The world of regional sports networks, also known as RSNs has been in turmoil this year. Bally Sport’s parent company recently detailed bankruptcy. AT&T SportNets’ parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has announced plans to shut down their RSNs later this year.
Now NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has made it clear he is unhappy with the current RSN model. Now in a interview with the Sports Busniess Journals podcast he says its time to reimagines its relationship with RSNs.
According to Mr Silver this will include offering both a traditional cable subscription along with more in-market streaming options.
It has already been reported that the NBA has an out in its contract related to Bally Sports bankruptcy. NBA new streaming deal with Diamond Sports allows the NBA to take back its rights if Diamond Sports declares bankruptcy, according to Sports Business Journal. This would mean 16 NBA teams could start streaming their games in-market or resell the rights to a different company.
For now though the NBA has been willing to keep working with Sinclair’s Diamond Sports company the owner of Bally Sports.
It will be interesting to see how the NBA users Bally Sports bankruptcy to help reimagine its relationship with them. As Mr Silver points out the NBA fan base is heavily on the younger side compared to some sports. This makes it even more important to be where its viewers are and for now that is streaming online.
The NBA is not alone in this move to streaming only. MLB has made it clear it was to offer in market streaming for all of its teams.
Currently both the NBA and MLB offer in market streaming for some teams but across a confusion set of RSN streaming services. Now it seems both sides want to find a way to offer in-market streaming for all of its teams.