Sports
What Diamond Sports Group’s restructure plan approval means for Nashville Predators fans
On Thursday, Nashville Predators fans received more clarity on the future of FanDuel Sports Network, the regional sports network that owns broadcast rights to Predators games.
Diamond Sports Group, which owns FanDuel Sports Network (previously Bally Sports Network), had its restructuring plan approved by United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The plan, which will see Diamond Sports Group reduce its debt from $9 billion to $200 million, is aimed at helping the media group emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Diamond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2023, which threw access to its regional sports networks into question. Most notably for Predators fans, the carriage agreement between Bally Sports and Comcast Xfinity was dissolved temporarily in the middle of Nashville’s first-round playoff game against the Vancouver Canucks.
An agreement was reached in July, though The Tennessean reported that the team had been exploring options in case Diamond’s bankruptcy situation did not improve.
In October, Bally Sports was rebranded to FanDuel Sports Network.
What Diamond Sports Group’s approved plan means for Nashville Predators fans
An approved restructuring plan for Diamond Sports Group means FanDuel Sports Network is on less shaky ground. The network’s parent company has a path forward, which should mean the regional sports network does as well.
Bottom line, this means Predators fans can continue to watch the team on FanDuel Sports Network, which has rights to 72 games in the 2024-25 season.
However, this approved plan does not directly impact carriage agreements, such as the one between FanDuel Sports Network and Comcast Xfinity.
In addition to Comcast Xfinity, FanDuel Sports Network is carried on Direct TV, FUBO TV, and through the FanDuel Sports Network app. Through the app, fans now have an option to purchase single games, starting at $6.99 each, or pay by month for $19.99.
Earlier this week, it was announced Amazon Prime Video would also carry the network, though availability and pricing details have not yet been announced.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.