Dish and Sinclair Broadcast Group are close to a carriage deal which will likely include both the Sinclair-owned 112 local channels and the 19 Bally Sports regional sports networks (RSNs), according to a report last night from Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand.
The current agreement between the two companies was set to expire on August 16 and Sinclair issued a pre-deadline press release saying it was likely that Dish would lose its local channels because a new agreement was not likely by then.
However, Sinclair revealed on August 16 that it had reached a short-term extension with Dish, and Ourand later wrote that they approved another extension until mid-September. The Sports Business Journal reporter wrote last night a new extension takes the current pact into mid-October, which sources tell him that it’s an indicator a deal is close.
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“Sources say the extensions are evidence that a deal is close at hand and likely will include carriage for Sinclair’s Bally Sports RSNs,” Ourand says.
Dish has been without the regional sports nets since July 2019 due to a separate carriage dispute. But even if a new deal is signed, Ourand writes that the satcaster may not resume carrying them until shortly before the 2022 Major League Baseball season. The Bally Sports nets have the regional TV rights to dozens of MLB, NHL and NBA teams.
“It’s unlikely Dish will pick up the RSNs this year,” the Sports Business Journal report states. “It’s more likely that Dish will have them by MLB’s opening day in the spring.
But SBJ’s Ourand reports that a new deal for both the Sinclair locals and the sports channels is likely “within the next eight weeks”
It’s unclear how the new pact, if approved, would affect Sling TV, the Dish-owned multi-channel, live streaming service. Sling also has been without the Sinclair regional sports nets since July 2019.
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Great News!!! Super excited to get Bally sports Southwest back
I would not get too excited right now. The return of the Sinclair Bally Regional Sports Networks on Dish Network might have a price increase next year. I do not know if this new contract would include Marquee & Yes which the Chicago Cubs & New York Yankees also have ownership in along with Sinclair. As for Sling TV, I do not see the Sinclair Regional Sports Networks returning unless they are on an add on. Regional Sports Networks are usually on a basic package to get the most money and advertising dollars. Sling TV is a discount streaming service with two basic plans starting at $35 a month with lots of add ons to choose from for customization.
technically we have been paying more for vpn’s, or devices that we can stream the games anyway
I have a VPN, but when I try to log in from elsewhere they ask who my provider is. Since it is Dish, they are not listed. Worked last year!
I’m from Minnesota and have missed multiple seasons of Wolve & Wild, If nothing happens in a week I’ calling Direct.
In southern Indiana will this mean old fox sports regional channels be back under bally .and will Cincinnati reds games be blacked ouy
You should get the Reds on Bally sports Indiana with no blackouts since they are considered in market for you. You would also get the Cubs assuming dish also carries Marquee sports network (partly owned by Sinclair). If they do and the Cubs are show on the main feed. You should still be able to get the Reds on the Dish alternate sports channels (412-28 – 412-32). Or the Bally Sports app assuming you have internet connection. Either way SHOULD work. Don’t hold me to it.
We sure like Bally Sports Detroit too long
Do wish they would hurry. I am in eastern Carolina and cannot get any Hurricanes broadcast on “Center Ice” or “ESPN”, they are all blacked out. Frustrated!
Same here in Durham. VPN’s don’t work as they ask you to log in with your provider.
I cannot believe that Dish and Bally Sports can’t reach a deal!! It has gone be on ridiculous.
You would think that both parties would strive to make subscribers happy. I really enjoy the Blue Jackets and Cavaliers and am put out that you can’t reach an agreement.
This is getting very frustrating that I miss the Braves in 2021 during their run for the world Series and I have been siding with Dish on the matter. But today, I’m aggravated that there is no word about this year’s Baseball Season. Worst of this is, in my area, we have very limited options and none of them are good. AT&T internet that hasn’t been upgraded since we moved here in 2002. Streaming is awful. So many buffering, you can’t watch the game without interruptions and Dish has taken off the disclaimers on how the proceedings are going against Sinclair. I’m assuming they gave up. Looking at other options, via Cable, Satellite and so forth, either nothing here except for the 2 Companies I mentioned, and others are very limited that they too don’t carry Sports South. They only complain about Money and nothing else. The Customers are the ones that literally get slapped win the face and pay for other services that we don’t care for. I think it’s time that the customers should view the programs each provider has and let US decide what we want to pay for, and they can throw the rest of their garbage away. Instead of paying for programs we don’t even watch. It is as simple as that!