The NBA and Diamond Sports Group have an agreement in place that guarantees Diamond’s regional sports networks would provide local broadcasts for all 15 teams it has contracts for, including the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs, among others. This agreement could end uncertainty about whether those teams would be able to make it through the season and ensure RSNs would be able to meet their contractual obligations. Diamond Sports has been in talks with the NHL on a similar agreement.
The Athletic reports the agreement was revealed in court filings by Diamond Sports Group on Sunday as it continues to go forward with its bankruptcy proceedings. The company revealed it has a term sheet in place with the league that will allow change in its agreements with the 15 teams it works with, curtailing all individual broadcast agreements to last only through the 2023-24 season. Some deals were set to go through 2030. Diamond Sports Group runs the Bally Sports RSNs.
“We have reached an agreement with Diamond that, upon court approval, will allow Diamond to continue distributing NBA games in its 15 markets for the 2023-24 season,” an NBA spokesperson said.
While the broadcast rights will return to the NBA and teams after this season, teams could still sign a new deal with a Diamond Sports RSN for the 2024-25 season if they are operating or if the deal makes sense.
Diamond Sports said in court filings it also spoke to representatives from MLB and the NHL about ensuring broadcasts through the 2023-24 NHL season and 2024 baseball season.
The NBA would also have the ability to keep certain regular-season games to air over-the-air locally.
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