fuboTV is set to add Bally Sports RSNs to its channel lineup after agreeing a new carriage deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group. A move which is likely to help the live TV service further appeal to sports fans. As importantly, this will also provide homes with another option when it comes to choosing a live TV plan that includes these regional sports networks
In spite of their popularity, the RSNs owned by Diamond Sports Group, a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, are quite hard to stream. While it is possible to get access through the standalone Bally Sports Plus subscription service, DirecTV Stream is currently the only major live TV streaming service to offer them as part of a live TV package.
Like some other services, fuboTV did previously offer these same RSNs when they were branded as Fox Sports RSNs. However, they were dropped by fuboTV at the start of 2020 after failing to agree a new deal. Almost three years later and fuboTV has now confirmed that the two companies have agreed a carriage deal to bring the Bally Sports RSNs back to fuboTV. While an exact arrival date was not provided, the announcement did state that the channels will be added “in the coming weeks.”
In total, 19 RSNs are set to become available through fuboTV. These are Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Oklahoma, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports West, and Bally Sports Wisconsin.
fuboTV already offers access to the Tennis Channel and Marquee Sports Network, both of which are also owned by Sinclair, so this is more of an expansion rather than a totally new deal. Either way, the option of a live TV plan, other than DirecTV Stream, with these channels will provide consumers with more choice on where they get their Sinclair-owned RSNs from.
Speaking of which, fuboTV currently offers three main base plans to choose from, ranging between $69.99 and $99.99 per month. In spite of being the cheapest package, the $69.99 Pro plan is expected to include the Bally Sports RSNs in its lineup. For reference, DirecTV Stream only offers access to these RSNs with a minimum of its Choice plan, currently $89.99 per month and set to increase to $99.99 per month in January.
fuboTV has yet to explicitly state whether the arrival of the Bally Sports RSNs will result in a price increase, but the service does already charge an RSN fee in areas where it offers access to local sports channels. It is possible that this fee could increase in existing areas and be introduced in those areas that will suddenly now have access to RSNs through fuboTV for the first time.
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