Stars leave DSG/Bally Sports umbrella, turn to streaming
May 31, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers in game five of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports The Dallas Stars are taking their games to the world of streaming.
After parting ways with Diamond Sports Group, the owners of the Bally Sports Network, the Stars announced a seven-year contract with A Parent Media Co. to launch a streaming platform.
Under the terms of the partnership, all Stars games not on a national broadcast will be streamed on a direct-to-consumer service called Victory+. According to Sportico, Dallas is the first major men's sports franchise in the U.S. to move its local broadcasts from a regional sports network (RSN) to a streamer.
The Stars said Victory+ will be a free, ad-supported service.
"After years of researching the right solution and careful planning with our partners at APMC, we're proud to announce this pioneering streaming platform that will literally change the game for sports distribution on VICTORY+," Stars president and CEO Brad Alberts said in a news release. "Our first priority has always been our fan base, and on VICTORY+ fans will be able to stream 100 percent of Stars content for free through this innovative and unique streaming platform for sports programming."
The club's local broadcasts had been carried by Bally Sports Southwest, the RSN that formerly carried Fox Sports branding.
The Stars join the Vegas Golden Knights, the Utah Hockey Club (previously Arizona Coyotes) and the Florida Panthers as the NHL teams who've departed the Diamond Sports Group since 2023 to seek other broadcast agreements.
--Field Level Media