A few weeks ago, the negotiations for TV rights for national games were very fruitful for the NBA. The new trio of ESPN, NBC and Amazon will pay $76 billion over 11 years. On the local level, there will also be changes for the Mavericks and the Pelicans.
It must be said that the situation was more worrying for local broadcasters since Diamond Sports Group, and its Bally Sports channels which manage the broadcasting of home games for half of the NBA teams, is in financial difficulties.
However, the NBA has renegotiated downward the broadcast rights for 13 franchises with Bally Sports losing the rights to the Mavericks and Pelicans.
“We have entered into a new agreement with Diamond Sports Group for the 2024-25 season during which the Diamond Regional Sports Network channels will broadcast the home games of 13 NBA teams”, details the NBA in a press release. “The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans have declined to continue to broadcast their games on Diamond RSN channels and will share more details soon on how to watch upcoming season games in their respective markets. This new agreement is subject to approval by the commercial court.”
Pelicans games streamed for free
Last summer, Bally Sports Arizona's loss of the TV rights to Suns home games caused a stir. The Suns' 2023/2024 games were broadcast over the air, and therefore free of charge in the state's major cities, and in streaming, by Kiswe. The broadcaster blocked the decision by invoking a right of first refusal to match the contract, then withdrew.
Like Suns fans, Pelicans fans will be able to watch the games for free using an antenna on The Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network. A practice that is increasingly common in the NBA. The Blazers and Jazz have also made the broadcast of games free, during the 2023/24 exercise.
Thirteen teams will still be broadcast on Bally Sport including the Hawks, Hornets, Cavaliers, Pistons, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves, Thunder, Magic and Spurs.
For their part, no advertiser has been announced for the Mavericks, but they too could choose a system alternating between free channels and streaming.
