Which Companies Will Next Carry FanDuel’s NBA And NHL Teams? (Amazon, Apple, ESPN?)

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Buy Me a Coffee!

TV Answer Man, which TV companies do you think will get the NBA and NHL teams when FanDuel Sports Network goes out of business? If you had to predict now. – Gary, Laramie, Wyoming.

Gary, as you know, Main Street Sports, the owner of the FanDuel Sports Network, is enroute to closing its regional sports network (RSN) business at the end of the NBA and NHL seasons. (The company has already severed ties with Major League Baseball.)

When that happens, the NBA and NHL teams will be free to sign new deals with other TV companies. The leagues could also launch a national streaming service consisting of in-market feeds but that’s not likely until the 2027-28 season, if then.

The NBA teams affected are the Hawks, Hornets, Cavaliers, Pistons, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves, Thunder, Magic and Spurs. The NHL teams are the Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Kings, Red Wings, Wild, Predators and Blues.

So when they become free agents, which companies are most likely to snag their rights?

If I had to predict: Amazon, which already has an 11-year-deal with the NBA to stream nationally broadcast games, would be my pick to win the regional rights of most, if not all, the basketball teams. The in-market streams would be a perfect complement to its national offering.

ESPN now carries the NHL Power Play on its Unlimited app. That’s a lineup of out-of-market games. The in-market NHL games would be the perfect complement to ESPN’s out-of-market games.

You can never count out Apple whose sports ambitions seem to grow every year. But ESPN and Amazon look like the leaders here.

Gary, I hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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