Finance with Yahoo

Nearly a month after a Houston court agreed to delay a crucial confirmation hearing in the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy case, the owner of the country’s largest group of regional sports networks has finalized deals to continue airing games for 22 NBA and NHL teams in their local markets. In filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Diamond disclosed that it has reached agreements to honor its legacy TV contracts with most of its NBA and NHL partners. For NBA teams, DSG will continue televising games for the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, and San Antonio Spurs until at least the end of the 2024-2025 season. These deals are subject to approval by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez, who has encouraged the parties to reach agreements independently rather than relying on court orders. As part of its plan moving forward with the NBA, Diamond will file to reject contracts with the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans. Additionally, Diamond has secured agreements with NHL teams such as the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, and Tampa Bay Lightning through the end of the upcoming season. Diamond has also confirmed that it has renewed its carriage deal with Comcast, setting the stage for a successful confirmation hearing in the coming weeks. CEO David Preschlack expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnerships with the NBA and NHL, stating that the company is focused on finalizing its reorganization plan.

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(This story has been corrected in the first and third paragraphs to reflect that there were 22 teams impacted, adding the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic to the group.)

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