Amazon and regional sports broadcaster Diamond Sports Group announced a new partnership this week that will allow subscribers of Prime Video in certain parts of the country to watch live sports and related content from Fanduel Sports Network.
The deal will give Prime members and Prime Video subscribers in nearly two dozen regional sports markets the ability to purchase a standalone subscription to FanDuel Sports Network, which operated under the Bally Sports name until last month.
The pact essentially allows Amazon to integrate and resell the streaming version of FanDuel Sports Network, which was previously offered to streamers as Bally Sports Plus. Customers who live in an area without a local FanDuel Sports Network channel won’t be able to subscribe to the service through Prime Video Channels, though they can receive live sports programming offered by the network by purchasing out-of-markets sports packages like MLB.TV, NBA League Pass and ESPN Plus.
“Partnering with Prime Video, one of the largest streaming destinations in the U.S., and making FanDuel Sports Network available as part of their add-on subscriptions, creates a tremendous opportunity for us to expand our reach and better connect with viewers,” David Preschlack, the CEO of Diamond Sports Group, said in a statement. “Our partnerships with Prime Video and FanDuel combine with our agreements with team, league and distribution partners to support a transformative reorganization of our business, and a leading linear and digital offering that will continue driving long-term value and enhanced experiences for our partners and fans.”
How much streamers will pay for FanDuel Sports Network through Prime Video wasn’t disclosed, though it is expected to cost streaming sports fans between $15 and $20 per month, according to a person familiar with the partnership. Amazon will also allow sports fans to pay for individual games through FanDuel Sports Network for around $7 per event, the source said, matching an offer that Diamond Sports announced earlier this week. That option will be made available in early December.
The announcement comes one day before Diamond Sports is set to formally request a federal court overseeing its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case to approve its plan for reorganization. Over the past several months, Diamond Sports has worked to reframe some of its broadcast agreements, including a move to end its telecast partnership with most Major League Baseball teams, except one in Atlanta. The company has distribution rights to offer National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL) games through cable TV and streaming, which was a key component in making the deal with Amazon.
Diamond Sports Group is owned by Sinclair, Inc. and Allen Media Group.
