The Anaheim Ducks will broadcast their games locally in Southern California on Fox-owned station KCOP-TV, leaving regional sports network Bally Sports and its bankrupt operator Diamond Sports Group with just eight remaining NHL clubs under contract.
“We would like to thank Diamond Sports Group and Bally Sports and their employees who have been incredible partners over the past 25 years in bringing Ducks hockey to our region and our fans,” the Ducks said. said in a statement Tuesday.
The Ducks have agreed to broadcast 65 games on KCOP. The team’s games will also be streamed on A Parent Media’s new direct-to-consumer app, Victory+.
“We are very pleased to announce that fans across our entire television market, whether via streaming or traditional television (cable or terrestrial), will be able to watch locally broadcast games for free,” Ducks President Aaron Teats said in a statement. “It is an important organizational priority to connect Ducks fans across our entire market and provide every fan in our region with the opportunity to watch Ducks games for free on multiple accessible platforms.”
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The Ducks join the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars, who also left Bally Sports earlier this summer, to set up hybrid broadcast/DTC agreements for the 2024-25 NHL season.
Late last week, Diamond reached an agreement with the NHL and NBA to reduce licensing fees and continue to broadcast games for a handful of remaining teams locally. At the time, it was reported that the Ducks were among those teams.
Diamond is expected to complete its Chapter 11 filing this fall.