Diamond Sports Group, the RSN operator that airs broadcasts under the name Bally Sports, must fully pay four Major League clubs to fulfill contracts in question, according to a U.S. bankruptcy judge in Houston.

Diamond, working through bankruptcy proceedings, had argued it should pay the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Guardians, Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers less than what the current deals call for, noting that the rapid rate of cord-cutting throughout the United States.

Judge Chris Lopez, presiding over a case that lasted two full days and included prolonged testimony from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, ultimately stated that "the contract rate is the right answer here."

The decision likely set a crucial precedent that undercuts Diamond's hope to lower costs by decreasing the value of previously agreed upon contracts, particularly with 28 NBA and NHL teams also under its purview.

"Profitability is certainly decreasing for each team," Lopez said as part of his ruling. "But again, this doesn't mean that the contract rate and those fees under those contracts is not reasonable."

The Twins, Guardians, Diamondbacks and Rangers had already been paid 75% of what they were owed as a means to hold them over until the conclusion of the hearing.