• Loading stock data...
Monday, June 23, 2025

Diamond RSNs Get Renewed Deals With NBA, NHL

  • The reworked agreements give the RSN operator a key base of content as it reorganizes.
  • MLB’s future status with the company is still not known.
  • The deal does not include the Mavericks or Pelicans, which makes five NBA teams that have abandoned RSNs.
Bally-Sports
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The embattled Diamond Sports Group has struck revised rights deals with both the NBA and NHL, bringing it a significant step closer to emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which it filed in March 2023.

The pacts, which had been expected for several weeks, provide a key base of live content for the Bally Sports parent as it navigates both a troubled macro landscape for regional sports networks and its own internal issues. The agreements, covering the 2024-2025 seasons for both leagues, involve nine NHL teams and 13 NBA teams. They also follow a recently finalized distribution agreement with Comcast, the No. 2 cable carrier in the U.S.

DSG has filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to have these league deals approved, and also moved to have a status conference on the matter held on Sept. 3. Time is of the essence, as both leagues have sought to have the rights issues resolved before the start of the seasons.

“These new agreements that cover NBA and NHL linear and [direct-to-consumer] rights are another major milestone, and continue Diamond’s momentum toward emergence [from bankruptcy],” said DSG CEO David Preschlack in a statement. “Having completed negotiations with key partners that provide certainty around our content and distribution, Diamond is well positioned for the future.”

Not surprisingly, the revised deals involved reduced rights fees as DSG, like other RSN operators, faces shrinking revenues amid accelerating cord-cutting. There are terms for the deals to continue beyond the upcoming NBA and NHL seasons if DSG is able to reorganize and emerge from bankruptcy.

Team Cuts

DSG’s revised relationship with the NBA includes the company cutting ties with the Mavericks and Pelicans. The New Orleans situation had already been expected, as the team recently completed a new rights arrangement with a local over-the-air TV station. But the departure of the Mavericks will make five NBA teams that have abandoned the RSN landscape altogether. 

The Trail Blazers also recently announced plans to leave Root Sports, joining the Pelicans, Suns, and Jazz in pursuing alternate structures. 

In Dallas, the Stars already left Bally Sports and created their own DTC streaming app, Victory+, which could be an option for the Mavericks, too.

What About MLB?

Despite DSG’s lifeline, a serious issue remains regarding MLB, which provides the largest chunk of DSG’s content, with 12 teams still under contract, and has also been its loudest critic throughout the bankruptcy saga. 

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has actively sought to bring more the local media rights of more teams back in house, and at last month’s All-Star Game, he touted the growing adoption of Padres live game streams produced and distributed by the league.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Thunder Win NBA Finals Behind Young, Deep, and Cheap Roster

The Thunder’s young and cheap roster won its first title Sunday.

Pacers Lose Haliburton in NBA Finals—and Possibly for a Season

Haliburton entered the game with a right calf strain he played Game 6 with.

Kevin Durant Traded to Houston in Blockbuster Deal

Houston was one of Durant’s preferred destinations.
exclusive

Lakers Reporter Dan Woike Leaves LA Times for The Athletic

Woike had been at the L.A. Times for eight years.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Ted Leonsis unpacks basketball’s global rise, media rights, and portfolio ownership.
June 17, 2025

Zaslav Takes Pay Cut, TNT Sports Future Unclear in WBD Shake-Up

The TNT Sports parent company retools its executive pay after shareholder pushback.
Tyrese Haliburton
June 16, 2025

NBA Finals Ratings Up Again in Game 4 but Still Down Overall

More than nine million people watched Games 3 and 4.
Thunder
June 16, 2025

NBA, ABC Air Finals Lineup Intros After Fan Complaints

ABC aired player intros for the first time in 12 years Monday. 
Anthony Slater
exclusive
June 13, 2025

Top Warriors Reporter Anthony Slater Leaving The Athletic for ESPN

Anthony Slater starts at ESPN later this summer.