Amazon Prime Video to stream Diamond regional sports networks


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Diamond Sports reached an agreement with Amazon Prime Video that will allow its 16 regional sports networks to be available on the streaming platform.

As part of the agreement, Diamond networks will be available as an additional subscription to Prime customers who live within each team's designated geographic area. More details, such as pricing, will be announced later. Financial terms of the multi-year agreement were not disclosed.

The deal is non-exclusive, meaning Diamond can still pursue streaming rights deals with other partners, according to a person familiar with the matter. The company's previously launched FanDuel Sports Network streaming options will remain available.

This marks the latest development for Diamond Sports, which is looking to emerge from bankruptcy protection with a revamped business model.

In October, Diamond signed a naming rights deal with Flutter-owned by FanDuel, changing the name of its networks from Bally Sports to FanDuel Sports Network. The name change occurred immediately during the National Hockey League season and prior to the start of the 2024-25 National Basketball Association season.

Earlier this week, Diamond also announced that it would offer a la carte games for $6.99 per game starting December 5, which will not require a subscription. Both Prime Video and the FanDuel Sports Network app will offer individual games, according to the person familiar with the offering.

On Thursday, Diamond will seek court approval for his reorganization plan, which has drawn criticism from Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves, who question the company's future viability under the plan.

Both the league and the Braves had requested more clarity on what the partnership with Amazon, which at the time was not solidified, would entail.

Diamond sought bankruptcy protection last year, brought down by a heavy debt load and the effect of cord-cutting on its networks as consumers opt out of cable TV packages for streaming services.

Diamond has also signed deals with the NBA and NHL for the television and broadcast rights to their teams. He has been negotiating with MLB teams individually.

Several regional sports networks, including the New York Yankees' YES Network, have launched live streaming options in recent years. Amazon's Prime Video already streams a selection of Yankees games each season as it is a stakeholder in YES Network.

Prices have been on the higher end of the scale as networks have been careful in pricing their streaming options so as not to further disrupt the cable TV model and breach contracts with distributors. These contracts have long helped support the billions of dollars in fees that networks pay professional sports teams to broadcast games.

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