Fans of the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans are anticipating a new way to watch local games as the upcoming NBA season approaches. Both teams are leaving their regional sports networks, previously managed by Diamond Sports, according to a recent bankruptcy court filing.
The NBA season is set to begin on October 22, but neither the Mavericks nor the Pelicans have publicly announced where their local games will be aired. Historically, both teams have partnered with local broadcasters to televise their games.
The Pelicans have reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Gray Television to air games this season, according to a source close to the team. Last season, the Pelicans broadcast 10 of their games on Gray’s local stations, while the Mavericks, who made it to the NBA Finals last year, had a 13-game agreement with Tegna’s Dallas-Fort Worth stations.
While representatives for the Mavericks and Pelicans have yet to officially confirm their broadcasting arrangements for the upcoming season, the shift away from Diamond Sports marks a significant change. The Mavericks and Pelicans join several other NBA, WNBA, and NHL teams that have moved away from regional sports networks owned by Diamond Sports, which operates under the Bally Sports brand.
Diamond Sports has been navigating bankruptcy for the past 18 months, prompting several teams to explore alternative broadcasting options. Some Major League Baseball teams, for instance, have transitioned their games to be produced by the league itself after leaving regional sports networks.
As part of the termination of their contracts, Diamond Sports will receive $1.3 million from the Mavericks and over $297,000 from the Pelicans, according to the court filing. Despite the split, Diamond is entering new broadcast and streaming rights agreements with the NBA and NHL for the upcoming season, pending court approval.
David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond Sports, expressed appreciation for the ongoing collaboration with the NBA and NHL, noting that these agreements are crucial steps toward exiting bankruptcy protection.
Diamond Sports has struggled under the weight of an $8 billion debt, exacerbated by the decline of traditional cable television. Although the company launched a sports-only streaming service for some of its teams in 2022, the financial pressures proved too great. In addition to the challenges posed by bankruptcy, Diamond has been under increasing pressure to develop a sustainable business model and secure the necessary rights payments as the NBA and NHL seasons approach.
This summer, Diamond achieved a significant milestone by reaching an agreement to return its networks to Comcast’s cable TV customers. The Bally Sports networks had gone dark on Comcast, Diamond’s third-largest distributor, in early May, but the new deal marks a step forward in Diamond’s efforts to stabilize its operations amidst ongoing financial challenges.
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