Amazon is looking to further bolster its portfolio of live sports broadcasting by acquiring Bally Sports’ regional games for the NBA, MLB and NHL.
The New York Post revealed that the e-commerce giant’s streaming platform, Prime Video, is looking to come to an agreement with Diamond Sports – parent company of Bally Sports – to broadcast non-televised games for 12 NBA, nine NHL and five MLB teams.
A potential contract agreement would see Amazon create a newly dedicated streaming platform for out-of-market games. The early indications of the pricing of the new service would begin at $20 per month.
If a deal were to be completed, Amazon would broadcast NBA out-of-market games for the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the San Antonio Spurs.
Bally Sports also owns regional broadcast rights for MLB’s Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Likewise, if a deal can be agreed upon, NHL games for the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning, will also be available on Amazon.
If regional games were to crossover into the streaming world, it would be a major statement as it would see fans no longer need cable TV to watch local games, which it had been broadcasting for decades.
Amazon had initially agreed to invest up to $115m into Diamond Sports earlier this year to help the network from its bankruptcy troubles, leaving regional games in limbo for sports fans to watch non-televised games.
Diamond Sports filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021 with debts of $8.67bn and filed for protection in March 2023, leaving the US regional sports network with an uncertain future.
However, Amazon pulled out of the agreement and left question marks on whether it would end its interest in showcasing localised games.
According to the New York Post, “financial terms of the Amazon deal currently under discussion couldn’t immediately be learned. A source said it is not exclusive, allowing Diamond to further expand its reach by signing deals with other platforms including YouTube”.
