Thunder games aren’t moving to Amazon. Not this season, at least.
A heavy hitter has reportedly entered the Bally Sports saga, potentially adding a new option for Thunder fans to watch their team on television.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon is in talks with Diamond Sports Group, which operates the regional Bally Sports stations, about Amazon streaming NBA games on Prime Video. The move would expand Amazon’s push into broadcasting live sports. Amazon has the exclusive rights to the NFL’s Thursday night game.
But for all of you who are fed up with Bally Sports, don’t celebrate just yet. This is only the latest hypothetical as we all await the fate of Diamond Sports Group, which filed for bankruptcy this
year. There’s still plenty to be sorted out in court before Amazon or anyone else strikes an NBA television rights deal.
No matter what becomes of Bally Sports, the Thunder has contingency plans in place for the rest of this season.
The Sports Business Journal reported last month that NBA teams, the 15 including the Thunder whose games are broadcast by Bally, will have the option later this season to carry up to 10 games locally over the air.
The Thunder would surely be eager to do that as a way to get more eyeballs on their games.
Getting an antenna would be the only obstacle for some viewers.
The Thunder has the staff in place — a producer, director and on-air talent in Chris Fisher, Michael Cage, Paris Lawson and Nick Gallo, all employed by the team — to broadcast games locally without the restraints of Bally Sports.
Fans have long been frustrated with the Bally experience, mostly due to technical issues.
But again, there are no signs that a deal is imminent — with Amazon or anybody else.
This is just the latest twist as potential TV partners jostle for position.