NEW YORK — Following a tumultuous year, Bally Sports Networks will take on a new identity.
Bally's parent company Diamond Sports Group announced it has reached a partnership with online gaming company FanDuel to rebrand its 16 regional sports networks as FanDuel Sports Network starting on Monday, Oct. 21. Online streaming will shift to fanduelsportsnetwork.com.
The move comes as Diamond Sports Group works to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
“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," Diamond CEO David Preschlack said in a statement.
It's been a rocky road for customers in Bally Sports Network markets since the bankruptcy filing, particularly for baseball fans. Comcast pulled Bally from its Xfinity cable service for three months over the summer as the two sides negotiated a new carriage agreement; that left baseball fans in numerous markets unable to watch their home team in the heart of the MLB season.
Earlier this month, MLB announced it will be taking over game telecasts next season for several teams, including the Minnesota Twins after Diamond said it would no longer carry games for 11 MLB teams.
The newly rebranded FanDuel Sports Network continues to hold television rights for several NBA and NHL teams for the current season, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild.
