The upcoming National Basketball Association season has left Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans fans wondering how they will be able to watch their local games. Both teams are parting ways with their regional sports networks owned by Diamond Sports, as confirmed in a recent bankruptcy court filing. With the NBA season scheduled to kick off on Oct. 22, fans are eagerly awaiting news on where they will be able to catch their favorite teams in action.
While no official announcements have been made by either franchise regarding the airing of their local games, reports suggest that the Pelicans have reached a tentative agreement with Gray Television for this season. This move comes after the Pelicans aired 10 matchups on Gray’s local stations last season. On the other hand, the Mavericks, who made it to the NBA Finals last season, had a 13-game agreement with Tegna’s Dallas-Fort Worth stations. However, details on who will broadcast their local games this season remain unconfirmed as representatives for both teams have declined to comment on the matter.
Changes in Local Game Broadcasting
The Mavericks and Pelicans are not the only teams making shifts in their broadcasting arrangements. Following Diamond Sports’ struggles to navigate through bankruptcy, several NBA, WNBA, and National Hockey League teams have opted to move the bulk of their regular-season games from Diamond-owned regional sports networks to local broadcasters. Major League Baseball teams that have left these networks will now have their games produced by the league itself, showcasing a broader trend in the sports broadcasting landscape.
As part of the terminations from their agreements with Diamond Sports, the Mavericks and Pelicans are set to pay $1.3 million and over $297,000, respectively. These moves come as Diamond enters into new broadcast and streaming rights agreements with the NBA and NHL for the upcoming season as part of its bankruptcy proceedings awaiting court approval. Diamond Sports CEO David Preschlack expressed gratitude for the collaborations with the leagues, suggesting that the deals mark significant progress towards exiting bankruptcy protection.
Diamond Sports’ journey through bankruptcy serves as a cautionary tale for companies in the sports broadcasting industry. Despite launching a sports-only streaming service in 2022, the company’s massive $8 billion debt load proved insurmountable, leading to the bankruptcy filing. The pressure to formulate a viable business plan and demonstrate the ability to meet rights payments has intensified as the NBA and NHL seasons draw closer. Moreover, Diamond faced challenges earlier this year when its networks went dark on Comcast, the company’s third-largest distributor.
The shifting landscape of local game broadcasting for NBA teams like the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans reflects broader changes in the sports media industry. As fans eagerly anticipate news on how they will be able to watch their favorite teams in the upcoming season, the evolution of broadcasting agreements and financial considerations continue to shape the way sports content is delivered to audiences.