The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans are gearing up for a shift in how their local games will be broadcast in the upcoming National Basketball Association season. Both teams are parting ways with their regional sports networks owned by Diamond Sports, as revealed in a recent bankruptcy court filing. This change has left fans wondering where they will be able to catch their favorite teams in action as the NBA season kicks off on Oct. 22.
While neither team has made an official announcement regarding their new broadcasting deals, reports suggest that the Pelicans have struck an agreement with Gray Television to air their games this season. Last season, the Pelicans aired 10 matchups on Gray’s local stations, indicating a potential shift towards local broadcasters for the team. On the other hand, the Mavericks, who made an appearance in the NBA Finals last season, had a 13-game agreement with Tegna’s Dallas-Fort Worth stations. However, details about who will broadcast their local games for the upcoming season remain unknown.
The Mavericks and Pelicans join a growing list of teams that have moved away from their Diamond-owned regional sports networks, which operate under the Bally Sports brand. Diamond Sports has faced financial struggles over the past 18 months, leading to the bankruptcy filing. As a result, several NBA, WNBA, and NHL teams have shifted their broadcast rights to local networks in order to ensure the continued airing of their games.
According to the court filing, Diamond Sports will receive significant payments from both the Mavericks and Pelicans as part of the termination of their contracts. The Mavericks will pay $1.3 million, while the Pelicans will repay over $297,000. These terminations come as Diamond Sports looks to restructure its business through broadcast and streaming rights agreements with the NBA and NHL for the upcoming seasons.
Diamond Sports’ struggle with bankruptcy is reflective of the larger trend of companies grappling with the decline of cable television. Despite launching a sports-only streaming service for some teams, the company’s substantial debt led to the bankruptcy filing. As the NBA and NHL seasons draw closer, Diamond is under pressure to solidify a sustainable business plan and demonstrate its ability to meet financial obligations, including rights payments to the leagues.
Despite facing challenges, Diamond Sports has made progress in returning its networks to cable providers. A recent deal with Comcast allowed the Bally Sports networks to be reinstated for Comcast’s cable TV customers. Additionally, the company’s agreements with the NBA and NHL for broadcast and streaming rights signal a potential turning point in its recovery from bankruptcy. Diamond Sports CEO David Preschlack expressed gratitude for the partnerships with the leagues and emphasized the importance of these deals in the company’s path towards financial stability.
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