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The Dallas Stars are exploring alternatives to regional sports network broadcast deals that could revolutionize the way fans watch sports.
Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts confirmed this. dallas morning news On Wednesday, the team teamed up with A Parent Media Co. Inc. (APMC) to create an application that allows Stars to stream direct-to-consumer (DTC) games. Mike Heika of DallasStars.com first reported the news.
It’s a model that other professional sports teams have explored in recent years amid uncertainty for regional sports networks such as Bally Sports Southwest.
But the difference is that this is completely free.
“We have to be prepared,” Alberts said. “The question is where is Barry? Are there any RSNs? We have to have a contingency plan. If Barry is not an option, this is certainly an option.”
The platform follows an ad-based video on demand model (AVOD), with all revenue supported by ads rather than paid subscriptions. Therefore, consumers only need to download the app on their mobile devices or smart TVs to watch Stars games.
APMC partnered with Frisco-based sports and comedy group Dude Perfect to create a similar platform that it is replicating for the Stars.
Bally Sports’ future has been uncertain since parent company Diamond Sports Group voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March. Bally Sports owns the broadcast rights to all 11 NHL teams, including the Stars, Mavericks, Wings and Rangers.
Barry is eligible to play in 70 of the Stars’ 82 regular season games this season. However, at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, the Bally Sports+ app was experiencing issues with multiple outages during Stars games, leading to growing dissatisfaction among fans within the market.
Fans are also frustrated that Bally Sports Southwest is not available on the most popular streaming platforms such as YouTube TV, Hulu, and Sling TV. The only options for streaming are DirectTV Stream, FuboTV, and the Bally Sports+ app.
Moreover, the price of in-market fans is higher than that of out-of-market ones. North Texas fans can subscribe to the Bally Sports+ app to watch Mavericks, Stars and Wings games (Rangers games are extra) for $19.99 per month or $189.99 per season. Out-of-market fans who subscribe to NHL Power Play on ESPN+ pay just $10.99 per month, or $109.99 per year.
“This is one of the most complex business problems I’ve ever worked on,” Alberts says. “Certainly, the challenge is to solve the two problems we currently have: distribution to teams and funding.”
Other NHL teams are considering direct-to-consumer options. Just last week, the Arizona Coyotes announced a new media rights agreement with direct-to-consumer companies Kiswe and Scripps Sports that will provide an $11.99 monthly subscription to Coyotes Central, where the remaining games of the NHL season will be broadcast. did.
The Las Vegas Golden Knights added DTC elements to their viewing options last year, launching KnightTime+, created by ViewLift, in September. The cost is $69.99 per season or $6.99 per game.
For both the Coyotes and Golden Knights, Scripps Sports remains the broadcast partner, but has expanded its DTC option offering.
Although the NHL doesn’t use a free model, Alberts said he doesn’t think teams will lose revenue.
“Nobody wants to lose money,” Alberts said. “We depend on revenue. We have to pay the players. I’m getting more and more comfortable with the economy.”
The plan for now is to stick with Barry, but consider other options if it collapses. Alberts said the Stars are not alone in doing so.
The NHL and Diamond Sports Group reached an agreement in December to continue local broadcasting of its 11 teams on Bally Sports until the end of the season. Diamond Sports also announced a deal in January that will enable direct-to-consumer streaming through Amazon Prime.
Alberts said he is still waiting to learn more about the partnership with Amazon.
The end may be in sight for Stars fans who have grown frustrated with the obstacles to watching their team play every night. This solution could make Stars games the most accessible of all sports.
“Everything is on the table at this point,” Alberts said. “It comes down to what everyone’s risk tolerance is. We’re getting used to potentially having to sell directly to consumers. I think that’s the future.”
On X/Twitter: @Rasimak
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