The future of Diamond Sports, the owner of the Bally Sports regional sports networks, is in question as the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL) express concerns over the company's ability to put together a viable business plan ahead of the upcoming seasons this fall. Diamond Sports has been under bankruptcy protection since March of last year, and the leagues are worried that the owner of the largest portfolio of regional sports networks may not have a plan sorted out in time for the 2024-25 season.
During a status conference in bankruptcy court, lawyers for the NBA and NHL raised their concerns, emphasizing the importance of timing as the start of the upcoming season approaches. The leagues fear that if Diamond Sports fails to craft a viable business plan in the coming months, they may be left scrambling to find options to produce and air games in local markets.
Some Major League Baseball teams have already moved forward without their Bally Sports network, while NBA and NHL teams have reached deals with local broadcast station groups to carry local games. Diamond Sports must put together a reorganization plan and receive court approval to exit bankruptcy protection.
Negotiations between Diamond and Comcast Corp. recently broke down, resulting in Comcast customers losing access to Bally Sports networks. The carriage blackout has not affected NBA and NHL fans yet, as the leagues are in the postseason. Distributors like Comcast have been losing pay-TV customers as people opt for streaming alternatives, impacting regional sports networks.
Overall, the future of Diamond Sports remains uncertain as the company navigates negotiations with various stakeholders and works to formulate a reorganization plan amidst financial challenges and changing media consumption trends.