Diamond Sports Group was granted a delay to its confirmation hearing in its Ch. 11 bankruptcy case after communicating to the court that it was working to reach a new carriage deal with Comcast. The two sides were unable to come to an agreement before the expiration of the previous contract, leaving Comcast customers without access to the regional sports network since the beginning of May. Through renewed negotiations several months later, both companies reached a carriage agreement that will distribute the 15 regional sports networks owned by Diamond Sports Group to Xfinity TV customers.
Customers who subscribe to the Xfinity Ultimate TV package in marketplaces carrying Bally Sports regional sports networks will be able to watch live and local games in Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL starting on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. Subscribers to this package will also be able to stream Diamond Sports Group’s regional sports network content using Xfinity login credentials on the Bally Sports app. This agreement follows announcements of new deals with Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DirecTV and Fubo.
“We appreciate Diamond Sports working with us to reach a solution that returns the Bally Sports RSNs to our Ultimate TV customers in a way that reflects the changing video marketplace for local sports,” Greg Rigdon, president of content acquisition for Comcast, said in a statement. “We look forward to making these networks available on August 1, so customers can enjoy watching their favorite teams again.”
The blackout of Diamond Sports Group RSNs affected regional sports networks carrying 15 Major League Baseball teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. Diamond Sports Group reached a deal with Amazon earlier in the year in which the media and retail company would provide $115 million in financing. Amazon would take a minority equity stake in Diamond Sports Group as part of the deal, which presumably changed the trajectory of the bankruptcy hearings.
“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,” David Preschlack, chief executive officer of Diamond Sports Group, said in a statement. “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.”
