue instead of sharing it. They suggest this model could eventually dispel the narrative that owner Arte Moreno must be "cheap," as revenue would flow directly to the team. However, they caution that success would require exceptional marketing and multi-platform distribution beyond traditional cable, leveraging platforms like YouTube and social media. The Texas Rangers' "Rangers Sports Network," launched in 2025, serves as a potential blueprint, utilizing a multi-platform approach with cable, streaming on Victory+, and free over-the-air broadcasts. This network primarily airs game-related programming like pregame and postgame shows, keeping operating costs lower than a 24/7 channel. The hosts speculate an Angels network could add classic games, talk shows like a Roger Lodge simulcast, or historical features to build fandom. They conclude the Rangers' proven model makes the idea feel less risky for the Angels to adopt. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending fan perspective with business analysis. This episode is ideal for Angels fans interested in the business of baseball and the future of how they will watch games. Listeners solely interested in on-field roster analysis might find the extensive TV rights discussion less engaging.

As heard by us

The Angels’ TV future is treated as a real possibility, with the Rangers used as the main comparison.

The episode looks at the Angels’ TV future and what a full-on Angels sports network in 2026 might actually mean. John and Mike frame the conversation through the Rangers’ experience after their 2024 contract with Diamond Sports Group expired, then use that comparison to think…

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You want the Angels TV mess turned into a real team-control argument.

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