Bally Sports Channels Dropped From Optimum Cable Plans; Where to Stream the Channels Now

Diamond Sports Group (DSG)’s holiday week is starting with a bit of a fizzle. The sports broadcaster that owns 18 Bally Sports-branded networks has been negotiating a new deal with Altice USA’s Optimum cable service, but it appears that things are continuing to spiral for the regional sports broadcaster. On Monday morning, Optimum began informing customers that it was dropping Bally Sports networks after failing to reach a new carriage deal with DSG. This is another blow to the broadcaster as it is currently trying to prove that it has a business plan capable of sustaining operations into the future. However, more importantly for affected sports fans, I’ll run you through the options for how to continue streaming the channels moving forward.

Key Details:

• Optimum says that Diamond is seeking “unsustainable” demands that would cause customer bills to increase.
• In a statement, Optimum cited uncertainty regarding Diamond’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.
• Viewers can still find Bally Sports channels on Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM, as well as Bally Sports+.

The release from Optimum regarding the dismissal of Bally Sports channels from its airwaves said that if it had acquiesced to Diamond’s demands, it would have had to raise the price of a monthly cable subscription. It said that it believed Diamond’s proposed carriage fee increases to be unfair, especially considering the company is still in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings and its future is uncertain.

“At Optimum, we love sports and our local teams, but it is anti-consumer of Diamond Sports Group to request excessive fees while they are in active bankruptcy proceedings and content rights negotiations,” Optimum said in a statement. “We remain open to negotiations with Diamond Sports Group to return their content to Optimum TV lineups, and in the meantime, we are continuing to put our customers first by offering solutions to those viewers who want to continue watching games being aired on Bally Sports Networks. For more information, customers can visit optimum.com/ballysports or call 888-822-5151.”

Affected channels no longer available on Optimum cable plans include:

As of last fall, Optimum had approximately 5 million customers spread across 21 states, and that’s a customer pool Diamond that can’t really afford to lose. The sports broadcaster has also failed to reach a carriage deal with Comcast in recent months, and Bally Sports channels have been dark for Xfinity cable customers since the end of April. Sports leagues that partner with Diamond like the NBA, NHL and MLB have been increasingly dubious of the channel owner’s ability to emerge from bankruptcy without these major carriage contracts, and the latest dispute with Optimum is unlikely to win back support for DSG.

How to Watch Bally Sports RSNs

If the loss of Bally Sports RSNs was the final straw for your Optimum subscription and you’re ready to cut the cord and move on, there are a few different ways to get access to your local Bally Sports channel.

Best Way to Watch Bally Sports Channels: Fubo

Fubo will allow viewers in areas where Bally Sports networks are available to watch them on the service’s base Pro plan. The service starts at $79.99 per month after a free trial, but the regional sports network fee of at least $11.99 on top of a base package will increase your monthly price to at least $91.99 for viewers in most areas. Fubo also carries a wide variety of national sports networks such as ESPN and FS1 for watching MLB games, and when the NBA and NHL seasons return fans in most areas will be able to watch their favorite teams on the service as well.

Excellent Alternative: DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM carries Bally Sports channels and a wide selection of other RSNs in its CHOICE package ($108.99 per month). This service will deliver you more of the most in-demand cable channels than any other, and each new customer with DIRECTV STREAM gets a five-day free trial. The platform also allows new viewers to sign up for three months of premium streaming services like Max, STARZ, and others for free, and for a limited time new customers can get their first month of the CHOICE package, plus DIRECTV’s Sports Add-On pack (normally $14.99 per month) for a total of $98.99, a $123.99 value.

What Can You Watch on Bally Sports+?

If you’re an Optimum customer in the Kansas City area, you may want to look into Bally Sports+. This streaming platform only carries the rights to five MLB teams, including the Kansas City Royals. It costs $19.99 per month and provides the opportunity for big savings if you are mostly using your Optimum plan to watch local sports games. Bally Sports+ comes with a seven-day free trial, and viewers can bundle a second RSN’s content onto their plan where applicable for an extra $10 per month.