Fubo TV welcomes back Bally Sports to the streaming service. Plus: DirecTV’s Red Zone channel is officially in its last season; MLS releases their 2023 schedule; and more sports media news.
Bally Sports to return to Fubo TV
Diamond Sports and Fubo TV have come to an agreement to bring the 19 Bally Sports-branded regional sports networks back to the streaming service. As reported by John Ourand of Sports Business Journal, the deal is part of a larger carriage agreement with Sinclair’s stations and marks the return of Bally Sports RSNs to Fubo TV after a nearly three-year absence. While the specifics of the deal have yet to be disclosed, the RSNs should appear on the service starting in January. (SBJ 12.21)
DirecTV’s Red Zone will not continue
After officially losing Sunday Ticket to Google in a seven year, $14 billion deal, DirecTV’s version of NFL Red Zone — the original NFL Sunday whip-around show — will not continue after the conclusion of the current season. Instead, NFL Network’s NFL Redzone channel will be the league’s lone Sunday whip-around show.
DirecTV’s Red Zone, hosted by Andrew Siciliano, launched in 2005. The NFL Network version, hosted by Scott Hanson, debuted four years later. Both versions have become popular, especially as fantasy sports and sports betting have taken off. Both Siciliano and Hanson are employees of NFL Network and no decision has been made on who will host the remaining RedZone show in 2023, though Front Office Sports reported that Hanson should be considered the favorite. (Front Office Sports 12.23)
MLS releases 2023 schedule
Major League Soccer released its 2023 schedule this week, with the “MLS is Back” opening weekend set for February 25 — the earliest start ever for an MLS season. The MLS All-Star Game will take place on Wednesday, July 19, although the opponent has yet to be announced. The final match day — “Decision Day” — occurs on October 21.
Starting July 15, the MLS season will take an extended break for the all-new Leagues Cup. A month long tournament featuring all 47 MLS and Liga MX clubs, MLS will resume regular season action on August 20. All MLS matches can be found on Apple’s MLS Season Pass, although nearly 40% of the regular season games will be shown without a paywall on Apple TV. (Apple 12.20)
Plus: ESPN spinoff rumor, Paramount cricket bid, Sports Science return
Wells Fargo analyst Steve Cahall observed that as Disney moves more towards an IP based portfolio, an ESPN spinoff becomes more likely. … Paramount makes a seven-year, $1 billion bid for Australia’s domestic cricket rights. The move comes after Paramount’s 2021 deal for Australia’s top flight men’s and women’s soccer leagues. … Former Sports Science host John Brenkus teased the show’s imminent return, “but not to ESPN,” on Twitter. (Front Office Sports 12.20, 12.20, Brenkus/Twitter 12.20)
