Amazon Could Stream Local Sports — Here’s How
By Movieguide® Contributor
Sports lovers might soon have a new way to watch their favorite games.
Amazon is in talks to broadcast NHL, NBA and MLB live for Prime users.
The NY Post reported, “The Seattle-based e-tailing giant headed by Jeff Bezos is in late-stage talks for a contract to livestream on Amazon Prime this coming season all the Bally Sports broadcasts of 12 NBA franchises, as well as five MLB teams and nine NHL teams, sources close to the situation said. With the new streaming service — which could launch next month with the start of the NHL and NBA seasons — sources said fans will pay about $20 a month for access to their home team’s local games through Prime.”
The deal comes shortly after Amazon “reportedly abandoned plans to invest $115 million” in a partnership with Diamond Sports Group — the parent company of Bally — which has filed for bankruptcy.
“Diamond is currently still in bankruptcy proceedings and any partnership with Amazon could prove to be very valuable,” The Streamable reported.
“Whether Prime Video simply makes Bally Sports+ available via its Prime Video Channels platform — as it does for numerous other streaming services — or if it brings the games into a new sports tier, the visibility of any streaming service being available on Prime Video has significant benefits,” the outlet added.
If the deal moves forward, though, it could cause a huge change in the entertainment industry as Prime subscribers would no longer need cable to view local games.
“Under the deal, Amazon would broadcast all NBA games that are not nationally televised for the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the San Antonio Spurs,” the Post said.
As far as the NHL goes, Amazon hopes to “broadcast all local games this season for the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning.”
Sports Pro Media noted that Amazon’s contract with DSG “would be non-exclusive — freeing up DSG to secure similar partnerships with other platforms.”
Movieguide® previously reported on ESPN’s plan to air local sports:
Over the last year or so, ESPN has worked effortlessly to provide the best experience for fans to watch their favorite sports teams and athletes.
With that effort comes a new streaming service called “Flagship” that, much like ESPN’s mission statement, is dedicated to, “Serving sports fans. Anytime, Anywhere.”
“It is reorienting itself around streaming in preparation for what Pitaro calls the ‘flagship’ service launch next year; It is reworking its sports rights deals, locking in key partners and cutting others loose; And it is shifting the mix of its on-air talent, with dozens of names being let go over the past year, even as others are brought in,” The Hollywood Reporter wrote.
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro says it’s an “all hands-on deck right now from a product and development perspective.”
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