Games involving three of Detroit’s four major sports teams could soon be shown on a platform owned by Amazon.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon, the e-commerce giant, is in talks to invest in the Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of Bally Sports Detroit, which carries the majority of Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons games.
Diamond, which carries games of more than 40 major sports teams across the country, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, raising questions about Bally’s future beyond the 2024 MLB season.
The WSJ reports Diamond is negotiating with Amazon about a multiyear streaming partnership. If an agreement is reached, Amazon Prime Video would eventually become the streaming home for Diamond’s games. Diamond would continue operating its cable networks through its existing partnerships, however.
A deal could help Diamond avoid liquidation.
Amazon already has rights to stream NFL games including Thursday Night Football and is expected to pursue a deal to carry NBA games.
Diamond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, aiming to renegotiate its contracts with teams and to restructure more than $8 billion of debt stemming from Sinclair’s 2019 deal to purchase the company from Walt Disney, according to the WSJ. Sinclair is Diamond’s parent company.
