DALLAS — As the Dallas Mavericks wait to hear the fate of their regional sports network, the team could consider partnering with the Dallas Stars on their newly announced streaming platform, Mark Cuban suggested.
The Mavs minority owner said Aug. 9 that while there's a lot of uncertainty around the future of the team's regional sports network, or RSN, on Bally Sports, the front office is looking to "maximize distribution."
"We still have a contract with [Bally], so we have to see how that plays out," Cuban said at an event hosted by the Greater Dallas Planning Council. "But at least what's been reported publicly, Bally ... is probably not going to renew with the Mavs and if that happens ... we'll do what we can to maximize the distribution."
Cuban, who still owns 27% of the Mavs, continued: "Whether or not we partner with the Stars ... we have to see what happens with Bally first."
Bally Sports owner Diamond Sports Group is going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Multiple sources recently told Sports Business Journal that as many as five NBA teams, including the Mavericks, could see their RSNs eliminated as part of Diamond's restructuring plan.
There appears to be no financial decision on the matter and the Mavericks did not respond to a request for comment.
Separately, the Stars announced July 8 that they were launching a free streaming service called Victory+ to showcase games. The NHL team partnered with a technology company called A Parent Media Co., or APMC, on this novel approach that has turned a lot of heads in sports business.
Stars games had also been carried on Bally Sports Southwest but the team and the company agreed to part ways amid the Diamond bankruptcy.
The Stars declined to comment.
Cuban in December sold the majority stake in the Mavericks to Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, and her family. He's been upfront about how the shifting sports media rights landscape has been a challenge and will place a greater emphasis on in-person entertainment and thus real estate, with which the Adelsons have a lot of experience.
"You're gonna' see us doing everything we can to maximize distribution because it's more important to us that more people have access to the games now," Cuban said.
Holden Wilen contributed reporting.
Disclaimer: In January 2024, the Mavs and WFAA’s parent company TEGNA announced a partnership in which 10 Mavericks games would air on WFAA in March and April. This was in addition to three more Mavericks games already announced to be airing on WFAA as part of the NBA on ABC calendar for the remainder of the 2023-2024 NBA regular season.
