Photo by Jerome Miron -USA TODAY SPORTS
The NBA and Diamond Sports Group, the owner of the Bally Sports regional sports networks, have reached an agreement that will allow Bally to continue broadcasting NBA games through the 2023-24 season. However, the agreement also includes a provision that will allow the NBA to reclaim its TV rights at the conclusion of the season.
This agreement comes as Diamond Sports is in the process of restructuring its finances through bankruptcy proceedings. The company has been struggling to keep up with its debt payments, and it has been speculated that it may not be able to survive in its current form.
The NBA has a vested interest in ensuring that its games are broadcast on a reliable and widely available platform. If Diamond Sports were to fail, it could lead to disruptions in the NBA’s broadcast schedule and make it more difficult for fans to watch games.
By reclaiming its TV rights at the conclusion of the season, the NBA would have more control over how its games are distributed. The league could choose to continue broadcasting games on Bally Sports, or it could explore other options, such as partnering with a streaming service, or focus on their own in-house broadcast network.
The NBA has not yet announced what it plans to do with its TV rights after the 2023-24 season. However, the fact that the league has negotiated a provision to reclaim its rights is a sign that it is exploring its options.
