Amazon is reportedly hoping to bolster its sports division after the football season by investing in Diamond Sports Group
Amazon and its Prime Video Streaming service have emerged as a major player in terms of broadcasting live sports. Now, it appears the corporate juggernaut is looking to expand its presence by investing in a struggling media group, Diamond Sports.
A Bally Sports broadcast | SCREENSHOT: Bally Sports Ohio/YouTube
Diamond Sports Has Issues
Reports have emerged that Amazon is making a bid for Diamond Sports Group, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.
Diamond Sports owns and operates 19 regional sports networks, including Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, and Bally Sports SoCal. However, the Regional Sports Network (RSN) has run into major issues and multiple customer complaints.
Game availability and overall affordability led many former subscribers to cancel the add-on version of the platform. They also had many league commissioners re-thinking how they want their regional telecasts to be handled going forward.
“If an agreement is reached, Amazon’s Prime Video platform would eventually become the streaming home for Diamond’s games,” the Wall Street Journal reported on the matter.
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Where Will Amazon Go From Here?
The same report stated that Amazon will be a major player when the NBA’s broadcasting rights come up in 2025. And of course, they already have NFL games as part of Thursday Night Football, which although initially somewhat rejected by fans, is slowly being embraced as just another part of the football schedule.
In many ways, Amazon has already made inroads in the world of live sports. Additionally, they are constantly being mentioned as potential suitors for any live sports event that comes along for the taking.
Amazon has been linked to negotiations with everything from the NBA and MLB to pro wrestling and MMA, and they certainly have the capital and resources to make a deal happen.
Amazon Has Plenty Of Potential Content
World Wrestling Entertainment has been in discussion to potentially move its flagship show, RAW, to Amazon (along with potential competitors Disney-owned channel FX and Warner Brothers-Discovery’s TNT). Considering the cult following and 30-year history of that program, it would likely draw more subscribers to the Prime service.
The advantage that Amazon has right now is that they are essentially an open slate. If they negotiate wisely and schedule accordingly, they could emerge as a major source of live sports coverage. Adding the NHL, NBA, MLB, and pro wrestling to their list of programs would put them on par with Fox Sports or ESPN.
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