Bally Sport the largest regional sports network or RSN in the country is at very real risk of shutting down as it goes through bankruptcy. Even if it makes it through bankruptcy its vary possible that many teams it has TV rights for now will need to find a new TV network to air their games.
Already Bally Sports has shut down Bally Sports Arizona leaving the affected teams to find new partners. Other networks could very well close and the MLB says they expect at least one team to be dropped by Bally Sports soon.
Here are all the tams that could be forced to find new TV networks if Bally Sports shuts down:
The NBA teams Bally Sports currently has contracts with are the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs., Miami Heat, and Milwaukee Bucks.
The NHL teams that Bally Sports currently has contacts with are the Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Los Angeles Kings.
The MLB teams that Bally Sports currently has contracts with are the Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angles Angels, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Milwaukee Brewers.
Where will these teams go if Bally Sports shuts down?
Free over the air TV is reportedly about to be the new home for many of these teams. Scripps recently said it has reached deals with several teams to air games free on broadcast TV if Bally Sports drops them. It has also been reported that other networks like Gray have done the same. This will likely see many but not all teams move to free over the air TV networks for in market games.
The other option is streaming. Amazon and Disney have both reportedly started talks about streaming games online in the affected markets. Amazon reportedly is in talks with some NBA teams to stream games in market if Bally Sports drops them.
ESPN has also had talks to air games in markets both on TV and streaming likely through ESPN+ if Bally sports goes under. Exactly how that would work for broadcasts on TV just for in market games is unknown at this time.
Exactly what teams would end up on free over the air TV and what teams would move to streaming is unknown at this time. What we do know is the NBA, MLB, and NHL all seem busy making backup plans so they are ready if Bally Sports drops them or shuts down.