Amazon Prime reportedly agreed to offer struggling Bally Sports parent company Diamond Sports a deal worth $115 million. That was expected to go a long way in helping Bally hang on long enough to carry NBA games this season.
But according to Sports Business Journal, that Amazon offer has been pulled. Bally is still expected to carry NBA regional broadcasts for 13 teams this season — but man, it is hanging on by a thread and this is just another massive blow to its future.
For the record, Diamond Sports is moving through bankruptcy proceedings, though it remains the largest regional sports network in the country. While Bally will still carry games for those 13 teams, others have departed, opting to broadcast their games for free. The rest may soon have no choice but to be on their way out as well.
Amazon, of course, recently became a new NBA media rights partner, along with NBC Sports (joining Disney-owned ESPN and ABC). Amazon and NBC will begin carrying games in the fall of 2025.
As for Diamond/Bally, it seems like things remain in peril, with the company currently going through bankruptcy proceedings.
“In one wrinkle, if Diamond does eventually emerge, Amazon could still wind up as one of the streaming avenues available for accessing Diamond content and games,” wrote Evan Drellich of The Athletic. “Along with the investing plan, Diamond and Amazon reached a commercial agreement that would make Amazon Diamond’s new ‘primary partner’ in selling streaming access to games.”
For now, Bally will continue to be home for the following teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs.
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Bally Sports deserves whatever happens to them.. and it’s not happening fast enough….they have been ripping off Cavs fans..
Their streaming app DOES NOT WORK with enough consistency to simply watch a game from start to finish. It skips.. jumps.. freezes.. and I missed a lot of Cavs games by not having a cable subscription. It’s 2024. If you can’t provide an app that works, you DO NOT DESERVE and NBA franchise contract. $20 bucks a month is more than I pay for league pass, all other NBA teams. I’d still pay it, if only it worked.
I thought Adam Silver would have done more already, and I thought this would be the year I can get back to watching all Cavs games, live, not the NBA League Pass replay a day later, because live games are blacked out.
Whoever is responsible for the Cavs connection to Bally Sports, shame on you. There HAS to be better options out there. Can’t wait for 2025 to arrive. And I still don/t have a plan for this season..