A la carte broadcast offerings are coming to the NHL and NBA.
Diamond Sports Group, owner of the FanDuel stable of regional-sports networks, including FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, announced Tuesday that starting next month, fans can buy broadcasts to stream on a game-by-game basis. That includes Red Wings and Pistons games.
The cost will start at $6.99 per game, starting Dec. 5, with no subscription required; monthly and season subscriptions also will be available. This is the latest attempt at an additional revenue stream for Diamond Sports, which looks to emerge from federal bankruptcy court by year’s end.
“The addition of single-game pricing allows fans to now catch their local NBA and NHL teams on a game-by-game basis, enhancing the flexibility of our offering,” FanDuel Sports Network exec Michael Schneider said in a statement Tuesday. “This is yet another example of how we remain committed to delivering an array of viewing options and features to make it easier for our viewers to watch their favorite teams.”
More details are available at FanDuelSportsNetwork.com.
The game-by-game option will be for fans who don’t already have access to FanDuel Sports Network, either through traditional cable or the monthly subscription via the FanDuel Sports Network-Plus app.
The game-by-game option only covers the NHL and NBA for now, and not Major League Baseball, as Diamond Sports Group continues to negotiate with multiple MLB teams for broadcasting in 2025 and beyond, including the Tigers. MLB also owns the direct-to-consumer rights for multiple Diamond-covered markets, though not Detroit, so should the Tigers remain with Diamond ― a likely outcome ― Tigers games could eventually be added to the game-by-game offerings.
Diamond Sports Group reached deals with its NBA and NHL teams just weeks before the start of the 2024-25 seasons, with many teams taking a significant cut in rights fees, including the Red Wings and Pistons. The Tigers, if they’re to remain with Diamond for 2025, are looking at a rights-fee cut, as well, perhaps measuring in the tens of millions, as finances for RSNs aren’t what they used to be.
Diamond Sports Group, owner of the 16 FanDuel (formerly Bally’s) RSNs, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2023, citing billions in debts amid the changing cable landscape, including the seemingly irreversible trend of cord-cutting in United States households.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984