Neil Leibman, a prominent figure in the Texas Rangers' front office for more than a decade and a half, has stood down as chairman of Rangers Sports Media and Entertainment, the club announced on Monday.
The move is effective immediately. The organisation said Leibman will be concentrating on other business opportunities. He will also return his ownership stake in the franchise but is not expected to retain a seat on the Rangers' board. Reports indicate the split was amicable.
From operations to media pivot
Leibman has been associated with the Rangers for 16 years and was an original member of the group that bought the club in August 2010. He previously served as the team’s president and chief operating officer before being tapped to run the newly formed Rangers Sports Media and Entertainment business in January 2025.
That entity has been responsible for a significant reshaping of how the Rangers distribute their content and monetise it. Under Leibman’s stewardship, the organisation established an in‑house broadcast arm — Rangers Sports Network — and created an entertainment division known as REV Entertainment. The franchise also launched its own direct‑to‑consumer services, moving beyond traditional cable deals.
Streaming experiments and ownership links
The Rangers first trialled a direct platform on the virtual service Victory+. During the current season there was a mid‑campaign announcement that another DTC platform, BZZR, would carry Rangers games. Leibman is named as an investor in BZZR in public reporting, though team sources do not consider that connection to be the reason for his departure.
Day‑to‑day leadership of the two main strands of the media operation will remain with existing executives. Angie Swint, the senior vice‑president of broadcasting, has been overseeing the network side of the business, while Sean Decker, president of REV, continues to lead the entertainment arm.
"Leibman will be focusing on other business opportunities."
The family of owner Ray Davis, 84, could assume a more prominent role as the front office settles into its new structure. The club said any further adjustments to the management team will be announced in due course.
What this means for the Rangers and beyond
Leibman’s exit comes at a time when many sports franchises are experimenting with how to reach fans directly by launching proprietary streaming platforms and entertainment units. For the Rangers, the creation of both an internal network and a content studio has been part of a strategy to capture more revenue streams and control distribution.
Officials credit Leibman with working closely alongside Davis on some of the franchise's most visible infrastructure projects, including the deal to build Globe Life Field and the adjacent leisure complex Texas Live! He was also appointed chairman of the Rangers Ownership Committee in 2013.
With Leibman returning his stake and stepping away from the chairmanship, the Rangers must now navigate the governance of their media ambitions without the executive who shepherded their pivot into direct‑to‑consumer services. How this will influence negotiations with distribution partners, the future of the BZZR arrangement, or potential expansions of REV Entertainment remains to be seen.
For now, the club has emphasised continuity. The immediate responsibilities will be absorbed internally, and the Rangers have signalled that any long‑term succession planning or structural changes will be considered and communicated later.
- Duration: Leibman served with the Rangers for 16 years.
- Roles affected: Chairman of Rangers Sports Media and Entertainment; returns ownership stake; will not remain on the board.
- Operational leads: Angie Swint (SVP/Broadcasting) and Sean Decker (President, REV) continue to run day‑to‑day activities.
| Position | Current lead |
|---|---|
| RSN / Broadcasting | Angie Swint |
| REV Entertainment | Sean Decker |
The departure of a high‑profile executive who bridged ownership, operations and media illustrates the wider tensions sports teams face as they balance traditional broadcast relationships with in‑house content ambitions. Observers will be watching how the Rangers manage that balance without Leibman at the helm.
