In a shocking turn of events, Bally Sports Detroit has been dropped from the Xfinity lineup, leaving thousands of Tigers fans in the dark. Diamond Sports Group, the operator of all 18 Bally Sports regional channels, and Comcast failed to reach a new carrier agreement before the deadline on Tuesday.
The impact of this decision goes beyond just Tigers games, as Red Wings and Pistons games could also be affected if a resolution is not reached in the coming months. Diamond Sports Group expressed disappointment in Comcast’s refusal to engage in substantive discussions and their intention to pull the signals, preventing fans from watching their favorite local teams.
Despite the setback, Bally Sports Detroit is still available for in-market streaming via the Bally Sports+ app, as well as on DirecTV and FUBO. In a potential ray of hope, news broke in January that Amazon would partner with Diamond Sports to carry its channels, pending approval from the bankruptcy courts.
Comcast, on the other hand, stated that they had been flexible with Diamond Sports Group during their bankruptcy proceedings, offering extensions and multiple offers to continue carrying their networks. However, with the rights to the programming now lost, Comcast has promised to proactively credit customers for the costs associated with the channels.
As fans anxiously await a resolution to this dispute, the future of sports broadcasting in Detroit hangs in the balance. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.