It’s been a long summer for Major League Baseball fans who have been without the ability to watch their favorite games. But, Bally Sports returns to Comcast/Xfinity very soon, so customers who haven’t been able to watch their favorite MLB teams will finally get to see those matchups.
Bally Sports has been off the Comcast/Xfinity cable package since May 1, so it’s been several months without the network available on that particular cable platform. I’m glad these two finally struck a deal, because it’s just not right that millions of sports viewers were left in the dark for so long.
Bally Sports Returns to Comcast/Xfinity
Diamond Sports Group, which operates the Bally Sports network, has come to a deal with Comcast to have the regional sports networks back on Xfinity starting Thursday (Aug. 1). So, why did the network go dark in the first place? The two parties were unable to reach an agreement before their set April 30 deadline early this year, which meant that Bally Sports went dark for millions of Xfinity customers across America.
Bally Sports carries many local MLB teams. They also carry many local NBA and NHL teams. So, come fall, customers would have also been left out of the fun of watching the NBA and NHL seasons.
According to a press release on Business Wire, Comcast/Xfinity subscribers who have Xfinity’s Ultimate TV package will now be able to watch the MLB, NHL and NBA games that air on Bally Sports. Also, if you’re someone who would rather watch via the app, Comcast/Xfinity customers will also be able to log into the Bally Sports app to catch the action.
“Entering a new carriage agreement with Comcast, our third largest distributor, is a critical step forward in our restructuring effort, and we are pleased that fans will again be able to access broadcasts of their local teams through Xfinity,” David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond Sports said in a statement. “With certainty on our distribution, we are focused on finalizing an agreement with the NHL and resolving our ongoing negotiations with the NBA. We are mindful that time is of the essence with basketball and hockey seasons fast approaching, and once agreements with our team and league partners are complete, we intend to move expeditiously to present a plan of reorganization to the Court.”
“We appreciate Diamond Sports working with us to reach a solution that returns the Bally Sports RSNs to our Ultimate TV customers in a way that reflects the changing video marketplace for local sports,” Greg Rigdon, president of content acquisition for Comcast, added. “We look forward to making these networks available on August 1, so customers can enjoy watching their favorite teams again.”
Bally Sports returns on Aug. 1. If you are a Comcast/Xfinity customer and have Xfinity’s Ultimate TV package, when you head to the Bally Sports channel starting that day, you’ll be able to see your local games and other programing. Some customers have already left Xfinity and now use various streaming services to watch Bally, but if you were waiting for the Comcast deal, it’s finally here. Let the games begin, literally.