Diamond Sports Group Faces Setback as Comcast Carriage Deal Expires

Diamond Sports Group, the owner and operator of regional sports networks (RSNs), is encountering difficulties following the expiration of its carriage deal with Comcast.

As a result, the RSNs have started going dark on Comcast, impacting the broadcast of Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), and National Hockey League (NHL) games, particularly during the playoffs.

Comcast, which carries 15 of Diamond's RSNs, expressed disappointment at Diamond's decision to pull its programming.

In response, Diamond criticized Comcast for its refusal to engage in substantive discussions and for rejecting a proposal to extend the negotiation deadline.

The primary issue in the negotiations revolves around the placement of RSNs on Comcast's cable tiers.

While Comcast aims to move the networks to higher-priced digital tiers, Diamond advocates for broader accessibility by keeping them on basic tiers.

Despite the setback with Comcast, Diamond has successfully secured a multi-year carriage renewal with Cox Communications.

This agreement ensures continued access to Diamond's RSN channels for Cox Contour TV Preferred and Contour TV Ultimate customers, allowing them to watch in-market live MLB, NBA, and NHL games.

In the midst of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring, Diamond will be changing the names of its RSNs from Bally Sports.

Additionally, Amazon has acquired streaming rights to Diamond's properties, enabling consumers to purchase access to the direct-to-consumer (DTC) product within their local market and stream content through Amazon Prime Video channels.

David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond, views the multi-year agreement with Cox as a significant milestone for the company's future.

Despite the challenges posed by the bankruptcy proceedings, Diamond remains committed to maintaining sports content distribution through strategic partnerships and negotiations with major carriers like Cox and Comcast.