Fans of the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans are eagerly awaiting news on how they will be able to watch their local games in the upcoming NBA season. Both teams have decided to part ways with their regional sports networks owned by Diamond Sports, as revealed in a recent bankruptcy court filing.
While the teams have not officially announced where their local games will be aired, it is expected that they will continue to work with local broadcasters, as they have done in the past. The Pelicans have reportedly already reached an agreement with Gray Television to broadcast their games this season, following in the footsteps of the Mavericks’ previous deal with Tegna’s Dallas-Fort Worth stations.
As part of the termination of their contracts with Diamond Sports, the Mavericks and Pelicans will be making payments to the company. According to the court filing, the Mavericks will be paying $1.3 million, while the Pelicans will be paying over $297,000. These terminations come at a crucial time for Diamond Sports as they negotiate new broadcast and streaming rights agreements with the NBA and NHL.
Diamond Sports, like many other companies in the broadcasting industry, has been struggling to adapt to the changing landscape of media consumption. Despite launching a sports-only streaming service, the company’s massive debt load of $8 billion led them to filing for bankruptcy protection. As they continue to navigate their way out of bankruptcy, Diamond Sports faces the challenge of proving the viability of their business plan and ensuring they can meet the necessary rights payments.
Despite the challenges they face, Diamond Sports has managed to secure agreements with the NBA and NHL for the upcoming season, pending court approval. CEO David Preschlack expressed his appreciation for the partnerships with the leagues, calling the agreements a “major milestone” in the company’s journey out of bankruptcy protection. This marks an important step for Diamond Sports as they work to stabilize their operations and regain financial footing.
The changing landscape of local NBA game broadcasts reflects the broader shifts happening in the broadcasting industry. As teams like the Mavericks and Pelicans seek new partnerships with local broadcasters, companies like Diamond Sports are forced to reevaluate their business models and adapt to the evolving preferences of consumers. The upcoming NBA season will be a test for both the teams and the broadcasters as they navigate this new era of media distribution.