Diamond Sports Group, a Sinclair Broadcast Group subsidiary, has confirmed that the remainder regions for the upcoming Bally Sports+ direct-to-consumer streaming service will be arriving a little more than a month from now.
Bally Sports+ Set to Launch in Remainder 14 Locations
The launch date is set for September 26 and the service will be immediately available to consumers covered under the current regional sports network brands, some 19 such regions, in five of which the service is already available. This development comes over a year after Bally’s Corp and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced plans to rename the Fox Sports of regional sports network to Bally Sports.
Bally Sports+ has already launched inaugurally in Detroit, Kansas City, Florida, Sun and Wisconsin. With the remainder to follow now. Commenting on this partnership, Sinclair Broadcast Group CEO Chris Ripley welcomed the opportunity to launch the service which will effectively equip local fans with the opportunity to watch their hometown teams in new and streamlined way. Ripley praised the reach of the regional sports network brands and added:
We view Bally Sports+ as a great complement to the incredible value our distribution partners provide our linear networks; and with both models, we are uniquely positioned to help our team partners grow their fan bases for years to come.
Sinclair Broadcast Group CEO Chris Ripley
Ripley added that by bringing more worthwhile tailored content to fans, sports aficionados have a new way to experience local as well as global sports. Bally Sports+ will be available at $19.99 per month or $189.99 per year. Subscribers will have access to several sports competitions, including NBA and NHL broadcasts, with a big focus on local developments, but also other regional sports, such as high school sports and NCAAF.
Helping Fans Experience Local Sports Better
Bally Sports+ COO and general manager Michael Schneider has been upbeat on the fact that the company is able to press on with its offer in all 19 regions. He said that this was an “unprecedented offering.” “This full introduction marks a key moment in the evolution of RSNs, but it is also a great moment for local fans who now have another viewing option for their favorite teams,” Schneider added.