Diamond Sports Group Announces Appointments to Key Executive Roles

By: Diamond Sports Group, LLC via Business Wire

February 23, 2023 at 08:30 AM EST

Appoints David DeVoe Jr. as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and Eric Ratchman as President of Distribution and Business Development

Diamond Sports Group, LLC ("DSG," "Diamond," or the "Company"), today announced that David DeVoe Jr. has been appointed Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and Eric Ratchman has been appointed to the newly created role of President of Distribution and Business Development, effective immediately. Mr. DeVoe, who has been advising DSG since September 2022, and Mr. Ratchman will report directly to DSG Chief Executive Officer, David Preschlack.

David Preschlack, Chief Executive Officer of DSG, stated, “On behalf of the Board of Managers, I am delighted to welcome David and Eric to the Diamond management team, and I look forward to working closely with them as they lead these key functions. David’s proven track record of leading strategy, operations and finance functions in the media industry will be an enormous asset to DSG as we work to substantially improve our balance sheet and position the Company to drive long-term, sustainable value. Further, having worked together at ESPN, I am confident that Eric’s strong business acumen and experience with both traditional media and DTC streaming will help shepherd DSG in its next phase of growth.”

Mr. DeVoe stated, “As DSG’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at this important time for the Company, my near-term priorities are to establish firm financial footing, seek strategic alternatives, and provide operational discipline that will enable DSG to evolve the business while continuing to provide excellent live sports productions for fans. I am energized working with David and the DSG team and by the opportunities ahead for DSG.”

Mr. Ratchman added, “I am excited to join DSG, especially as we seek to continue to provide value to our longstanding network distributor partners and build our streaming services. I also look forward to forging incremental partnerships to drive all aspects of our business.”

As previously announced, the Company has exercised a grace period for interest payments due on certain outstanding debt while it continues progressing ongoing discussions with creditors and other key stakeholders regarding potential strategic alternatives and deleveraging transactions to best position Diamond Sports Group for the future. The Company expects that its business will continue as usual, and it will keep broadcasting quality live sports productions for fans while it addresses its balance sheet.

About David DeVoe Jr.

David DeVoe Jr. brings deep experience in the media industry, including with DSG’s businesses. He is currently an Advisor to Fireside (firesidechat.com), the first interactive Web3 streaming platform. Prior to joining Diamond, Mr. DeVoe provided consulting and advisory services to media and technology businesses through DFD Capital & Advisory, LLC, and he was an Executive Vice President at 21st Century Fox overseeing finance, corporate development, and various global operations functions. Previously, Mr. DeVoe was Chief Financial Officer for several companies including Fox Entertainment Group, News America Marketing and TV Guide. Mr. DeVoe graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame.

About Eric Ratchman

Eric Ratchman has spent over 18 years in digital media, content and sports programming, with deep experience leading transformational change at the intersection of media and technology. He currently serves as an independent media and entertainment advisor. Previously, Mr. Ratchman served at Amazon as the Global Head of Business at IMDb TV (now Amazon Freevee) and as Director of Prime Video Direct. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President of Content Licensing at Univision Communications, Inc. and served for over a decade at The Walt Disney Company and ESPN in increasingly senior roles before serving as Senior Vice President of Global Strategy and Business Development. Mr. Ratchman graduated from the University of Wisconsin.

About Diamond Sports Group

Diamond Sports Group LLC, an unconsolidated subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., owns the Bally Sports Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), the nation’s leading provider of local sports. Its 19 owned-and-operated RSNs include Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Oklahoma, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports West, and Bally Sports Wisconsin. The Bally Sports RSNs serve as the TV home to more than half of all MLB, NHL and NBA teams based in the United States. Diamond Sports Group also has a joint venture in Marquee, the home of the Chicago Cubs, and a minority interest in the YES Network, the local destination for the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets. Diamond RSNs produce approximately 5,000 live local professional telecasts each year in addition to a wide variety of locally produced sports events and programs each year.