About three months after their stalemate began, Diamond Sports Group and Comcast announced Monday evening they had reached a deal that makes 15 Bally-branded channels available again to Xfinity subscribers — with a price hike.
Effective Aug. 1, Xfinity customers will again be able to watch MLB, NBA and NHL teams via Bally Sports Network in their local markets, albeit through a more costly TV package.
Whereas previously Comcast customers received Bally Sports Network as part of the Digital Basic package, interested viewers now must subscribe to the provider’s Ultimate TV package plan, which costs an additional $20 per month.
A Comcast spokesperson said the provider is offering a free three-month trial for the Ultimate TV package.
Since early May, a Comcast TV subscriber in any of the provider’s 12 MLB markets has needed an alternate way to watch games.
The deal ends a dispute that began May 1 and disrupted viewership for fans of the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers.
The Comcast-Diamond issues come against the larger backdrop of Diamond’s 17-month bankruptcy process, which earlier this year appeared to have Diamond on a path to liquidation at the end of 2024. Amazon then stepped in as an investor in a plan that Diamond argues can keep the business viable beyond 2024, but MLB has repeatedly shown itself to be skeptical in court. In a hearing last week, the bankruptcy proceedings were delayed, and a lawyer for Diamond volunteered in court that the company might not avoid liquidation after all.
Under the Comcast-Diamond agreement, Xfinity Ultimate TV customers also will be able to stream Diamond’s RSN content by authenticating using their Xfinity credentials on the Bally Sports app.
(Photo: Jeff Roberson: Associated Press)
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