Diamond Sports Group (DSG), the embattled regional sports network (RSN) operator, has finally agreed a carriage deal with media giant Comcast after a months-long dispute. 

The agreement will see DSG's slate of Bally Sports channels return to Comcast's broadcast carrier Xfinity.

Xfinity will resume carrying the 15 Bally Sports RSNs on August 1 after a contract dispute earlier this year resulted in the channels being struck from Xfinity packages on May 1.

DSG’s 15 Bally Sports RSNs, which collectively hold the local broadcast rights to 39 US sports franchises, feature 12 Major League Baseball teams, 15 from the NBA, three from the WNBA, and nine from the NHL.

Following the initial broadcast blackout on Xfinity, DSG released a statement accusing the carrier of refusing to engage with the operator on “market-based renewal terms” closer to DSG’s other distribution deals, adding that Xfinity’s stance was “extreme” and calling on Xfinity subscribers to protest.

Now, however, a deal with Xfinity parent Comcast has resumed the carrier partnership, a major show of support for DSG while it restructures and seeks to exit bankruptcy proceedings.

DSG chief executive David Preschlack stated of the new deal: “Entering a new carriage agreement with Comcast, our third largest distributor, is a critical step forward in our restructuring effort, and we are pleased that fans will again be able to access broadcasts of their local teams through Xfinity.

“With certainty on our distribution, we are focused on finalizing an agreement with the NHL and resolving our ongoing negotiations with the NBA. We are mindful that time is of the essence with basketball and hockey seasons fast approaching, and once agreements with our team and league partners are complete, we intend to move expeditiously to present a plan of reorganization to the court.”

DSG is still deep in negotiations with its major league partners amid its attempts to emerge from chapter 11 bankruptcy.