On Friday, Diamond Sports, Bally Brand’s regional sports group, announced agreements with the NHL and NBA. As part of the deal, the diffuser will come out his contracts with the The Dallas Mavericks And The New Orleans Pelicans.
Diamond’s announcement comes amid its bankruptcy saga, which began in March 2023.
It’s unclear how fans will watch. Mavericks games this seasonThe team will appear on national television 30 times during the 2024-25 season, but has directed all requests to the league for further details.
“We have entered into a new agreement with Diamond Sports Group for the 2024-25 season during which Diamond RSN will broadcast the local games of 13 NBA teams,” according to an NBA spokesperson.
“The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans have declined to continue to broadcast their games on Diamond RSNs and will share more details soon on how to watch upcoming season games in their respective markets. This new agreement is subject to approval by the bankruptcy court,” they continued.
The Pelicans, for their part, had already reached alternative broadcast deals for the 2024-25 season. Diamond’s new deals, including those with the NBA and NHL, still need approval from a federal bankruptcy judge, with a hearing scheduled for Sept. 3.
NHL, NBA adjust terms of contract with Bally
The NHL and NBA have adjusted the terms of their contracts, likely involving a reduction in broadcast rights, though the specific figures were not disclosed in court filings Friday. The NBA’s filing describes the Mavericks’ and Pelicans’ departure from Diamond Sports as a mutual decision.
The two leagues, the Mavericks and Pelicans, have not yet responded to requests for comment. For the 2024-25 seasons, Diamond Sports will broadcast games from 13 NBA teams and nine NHL teams.
This summer, Diamond and Comcast had a nearly three-month feud that resulted in Diamond’s channels being unavailable to Comcast Xfinity subscribers during the Major League Baseball season. Diamond also carries games from a dozen MLB teams.
In early August, Diamond and Comcast reached an agreement that restored the games to Comcast’s lineup. However, the deal called for Diamond’s channels to be placed in a premium tier, meaning customers would now have to pay an additional monthly fee to access them.
Alternative for the Dallas Mavericks
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If Diamond emerges from bankruptcy, it has reached agreements with the NBA and NHL to extend its operations beyond the 2024-25 season. Still, the crucial question of Diamond’s long-term viability remains unanswered.
When WFAA asked Mavs management for an official comment on the Diamond Sports Group situation, they referenced the NBA’s announcement.
Dallas Mark Cuban, Mavericks minority shareholder said at an event earlier this month, as reported by WFAA-TV, that if Bally does not renew its contract with the Mavericks, the franchise will look to expand its distribution options.
One possibility could be to partner with the Dallas Stars, who ended their rights deal with Bally and are set to launch Victory+, a direct-to-consumer streaming app that will allow fans in the market to watch games for free this season.
The situation will become clearer after the September 3 hearing for the Diamond Sports network.
