With the upcoming National Basketball Association season just around the corner, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans fans are eagerly awaiting news on how they will be able to watch their favorite teams play local games. Both teams are parting ways with their regional sports networks owned by Diamond Sports, according to a recent bankruptcy court filing. This shakeup means that Mavericks and Pelicans games will no longer be aired on the Bally Sports brand.
Both the Mavericks and the Pelicans have a history of broadcasting their games with local broadcasters. Last season, the Pelicans aired 10 of their matchups on Gray Television’s local stations, and the Mavericks, who made an appearance in the NBA Finals, entered into a 13-game agreement with Tegna’s Dallas-Fort Worth stations. This shift away from regional sports networks reflects a broader trend in the industry, where teams are increasingly choosing to partner with local broadcasters over larger corporate-owned networks.
The move by the Mavericks and Pelicans to transition away from Diamond-owned networks comes as part of Diamond Sports’ efforts to navigate its way out of bankruptcy. As the company continues to restructure, it has entered into new broadcast and streaming rights agreements with the NBA and NHL for the upcoming season. These deals, which are subject to court approval, mark a significant step forward for Diamond Sports as it seeks to emerge from bankruptcy protection.
Diamond Sports, like many other companies in the industry, has been grappling with the decline of cable television. Despite launching a sports-only streaming service in 2022, the company’s massive $8 billion debt load ultimately led to its bankruptcy filing. As the NBA and NHL seasons draw near, Diamond is under increasing pressure to develop a viable business plan and demonstrate its ability to meet its financial obligations, including rights payments to the leagues.
Looking ahead, Diamond Sports has been making efforts to stabilize its operations and rebuild its relationships with distributors. The recent agreement with Comcast to restore the Bally Sports networks to its cable TV customers was a significant development for the company. As the broadcasting landscape continues to evolve, fans of the Mavericks and Pelicans can expect to see more changes in how they access local game broadcasts. It remains to be seen how these shifts will impact the viewing experience for fans and the long-term viability of local broadcasting partnerships in professional sports.
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