Bally Sports RSNs Switching to FanDuel Sports Network on Oct. 21
Bally Sports RSNs Switching to FanDuel Sports Network on Oct. 21
The news comes as result of a new naming rights deal between the sports betting company and Diamond Sports Group.
Despite protestations to the contrary from Major League Baseball, Diamond Sports Group is capable of moving quickly on matters of importance. The company announced on Friday that thanks to its new deal with FanDuel, it will execute a complete rebrand of its Bally Sports regional sports networks on Monday, Oct. 21, the day before the start of the new NBA season.
Key Details:
- Bally Sports channels will be renamed FanDuel Sports Networks starting Monday.
- The Bally Sports+ streaming service will also get a FanDuel-centric rebrand.
- Viewers will still be able to watch the channels with pay-TV plans, and log in to stream content as well.
The new naming rights agreement between Diamond Sports Group and FanDuel was finalized earlier this week, after Diamond’s deal with Bally expired at the end of the 2024 MLB regular season.
“Collaborating with FanDuel provides a tremendous pathway for Diamond to elevate the fan experience and deepen the incremental value we provide for our team, league and distribution partners,” DSG CEO David Preschlack said. “This partnership reinforces opportunities to further strengthen the close connection our RSNs have with local fans, including enhancing our DTC offering for a growing digital audience. In the meantime, having finalized agreements with the NBA, NHL and our key distributors, we remain focused on moving our business forward and driving value for our team partners and our stakeholders.”
As of Monday, the 16 Bally Sports channels will change their names, keeping the regional distinctions from their current versions, while swapping out the corporate partner. Next week, the regional sports networks will be known by the following names:
In addition, the Bally Sports+ streaming service is also being rebranded as a FanDuel product, and will henceforward carry content from the FanDuel TV channel like “Up & Adams” and “Run It Back.”
In addition to changes to its linear channels, Diamond Sports Group plans to update the former Bally Sports+ streaming service. The Streamable has learned that Bally Sports+ will also get new branding on Monday; the FanDuel Sports Network streaming service will be separate from FanDuel TV+, and all teams that formerly streamed on Bally Sports+ and are under contract with Diamond for their 2024-25 seasons will continue to be available there without a cable subscription.
The streaming service will also adopt the “FanDuel Sports Network” moniker, and will not incorporate a “plus” anywhere in its title.
Will You Lose Access to Your Old Bally Sports Channel After the Rebrand to FanDuel Sports Network?
Viewers who are worried that the change in branding for Bally Sports channels will lead to restricted access need have no fear. Anyone who gets a Bally Sports regional sports network as part of their cable, satellite, or live TV streaming subscription will still get the channel when it becomes a FanDuel Sports Network channel. In fact, it will almost certainly be the same channel number and spot in your channel guide.
Everyone who used the Bally Sports App to log in with TV Everywhere credentials and watch their RSN via streaming will still be able to do so; all you’ll need to do is head to fanduelsportsnetwork.com to authenticate and watch. Sources involved with the transaction have said that Bally Sports Extra overflow channels associated with the standard RSNs will also be rebranded as of Monday.
In short, essentially nothing about the way you access your favorite local teams that used to air content on a Bally Sports-branded channel will change. It’s not yet clear if FanDuel will take over the operation of the Bally Sports App and rebrand it as well, or if it will offer another TV Everywhere app eventually.
The FanDuel Sports Network rebrand is understandably a bit confusing, but customers shouldn’t worry that they’re going to miss out on desired sports content because of the change. FanDuel Sports Network content will mostly be found exactly where you used to access your Bally Sports content in the past.
Bally Sports+
Bally Sports+ was a direct-to-consumer streaming service that provided live, in-market games without requiring a cable or satellite subscription. It allowed fans to watch their local Bally Sports regional sports network (RSN) without a traditional TV package.