MLB Hires Josh Clark as SVP of Content Distribution to Navigate Changing Local Media Landscape
The hire of the former EVP of U.S. Networks Distribution at Paramount comes in the wake of Diamond Sports Group’s ongoing bankruptcy
Major League Baseball has hired Josh Clark as the newly-created Senior Vice President, Content Distribution. Clark will oversee distribution agreements for local media live game rights, MLB Network, MLB.TV, and Extra Innings through third party distribution channels. Clark will report to Kenny Gersh, MLB Executive Vice President, Media and Business Development.
The new hire is part of the leagues ongoing efforts to adapt as Diamond Sports Group’s (DSG) regional sports networks ongoing struggles. DSG, which operates 19 Bally Sports RSNs and holds the local media rights of a dozen MLB teams, filed for bankruptcy protection in March. MLB’s newly launched Local Media department took over broadcasts of San Diego Padres games in May and Arizona Diamondbacks in July and the league says it is prepared to produce and distribute games for any additional teams in a similar fashion next season.
“Josh’s strong relationships and track record of success at some of the biggest media companies in the world makes him an ideal addition to grow MLB’s content distribution globally,” says Noah Garden, MLB Chief Revenue Officer. “Additionally, as we anticipate the potential of incorporating more MLB Clubs into our local media framework, Josh will play an integral role in helping to maximize reach of MLB’s television and digital assets.”
Clark brings more than 15 years of experience working with both linear and digital distribution partners and joins MLB after more than six years at Paramount where he was most recently Executive Vice President of U.S. Networks Distribution. In that role, Clark oversaw the structuring and execution of distribution agreements for linear, direct to consumer, and video on demand platforms. Prior to his time at Paramount, Clark held distribution positions of increasing responsibility with Dish Network/Sling TV and NBC Universal. Clark graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
The newly created position will help support MLB’s ongoing effort to further enhance its local media capabilities. In February, MLB hired Billy Chambers in the newly created position of EVP for local media and promoted Gersh to his current role from executive vice president of business development. One month later, launched its local media department with the hiring of Doug Johnson as SVP & Executive Producer of Local Media, Greg Pennell as SVP of Local Media and Kendall Burgess as VP of Local Media Technical Operations.
In a recent court filing, DSG said it intends to keep 10 of the 12 teams for which it holds rights and is currently negotiating deals for the other two. DSG also said it has “determined which MLB team agreements the debtors may retain, subject to further discussions with the applicable teams, and recently have identified these teams to MLB.” This comes after commissioner Rob Manfred recently called out DSG, saying “there is no reason to believe that the debtors will finally figure out a path forward.”
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