Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans fans are eagerly anticipating the new season of the National Basketball Association, but changes in the way they watch local games are on the horizon. Both teams are parting ways with their regional sports networks owned by Diamond Sports, as revealed in a recent bankruptcy court filing. With the NBA season scheduled to commence on Oct. 22, fans are left wondering where they will be able to catch their favorite teams in action.
While official announcements are yet to be made by either franchise regarding the broadcasting of their local games, past trends suggest that both teams have relied on local broadcasters for televising their games. Reports indicate that the New Orleans Pelicans have reached a tentative agreement with Gray Television to broadcast their games this season, a move that has been anticipated by many. Details on the agreement remain undisclosed as representatives for both Gray Television and the Pelicans have refrained from commenting on the matter.
In the previous season, the Pelicans had already aired 10 of their matchups on Gray’s local stations, demonstrating a pre-existing relationship between the two parties. Similarly, the Dallas Mavericks, who made it to the NBA Finals last season, had a 13-game agreement with Tegna’s Dallas-Fort Worth stations for broadcasting their games. However, clarifications regarding the broadcasting of local games for the upcoming season are still pending, as representatives for both the Mavericks and Tegna have yet to provide any information.
The Mavericks and Pelicans are the latest additions to the list of teams moving away from Diamond-owned regional sports networks, known under the Bally Sports brand. Diamond Sports has been struggling to navigate its way out of bankruptcy for the past 18 months, resulting in several NBA, WNBA, and NHL teams opting for local broadcasters over regional sports networks. Some Major League Baseball teams that have also made the switch will now have their games produced by the league itself.
As part of the terminations with the Mavericks and Pelicans, Diamond Sports is set to receive $1.3 million and over $297,000 in repayments, respectively, according to the court filing. This development coincides with Diamond’s agreements with the NBA and NHL for broadcast and streaming rights in the upcoming season as part of the bankruptcy proceedings. However, these deals are contingent upon court approval.
Diamond Sports, like many companies, has been adversely affected by the decline of cable television. Despite launching a sports-only streaming service in 2022 for certain teams, the company’s substantial $8 billion debt ultimately led to the decision to file for bankruptcy protection. In the lead-up to the NBA and NHL seasons, Diamond has come under increasing pressure to devise a viable business strategy and demonstrate its ability to meet the required rights payments.
Another significant moment for Diamond Sports occurred when it reached an agreement to restore its networks for Comcast’s cable TV subscribers, after the Bally Sports networks were taken off Comcast’s platform in early May. As Diamond continues to navigate its financial challenges and make strategic decisions, the future of local game broadcasting for teams like the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans remains uncertain.
The evolving landscape of sports broadcasting and the financial challenges faced by industry players like Diamond Sports have significant implications for fans and teams alike. The shifts in local game broadcasting for the Mavericks and Pelicans underscore the broader changes taking place in the sports media industry.