Looking ahead to the 2024–25 season, the Orlando Magic will be one of 13 NBA franchises to broadcast their games on a regional sports network owned by Bally Sports.
On Friday afternoon, Bally Regional Sports Networks found a lifeline in its attempt to emerge from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings when reports surfaced that new contracts had been signed for the rights to broadcast NHL and NBA games through at least the end of the upcoming season. The news was disclosed in court documents asking the bankruptcy court to approve the contracts.
The Magic have broadcast all non-national exclusive games on Bally Sports Florida.
Diamond Sports, the parent company of Bally Sports, postponed a hearing to confirm an exit plan from the ongoing Chapter 11 proceedings in late July, citing progress made in discussions with distributors and leagues.
Since the NHL owns the television rights of nine teams on Bally Sports RSNs and the NBA owns 13 of its own, the leagues requested clarity on the situation as soon as possible to consider possible next steps. Diamond later announced a contract extension with Comcast.
Importantly (assuming the deals are approved by the bankruptcy court), this will ensure that the Magic will be under contract with Bally Sports for another full season – even if Diamond Sports does not emerge from Chapter 11 proceedings.
According to Daniel Kaplan of Awful Announcing, if Diamond cannot come up with a plan to exit Chapter 11, the contracts will be terminated after the season. If Bally Sports defaults on its payments by then, the teams will be placed as senior creditors and will have liens on Diamond’s assets. However, if Diamond gets a plan approved and can exit the proceedings, the contracts with the NBA and NHL will automatically continue.
“We have reached a new agreement with Diamond Sports Group for the 2024-25 season in which Diamond RSNs will broadcast local games for 13 NBA teams,” the NBA said in a statement. “This new agreement is subject to bankruptcy court approval.”
Bally Sports Florida is widely available on cable, satellite and streaming providers. For Magic fans in Central and North Florida, options include Spectrum, Xfinity, AT&T U-verse, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Cox, Hotwire, Mediacom, WOW and Summit Broadband. Bally Sports also offers streaming apps and options.
Click here for more information on where to find Bally Sports Florida.
