The sports gambling company attached to the struggling group of regional sports networks with local broadcast rights for more than 30 MLB, NBA, NHL and WNBA teams is changing.
Bally Sports is no more. Diamond Sports Group announced that it will be rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network starting Monday as part of "a broad, long-term commercial partnership." Terms of the naming rights agreement were not disclosed.
It directly affects fans in Tennessee. FanDuel Sports Network Southeast provides coverage of Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies , Nashville Predators , Atlanta Dream
Diamond Sports Group, the largest owner of regional sports networks in the country, filed for bankruptcy in March 2023 . Its instability put the future of local broadcasting rights in doubt for dozens of pro teams and led to the involvement of the leagues. The company, formed in 2019 to facilitate the sale of a portfolio that then included 22 regional FOX Sports Networks and local television rights for 42 major professional teams, has been forced to shed contracts to stay afloat .
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Diamond Sports Group submitted a reorganization plan in court earlier this month that included the possibility of only broadcasting the games of one MLB team (Atlanta Braves) moving forward, putting 11 MLB teams at risk of losing their regional sports network contracts for the 2025 season. Diamond Sports Group also recently dropped its contracts with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans as part of its bankruptcy case.
FanDuel Sports Network will have the local broadcasting rights for 13 NBA teams and eight NHL teams across 16 regional sports networks during the 2024-25 season after a judge approved an amended agreement made with the leagues last month. FanDuel Sports Network will also offer a direct-to-consumer streaming product for those who have cut the cord, and its programming will include syndication of FanDuel TV shows outside of game coverage.
"Collaborating with FanDuel provides a tremendous pathway for Diamond to elevate the fan experience and deepen the incremental value we provide for our team, league and distribution partners," Diamond Sports Group CEO David Preschlack said in a statement. "This partnership reinforces opportunities to further strengthen the close connection our RSNs have with local fans, including enhancing our (direct-to-consumer) offering for a growing digital audience. In the meantime, having finalized agreements with the NBA, NHL and our key distributors, we remain focused on moving our business forward and driving value for our team partners and our stakeholders.”
What NBA, MLB, NHL teams are on FanDuel Sports Network?
Here are the 15 other FanDuel Sports Network affiliates and the teams whose broadcasting rights could be affected by the move:
- FanDuel Sports Network Detroit : Detroit Tigers, Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings
- FanDuel Sports Network Florida : Miami Marlins, Orlando Magic
- FanDuel Sports Network Great Lakes : Cleveland Guardians*
- FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City : Kansas City Royals
- FanDuel Sports Network Indiana : Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever
- FanDuel Sports Network Midwest : St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues
- FanDuel Sports Network North : Minnesota Twins*, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Lynx
- FanDuel Sports Network Ohio : Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Cavaliers, Columbus Blue Jackets
- FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma : Oklahoma City Thunder
- FanDuel Sports Network SoCal : Los Angeles Clippers
- FanDuel Sports Network South : Atlanta Braves, Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Dream
*Contract with Diamond Sports Group ended after 2024 season
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bally Sports to become FanDuel Sports Network: What it means for Memphis Grizzlies fans
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