By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
TV Answer Man, I saw your article on DIRECTV and Bally Sports. Is the Comcast deal expiring today? Then what will happen? — Jamie, Miami.
Update: Comcast Loses Bally Sports In Carriage Row
Jamie, DIRECTV and Diamond Sports have a multi-year agreement “in principle” to continue carrying the Bally Sports regional sports networks, The Puck’s John Ourand reports on X. But it appears that Comcast’s short-term agreement to carry Bally Sports could expire after today. Ourand’s report says so and Comcast has included Bally Sports on its contract renewals page for April, meaning the channels could be removed as early as tomorrow.
As we saw with its recent MASN negotiation, the odds are good that Comcast wants to move Bally Sports to a higher programming tier. That would mean that you would have to subscribe to a more expensive programming package to get your local Bally Sports channel. Diamond Sports, the bankrupt owner of the Bally Sports RSNs, will likely resist that move because it would likely mean that fewer Comcast subscribers would have access to their channels. And less access mean reduced carriage fees for Diamond Sports.
However, Diamond Sports, which is aiming to finish its bankruptcy reorganization plan in the coming weeks, may not have much choice other than to submit to Comcast’s demands. The NBA, NHL and MLB have all expressed concern that Diamond Sports is not capable of broadcasting their games beyond the current seasons. And although Diamond Sports has now secured long-term deals with DIRECTV and Charter’s Spectrum TV, the loss of Comcast could raise more concerns from league officials.
Jamie, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!
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