With the future of Bally Sports direct-to-consumer streaming service still up in the air, Shark Tank investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is attempting to make it easier for fans to stream NBA games featuring superstar Luka Doncic and the Mavs, according to a report by The Dallas Morning News.
As we’ve reported before, nearly all of the major streaming services have removed Bally Sports RSNs from their packages. As of today, DIRECTV STREAM is the only streaming provider that offers, Bally Sports RSNs, the home of many in-market NBA, NHL, and MLB games, for $84.99 per month.
Cuban told the Dallas Morning News, that he is working on a program that will give Mavericks fans a monthly credit of $50 to make streaming games more affordable. The credit would reduce the monthly cost of DIRECTV STREAM down to $34.99 per month, giving local fans access to Bally Sports Southwest (the channel the Mavs are broadcasted on).
The launch date and details of the program are still being ironed out but Cuban’s plan is to offer season-ticket holders the opportunity to sign-up first and then expand the offer to a total of 10,000 fans.
If this turns out to be a success then other owners may implement this idea for their local fans. The NBA knows they have a problem when it comes to streaming in-market games on Bally Sports RSNs. Since RSNs are available on many cable and satellite providers, many cord cutters feel left out and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made note of the issue at the World of Sports of Congress:
“For now, clearly, the (cable) bundle’s broken. I mean, we’re seeing now an issue that’s very topical at the moment, our regional sports networks, Sinclair in particular, and they’re, we’re trying with them to work through those issues,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Cuban’s $50 monthly credit is another example of the NBA taking the initiative to keep fans happy and grow the game with a younger demographic. At the start of the 2021-22 NBA regular season, the Buzzer App launched with NBA League Pass integration, which allows fans to tune into games during the 4th quarter or a record-breaking performance.
Time will tell if Mark Cuban’s plan ends up working out and if the rest of the NBA will go in with one of Shark Tank’s own latest ideas.