Page 1
Page 1
Started By
Message
locked post

Amazon in talks with Diamond Sports

Posted on 12/18/23 at 2:44 pm
Posted by HickfawJim1
Member since Sep 2013
452 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 2:44 pm
LINK

tl/dr Amazon would acquire the exclusive streaming rights to Diamond's broadcasts, but the RSNs would stay on the air.
Posted by Balsamic_duck
Member since Jun 2017
4266 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 3:12 pm to
so we could only stream pels games on prime?

Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
62446 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 3:27 pm to
The wsj article says Amazon is “investing”, not buying, and Diamond would still do the linear TV deals. So streaming would go to Prime and cable would still probably be in the sad shape it’s in now.

quote:

Diamond, which has the local rights to about half the teams in Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association and about a third of the National Hockey League teams, would continue operating its cable networks through its existing partnerships. It isn’t clear how much money Amazon is planning to invest or at what valuation.

LINK
This post was edited on 12/18/23 at 3:32 pm
Posted by Macintosh
Leveraging Salaries University
Member since Sep 2011
55366 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 3:28 pm to
Works for me
Posted by Hammond Tiger Fan
Hammond
Member since Oct 2007
16405 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 3:39 pm to
At least I'll have a way to watch the games on the Northshore if this happened. I'm getting tired of searching for illegal streams 3 times per week.
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
78808 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 3:55 pm to
So would Prime subscribers have access to all games on Bally RSN's or would it be geolocked to only watch teams in your area?
Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
62446 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 4:00 pm to
Good question. I’m guessing for now it would be geolocked because it sounds like Amazon would be buying/renting the rights that Diamond has which is just regional.
Posted by GOP_Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
20611 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 4:19 pm to
quote:

Good question. I’m guessing for now it would be geolocked because it sounds like Amazon would be buying/renting the rights that Diamond has which is just regional.



Yeah, the NBA isn't going to allow the undercutting of NBA League Pass.
Posted by Long_Time_Lurker
Member since Jun 2019
623 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 7:02 pm to
Does this allow me to ditch Ballys and stream on Prime? For the love of God please say yes.
Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
62446 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 9:27 pm to
They say “eventually” stream on Prime which makes me wonder if the existing Bally’s subscriptions would keep this from happening this season. Hopefully they can negotiate some sort of refund or Prime credit for existing subscribers and do this ASAP.
Posted by MsState of mind
State of Denial
Member since Aug 2013
2726 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 10:20 pm to
I assure you it will be a prime+ deal and cost more money
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
78808 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 2:49 am to
quote:

They say “eventually” stream on Prime which makes me wonder if the existing Bally’s subscriptions would keep this from happening this season. Hopefully they can negotiate some sort of refund or Prime credit for existing subscribers and do this ASAP.



Zero chance this happens this season.
Posted by bstaceyau19
New Orleans
Member since Jun 2022
852 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 6:41 am to
It's a way for Amazon to get its feet wet and test the waters of this side of the streaming sports business. They have a bottomless pit of cash and no need to fill air time, so they can go at their own pace and try things to see if they work. They could very easily invest a little now, see how things go on Bally's own stream app and decide it's not for them and pull out before games move to Prime. Amazon makes unusual decisions like that sometimes. They bought a few EPL rights in the UK a few years ago to stream a Premier League game now and then. When the full UK contract just came up for renewal, they declined to bid for anything. My point is, don't read too much into this.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
127733 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 7:26 am to
quote:

The wsj article says Amazon is “investing”, not buying, and Diamond would still do the linear TV deals.


Lol

This is step 1. Within 5 years they will all be with prime. Possibly the entire nba.
Posted by GOP_Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
20611 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 7:41 am to
Thursday Night Football has been a huge financial success for Amazon. It makes sense that they would look at more sports options. What they want is for the sports fan to then start watching Reacher or The Boys or something, so that they have multiple ways of ensuring regular engagement.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
127733 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 8:28 am to
quote:

What they want is for the sports fan to then start watching Reacher or The Boys or something,


What they want is for people to use Amazon Prime and shop
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
40455 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 9:34 am to
quote:

At least I'll have a way to watch the games on the Northshore if this happened. I'm getting tired of searching for illegal streams 3 times per week.




I mean I hate Bally's as much as the next guy and it's overpriced but it adds up to just a little over $1 per game a month if you're streaming all the games.
Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
62446 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 11:57 am to
quote:

What they want is for people to use Amazon Prime and shop


And since sports is year round it gets customers to stay in the ecosystem year round. They can monetize this like no other streamer because streaming is their side gig, and none of the non sports content investments have really worked out so far.

While I agree with Broski that this is unlikely to happen this season, if Amazon wants data to know how much to value the NBA before bidding on games with the NBA officially, they will not wait for next season. The NBA probably wants Amazon to do this sooner than later too, not just because Bally’s is a shite show, but because it cranks up the bidding war when they have their first negotiations with ESPN and Turner in 2024.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram