The Dallas Stars will launch a free ad-supported streaming service for local telecasts of the team’s games. Plus: The Paramount-Skydance merger is officially announced; Joe Buck will return to Cardinals booth later this month after rain delay derailed earlier plans.
Dallas Stars to launch a FAST channel that airs local games
The NHL’s Dallas Stars will launch a free ad-supported streaming service to air the team’s package of local rights after a mutual decision between the Stars and former rightsholder Diamond Sports was reached to dissolve its current contract last week. The service will be called Victory+ Sports Network.
The Stars’ move over-the-top is the first of its kind for a major North American franchise. To this point, teams that have moved off of regional sports networks have chosen to remain on linear television through deals with local broadcast affiliates, typically with a paid direct-to-consumer digital offering on the side. Victory+ Sports Network will be entirely ad-supported and free for consumers.
As part of the agreement, A Parent Media Co. (joint owner of Victory+ with the Stars), will provide a “minimum revenue guarantee” to the franchise to help alleviate risk. The signed agreement is for seven years, meaning Stars games will be free to view in the Dallas market through the 2031-32 season. (Sports Business Journal, 7.8)
Paramount and Skydance officially announce merger
The long-anticipated deal between Paramount and Skydance was made official Sunday evening after months of back and forth negotiations. The agreement spells the end of the Redstone family’s control over Paramount’s movie studio and media assets — including the CBS broadcast channel and other linear properties like MTV and Comedy Central.
In an investor call on Monday, Skydance’s David Ellison noted the importance of sports content to the new company. Specifically, Ellison discussed a “pact” with the NFL for its storytelling, mentioning a Dallas Cowboys project that is in the works. Jeff Shell, former NBCUniversal CEO and the new president of the merged company, stated that “sports is the foundation of our business,” and that new-Paramount will look to expand its sports offerings. (CNBC, 7.8) (Steinberg, 7.8)
Buck to call Cardinals game later this month
After a rain delay in May derailed plans for Joe Buck to return to the Cardinals’ broadcast booth for the first time since 2007, the reunion will now happen against the Rangers on July 29th, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Friday. Buck was slated to call the May 24th broadcast with Chip Caray, grandson of famed-announcer Harry Caray who paired with Buck’s father Jack Buck on Cardinals broadcasts in the 1950s and ’60s. The July 29th contest will be just days before Buck will begin NFL duties for the season, as he is slated to call the Hall of Fame game for ESPN/ABC on August 1st. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7.5)
