Diamond Sports Group (DSG), the US regional sports broadcast operator slowly emerging from financial trouble, has announced a multi-year agreement with the Amazon Prime Video streaming service to provide local access to its 16 regional sports networks (RSNs).
Under the terms of the agreement, DSG’s FanDuel Sports Networks will be available via Prime Video in 31 states as an add-on subscription for customers living within each team’s region.
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The local RSN content will include live games and pre-and post-game programming, while Amazon will market the availability of FanDuel Sports Network content on Prime Video.
David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond, said: “Partnering with Prime Video, and making FanDuel Sports Network available as part of their add-on subscriptions, creates a tremendous opportunity for us to expand our reach and better connect with viewers.
“Our partnerships with Prime Video and FanDuel combine with our agreements with team, league, and distribution partners to support a transformative reorganization of our business, and a leading linear and digital offering that will continue driving long-term value and enhanced experiences for our partners and fans.”
The deal with Amazon represents the latest move by DSG to emerge from bankruptcy and follows the recent naming rights deal with US sports betting firm FanDuel to rebrand its Bally Sports RSNs.
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By GlobalDataDSG first went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy and reorganization proceedings in March 2023, and over recent months has been renegotiating its various local deals with a wide range of US sports teams.
In early September, it unveiled new deals covering its NBA and NHL partners – although dropping the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans – while late July saw a new agreement with media giant Comcast announced, after a months-long dispute.
The terms of the deal state that DSG must emerge from bankruptcy by April 1 next year.
The company said in a financial filing last year that it had debt of $8.67 billion.
DSG owns 16 RSNs, which – combined – hold the local rights to 21 professional US teams across the NBA (13) and the NHL (eight).
The company recently submitted a plan through which it intends to abandon broadcast rights for 11 of 12 Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises it also has deals with.
The firm told a court it would only continue as a local channel distributor of the Atlanta Braves.
MLB, however, has been a consistent opponent of DSG’s attempts to emerge from bankruptcy, decrying the lack of clarity the consistently embattled local broadcast landscape has and its effect on the franchises.
The league and DSG have long been locked in a bitter struggle, with the former lamenting the latter’s financial situation that has forced the league to take over local broadcast rights and production for several of its franchises.
However, ahead of a crucial final bankruptcy court hearing for DSG today, MLB withdrew its objection to the company’s reorganization late on Wednesday to clear DSG’s path out of bankruptcy.
The hearing is aimed at confirming the RSN operator’s restructuring plan after nearly two years of bankruptcy.
MLB’s original objection came after it was forced to step in and take over the distribution and production of games played by the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks after those teams failed to agree to new DSG deals when their contracts expired last year.
Last month (October), the league announced that it will produce local broadcasts for the Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins franchises in the 2025 season after these franchises were dropped by DSG.
Meanwhile, DSG this week announced it will offer single-game pricing for NBA and NHL games beginning next month.
The company stated that the option will be available on its direct-to-consumer streaming package starting on December 5.
Viewers will have the option to buy access to single games for $6.99, as well as the chance to sign up for monthly or season pass subscriptions.
