Los Angeles Kings and Diamond Sports Group Announce New Broadcast Deal
The Los Angeles Kings and Diamond Sports Group have recently announced a new deal that will allow the team’s in-market games to be broadcast on Bally Sports West. This agreement is significant as it represents a new contract for Diamond Sports, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, causing uncertainty in the professional sports world.
The multi-year deal between the Kings and Diamond Sports will see 63 games broadcast on Bally Sports West during the upcoming 2023-24 season, with an additional six games on KCAL. As part of the agreement, Diamond Sports will also have the King’s digital rights, enabling them to stream games on their app.
However, this deal comes at a time when Diamond Sports’ future remains uncertain due to its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. The company is currently navigating through bankruptcy court, and its future hangs in the balance. In July, Diamond Sports even sued its parent company, Sinclair Broadcasting, for allegedly diverting $1.5 billion improperly.
Diamond Sports operates 19 regional sports networks (RSNs) across the country and launched a sports streaming app called Bally Sports+ in 2022. The company’s bankruptcy filing earlier this year raised concerns among teams in the NHL, MLB, and NBA, as they rely on Diamond’s RSNs to broadcast their games. There were worries about whether Diamond would be able to fulfill its contractual obligations and if local media rights would be compromised.
In response to the uncertainty, Major League Baseball took over broadcasts for the San Diego Padres this summer. Diamond Sports attempted to avoid making full rights payments to other MLB teams before a judge intervened. The NBA is also preparing for its upcoming season cautiously, making contingency plans in case a Diamond RSN fails to broadcast games for any of the 15 teams it has a deal with. The Phoenix Suns even left a Diamond Sports RSN this summer and opted for a combination of in-market streaming and a free over-the-air channel.
Diamond Sports CEO David Preschlack expressed optimism about the partnership with the Los Angeles Kings, stating that it further demonstrates their commitment to the Bally Sports West distribution markets and provides comprehensive coverage of the team across multiple platforms. He also mentioned that they are making progress in their restructuring process and hope that this agreement can serve as a model for future discussions with other team and league partners.
In conclusion, the new broadcast deal between the Los Angeles Kings and Diamond Sports Group is a significant development for both parties. Despite Diamond Sports’ ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, this agreement allows the Kings’ in-market games to be broadcast on Bally Sports West, ensuring that fans can continue to enjoy comprehensive coverage of their favorite team. The deal also highlights the progress being made in Diamond Sports’ restructuring process and provides hope for future partnerships with other teams and leagues.