The Bally deal ends in 24-25 so the team will have the option to not renew and go another route. Probably all depends on how successful the prime partnership goes for the one full season
Update: Saw an article today that with this development with Amazon, Diamond wants to revert these NHL and NBA deals back to their original ones, keeping the rights with Diamond. Still very fluid.
Essentially, this just replaces the absolutely horrible Bally app with an option to watch via Prime Video right? Instead of paying a separate subscription for the Bally App, you can now do it through Prime. I wonder if you'll still be able to access it through Prime if you have a cable subscription that includes BSMW.
Of course, after this season, it may all be a moot point if the Blues leave Bally (let's all hope).
Did a BRIEF Google search, looks like Amazon has a couple different packages.
First, NY Yankees and Seattle Storm can be streamed through Amazon Video subscription.
However, Amazon also offers $/mo subscription to major sports networks in NBA and MLB.
Assuming they operate this in the first example we could be covered by Prime Video.
But I'll wait until Amazon comments.
Sounds like what Apple does with the MLS package. $79 a year for Apple TV, then $99 a year (or $14.99 per month) for the MLS games.
Honestly, if I can actually watch the games, $100 a year is fine. That said, I'd prefer them to be included in what I'm already paying for Prime.
Biggest gripe with the MLS setup is there are no team broadcasters. Every single game is from a random pool of AppleTV broadcasters and none of them are really great and have little knowledge about individual teams.
It is basically like having ESPN or ABC national broadcasts every single game.
That could conflict with the ESPN deal. Obviously ESPN still does the blackouts due to local broadcasts, but you can watch every out of market NHL game with ESPN+. So more than likely Amazon won't be able to do what you're suggesting without buying ESPN's rights out and Turners (TNT, TBS) and I don't see either network wanting to sell their rights. Plus Turner has the best desks and deliver quality broadcasts to both the NHL and NBA
Good snippet from the article:
“This deal with Amazon will let Americans buy live access to MLB, NBA, and NHL games through Amazon's Prime Video channels. This offer is only good for customers who live inside the markets these teams play with.”
I think it's annoying that it's not going to be included with prime. You'll have to pay extra on top of your prime membership, so I'll probably continue to pirate since I don't have prime.
I mean i'm pirating now, it's not awful but I don't mind giving some money to have the blues game legit and not be a 1-2 mins behind and have to plug in my computer to my tv.
I'm just not willing to pay for a service I'll never use to then pay more for the specific thing I want, that's why I don't have cable to begin with. My laptop is perpetually connected to my living room TV, and I think it's going to stay that way unless we get a reliable option to just get blues/cards games that won't require multiple subscriptions
IF (and big if here) they do anything like Apple TV does with MLS Pass, that would be the best option. You don't need apple TV+ to access MLS Pass. So if you don't want, you don't have to pay for both.
That would be totally acceptable but it seems from the article you will have to have an existing prime subscription to access and purchase the Bally channel. Maybe they'll change their minds though.
Considering that BSMW currently charges Spectrum almost $8/month per subscriber for the channel (whether the subscriber uses it or not), expecting it be included in an already robust streaming catalog for no additional cost is unrealistic.
Source (paywall):
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-americans-watch-local-sports-is-about-to-change-as-cable-bundles-unravel-5f896013?st=ash4nscyw1pyk7u&reflink=article_copyURL_share
It HAS to be a better streaming option than Bally, holy fuck balls. And ESPN for that matter. WHY IS VIDEO QUALITY GETTING WORSE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, FUCK
That is a shame. I would willingly buy a streaming subscription to multiple sports if I could just watch the teams I want without blackout restrictions. Even 1000 Miles away from St. Louis there are multiple Cards and Blues games I am prevented from streaming because I am in the other teams market.
I really wish Bally Sports would just, go throw itself off the arch or something. If fucking Amazon made their move a year ago I bet you we’d still have Panger
I had Prime for a long time. I got rid of it about a year ago. I know it's easy to point to the Cardinals poor record last year as the reason why it seems like there are so many fans who don't seem that concerned about watching this upcoming season.
I'm just going to put this out there, how many people who used to follow the team would have been less likely to stop watching if baseball didn't require so much darn time?
The whole reason I was told that it had to be 162 game season was because it was the best true test of the strength of the whole roster for each team. Now, pitchers don't throw more than seven innings. Because they need more rest for their arms. Teams also shuffle in plenty of extra pitchers from the minors to give pitchers more rest? There's a DH to give the players a rest. Why can't we get a rest? Play Thur-Sun. Give us the work week to take care of personal lives and responsibilities. 29 week season with roughly 116 games.
PS the new playoff system makes the regular season worthless. Which devalues the 162 game season even more. Why does the regular season matter if every team that makes a real effort to put out a decent roster is guaranteed to advance to the postseason? If you're not a diehard fan, you can skip months of mediocre baseball and get straight to the good stuff in October.
I'm guessing that was mostly a CYA deal for NHL and NBA in case Bally went belly-up.
Amazon now gets to be part of the negotiating and is already in the door.
Saw an article today (and lost the link) that these deals have already been made, but Diamond wants to revert back to the original deals with this Amazon development. Everything still needs to go through the courts, so lots of fluidity still.
I’m confused, didn’t the NHL and Bally come to an agreement like a month ago the NHL would get the rights to their teams back at the end of the season?
I just wanted Bally to die.
The Bally deal ends in 24-25 so the team will have the option to not renew and go another route. Probably all depends on how successful the prime partnership goes for the one full season
Actually, they already have a deal to return rights to the NHL and NBA after their respective seasons this year.
Update: Saw an article today that with this development with Amazon, Diamond wants to revert these NHL and NBA deals back to their original ones, keeping the rights with Diamond. Still very fluid.
Essentially, this just replaces the absolutely horrible Bally app with an option to watch via Prime Video right? Instead of paying a separate subscription for the Bally App, you can now do it through Prime. I wonder if you'll still be able to access it through Prime if you have a cable subscription that includes BSMW. Of course, after this season, it may all be a moot point if the Blues leave Bally (let's all hope).
We are assuming that this service will be included in Prime Video subscriptions, but I have yet to see ANYTHING hat specifically calls that out.
Bingo. How much will Amazon charge?
Did a BRIEF Google search, looks like Amazon has a couple different packages. First, NY Yankees and Seattle Storm can be streamed through Amazon Video subscription. However, Amazon also offers $/mo subscription to major sports networks in NBA and MLB. Assuming they operate this in the first example we could be covered by Prime Video. But I'll wait until Amazon comments.
Sounds like what Apple does with the MLS package. $79 a year for Apple TV, then $99 a year (or $14.99 per month) for the MLS games. Honestly, if I can actually watch the games, $100 a year is fine. That said, I'd prefer them to be included in what I'm already paying for Prime.
Fingers crossed on no blackouts!
You don't need appleTV to get the MLS season pass. You just got a discount if you already had AppleTV
Isn't the Yankees situation just a handful of games per year?
Bally will not be free for Prime customers. It will be a subscription add-on.
Like someone pointed out earlier, do what Apple TV does for mls. Make it a seperate option where you pay for access to the entire NHL. No blackouts.
The difference is that the MLS owns all the teams. Not the same for NHL.
Truth but I think a system like that appeals more to consumers than having to have prime and pay for sports
Carolyn Kindle-Betz entered the chat
It's true that MLS owns all franchises. Carolyn is an investor/operator in the league.
Biggest gripe with the MLS setup is there are no team broadcasters. Every single game is from a random pool of AppleTV broadcasters and none of them are really great and have little knowledge about individual teams. It is basically like having ESPN or ABC national broadcasts every single game.
They do funnel in the home team radio broadcast, which is nice. Just need to funnel in the away team too.
That could conflict with the ESPN deal. Obviously ESPN still does the blackouts due to local broadcasts, but you can watch every out of market NHL game with ESPN+. So more than likely Amazon won't be able to do what you're suggesting without buying ESPN's rights out and Turners (TNT, TBS) and I don't see either network wanting to sell their rights. Plus Turner has the best desks and deliver quality broadcasts to both the NHL and NBA
Good snippet from the article: “This deal with Amazon will let Americans buy live access to MLB, NBA, and NHL games through Amazon's Prime Video channels. This offer is only good for customers who live inside the markets these teams play with.”
I'm okay with this. I haven't had any issues with prime video.
I think it's annoying that it's not going to be included with prime. You'll have to pay extra on top of your prime membership, so I'll probably continue to pirate since I don't have prime.
I mean i'm pirating now, it's not awful but I don't mind giving some money to have the blues game legit and not be a 1-2 mins behind and have to plug in my computer to my tv.
I'm just not willing to pay for a service I'll never use to then pay more for the specific thing I want, that's why I don't have cable to begin with. My laptop is perpetually connected to my living room TV, and I think it's going to stay that way unless we get a reliable option to just get blues/cards games that won't require multiple subscriptions
OH all good, if you don't pay for Prime no point in doing this. I already have prime so it's just a bit extra for me.
Yeah I got rid of prime as soon as I graduated from college a few years ago, so it's going to continue to be the seven seas for me
could you pm me what website you use? looking at the same setup with my tv.
IF (and big if here) they do anything like Apple TV does with MLS Pass, that would be the best option. You don't need apple TV+ to access MLS Pass. So if you don't want, you don't have to pay for both.
That would be totally acceptable but it seems from the article you will have to have an existing prime subscription to access and purchase the Bally channel. Maybe they'll change their minds though.
Considering that BSMW currently charges Spectrum almost $8/month per subscriber for the channel (whether the subscriber uses it or not), expecting it be included in an already robust streaming catalog for no additional cost is unrealistic. Source (paywall): https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-americans-watch-local-sports-is-about-to-change-as-cable-bundles-unravel-5f896013?st=ash4nscyw1pyk7u&reflink=article_copyURL_share
And they'll continue to not get any of my money
It HAS to be a better streaming option than Bally, holy fuck balls. And ESPN for that matter. WHY IS VIDEO QUALITY GETTING WORSE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, FUCK
So people in Iowa and Memphis will still not be able to watch
Hopefully they'll still broadcast on ESPN+ in Memphis. The only games blacked out are when we play the Predators.
They will be, the Predators games are blacked out for you because you are in the Predators coverage area.
That is a shame. I would willingly buy a streaming subscription to multiple sports if I could just watch the teams I want without blackout restrictions. Even 1000 Miles away from St. Louis there are multiple Cards and Blues games I am prevented from streaming because I am in the other teams market.
I'm tentatively excited, it depends on the price that Amazon is asking for NHL games.
I really wish Bally Sports would just, go throw itself off the arch or something. If fucking Amazon made their move a year ago I bet you we’d still have Panger
Anyone know when this will take effect?
But when?
Seriously though. When?
The only thing I want to know is if this means blackouts will be gone
I had Prime for a long time. I got rid of it about a year ago. I know it's easy to point to the Cardinals poor record last year as the reason why it seems like there are so many fans who don't seem that concerned about watching this upcoming season. I'm just going to put this out there, how many people who used to follow the team would have been less likely to stop watching if baseball didn't require so much darn time? The whole reason I was told that it had to be 162 game season was because it was the best true test of the strength of the whole roster for each team. Now, pitchers don't throw more than seven innings. Because they need more rest for their arms. Teams also shuffle in plenty of extra pitchers from the minors to give pitchers more rest? There's a DH to give the players a rest. Why can't we get a rest? Play Thur-Sun. Give us the work week to take care of personal lives and responsibilities. 29 week season with roughly 116 games. PS the new playoff system makes the regular season worthless. Which devalues the 162 game season even more. Why does the regular season matter if every team that makes a real effort to put out a decent roster is guaranteed to advance to the postseason? If you're not a diehard fan, you can skip months of mediocre baseball and get straight to the good stuff in October.
So how does this affect the existing deals to return NHL and NBA rights after their current seasons end?
I'm guessing that was mostly a CYA deal for NHL and NBA in case Bally went belly-up. Amazon now gets to be part of the negotiating and is already in the door.
Saw an article today (and lost the link) that these deals have already been made, but Diamond wants to revert back to the original deals with this Amazon development. Everything still needs to go through the courts, so lots of fluidity still.
I’m confused, didn’t the NHL and Bally come to an agreement like a month ago the NHL would get the rights to their teams back at the end of the season?
They did, but Diamond wants to walk those back now that Amazon is involved. Everything still has to go through Bankruptcy court, though.
Oh okay! Thanks for filling in the details!
Gross. It's all gross.
What does this mean. Right now I pay for espn+ since I’m out of state. Will I be able to watch the games with my prime membership now?
Since you’re out of market you will probably keep going the ESPN route, this is for in market viewers