Amazon is in talks to become a major player in regional sports broadcasting of the NBA, MLB and NHL, The Washington Post has learned, in a surprise deal that could upend the way fans have watched their local teams for decades.
The Seattle-based e-tailing giant led by Jeff Bezos is in advanced negotiations on a deal that will allow it to broadcast all Bally Sports broadcasts from 12 NBA franchises, as well as five MLB teams and nine NHL teams live on Amazon Prime next season, sources familiar with the situation said.
According to sources, fans of the new streaming service, which could launch next month at the start of the NHL and NBA seasons, will pay about $20 a month to access their home teams’ local games through Prime.
Crucially, fans of the Amazon Prime service no longer need a cable subscription to watch local games.
Sources say this could accelerate the cancellation of cable television even further, even though Bally will continue to broadcast the games on cable networks nationwide.
For months, rumors have been circulating about a deal between Amazon and Diamond Sports, the bankrupt company that owns the Ballys brand, the country’s largest regional sports network.
Last month, Amazon reportedly pulled out of an agreement to invest $115 million in Diamond, but it is unclear whether Amazon would end all talks.
The financial terms of the Amazon deal currently being discussed were not initially known. According to a source, it is not an exclusive deal that will allow Diamond to further expand its reach by signing contracts with other platforms such as YouTube.
Amazon, Diamond and MLB declined to comment.
Diamond, which has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings since March 2023, hopes the streaming deal with Amazon, as well as other contracts with the NBA and NHL for the new season approved by a judge on Wednesday, will be enough to convince the court to allow the company to emerge from bankruptcy in November, sources said.
Under the deal, Amazon would broadcast all NBA games of 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 San Antonio Spurs that are not nationally televised.
In addition, Amazon announced an 11-year deal with the NBA and WNBA in July. The deal will see Amazon become the exclusive streaming service for 66 nationally televised regular-season games starting in the 2025-2026 season. The agreement also includes playoff games.
Diamond owns the digital streaming rights to five MLB teams on its Bally’s network: the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays. Bally’s also currently broadcasts local games of the Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers, with those deals expiring at the end of the current season.
It’s possible that an Amazon distribution deal could allow Diamond to strike new streaming deals with the latter three teams, sources said. MLB has expressed interest in launching its own streaming network and has reserved the right to object to any restructuring by Bally, sources said.
If Diamond makes this deal with Amazon, it could potentially stop MLB even if it objects, sources said. Each baseball team has the right to negotiate its own media deals. Amazon owns 15% of the local YES Network and broadcasts a Yankees game weekly.
According to NHL sources, Amazon is currently in talks to broadcast all local games of the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning this season.
Amazon is currently broadcasting NHL Prime Monday Hockey Night live in Canada.
There is also an NFL Game of the Week on Thursday night that includes a playoff contest.
To avoid bankruptcy, Diamond must convince the judge that the company can continue to exist in the future.
The argument is that the company can increase its subscriber base enormously by going through Amazon, the sources said.
Diamond’s junior creditors, including Prudential and Fidelity, are expected to put money into Diamond and take over the company when it emerges from bankruptcy.
Diamond’s Bally’s is also expected to change its name following bankruptcy. According to sources, betting site FanDuel is interested in a deal for the naming rights.
