Comcast and Bally Sports have officially reached a new carriage agreement that will reintroduce Bally Sports' regional sports networks to their viewers just in time for the start of August. This significant development is the result of an agreement between Comcast and Diamond Sports Group, enabling fans to tune into live, local broadcasts of MLB, NBA, and NHL games via Comcast's premium cable package, Xfinity’s "Ultimate TV."
This newfound availability comes as a relief to sports enthusiasts who lost access to Bally Sports channels in early May due to ongoing negotiations between the two entities. To sweeten the deal for customers, Comcast is offering a three-month trial period for those who upgrade to the "Ultimate TV" package by August 30. After the trial period, the package will cost $20 monthly.
Resolution After Lengthy Negotiations
The prolonged negotiations saw their scheduled confirmation hearing, initially set for July 29 and 30, postponed. The restored availability of Bally Sports channels is not just a victory for fans but also plays a crucial role in Diamond Sports' Chapter 11 restructuring efforts, which have been underway for sixteen months.
Diamond Sports Group's CEO David Preschlack commented on the agreement, stating, “Entering a new carriage agreement with Comcast, our third largest distributor, is a critical step forward in our restructuring effort, and we are pleased that fans will again be able to access broadcasts of their local teams through Xfinity.”
Preschlack further emphasized the importance of finalizing agreements with major leagues, adding, “With certainty on our distribution, we are focused on finalizing an agreement with the NHL and resolving our ongoing negotiations with the NBA. We are mindful that time is of the essence with basketball and hockey seasons fast approaching, and once agreements with our team and league partners are complete, we intend to move expeditiously to present a plan of reorganization to the court.”
Impact on Local Markets
Comcast's presence in markets with MLB teams such as the Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays, and Miami Marlins means that fans in these areas can look forward to watching their favorite teams once again. Bally Sports' streaming app also offers fans of the Marlins, Rays, Royals, and Tigers in-market options to watch games.
However, fans of the Braves and Twins have more limited options due to the absence of an in-market streaming app from Bally Sports. While Diamond holds linear rights to twelve MLB teams, the return of Bally Sports channels via Comcast is particularly timely ahead of the upcoming basketball and hockey seasons.
This agreement underscores the importance of regional sports networks in delivering local game broadcasts to fans and highlights the collaborative effort between Comcast and Diamond Sports to ensure continuity for sports enthusiasts. As Diamond looks to pivot towards securing digital-rights agreements with both the NBA and NHL, the deal with Comcast represents a major stride in stabilizing its operations and delivering a seamless viewing experience to fans nationwide.