Comcast Xfinity customers may lose access to Bally Sports channels as negotiations falter, affecting sports broadcasts in Minnesota

Bally Sports Networks are on the brink of disappearing from Comcast Xfinity’s channel lineup as the two companies struggle to finalize a contract agreement. This potential blackout, expected to start Tuesday night, could significantly impact sports fans across Minnesota who rely on these channels for local sports coverage.

John Ourand, a sports business reporter, highlighted that the disappearance of Bally Sports regional sports channels from Comcast systems could occur as early as tonight. This development follows months of negotiation difficulties, exacerbated by the financial woes of Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of Bally Sports, which is currently navigating bankruptcy proceedings.

A Comcast spokesperson expressed disappointment over the stalled negotiations: “We have been very flexible with Diamond Sports Group for months as they work through their bankruptcy proceedings, providing them with an extension last fall and a unilateral right to extend the term for another year, which they opted not to exercise. We’d like to continue carrying their networks, but they have declined multiple offers and now we no longer have the rights to this programming.”

The impending blackout means fans of the Minnesota Twins, Wild, Timberwolves, and Lynx will need to seek alternative viewing platforms. Currently, Bally Sports North is only accessible through DirectTV, Spectrum, and FuboTV, with Bally Sports also offering a streaming app at $19.99 per month. However, it’s notable that this app does not carry Twins games.

In response to the situation, Comcast has announced plans to issue refunds to affected customers. “We will proactively credit our customers for the costs associated with them – most will automatically receive $8 to 10 per month in credits,” according to a company statement.

On the other side of the dispute, a Diamond Sports Group spokesperson lamented the lack of progress: “It’s disappointing that Comcast rejected a proposed extension that would have kept our channels on the air and that Comcast indicated that it intends to pull the signals, preventing fans from watching their favourite local teams. Comcast has refused to engage in substantive discussions despite Diamond offering terms similar to those reached with much larger distributors of ours. We are a fans-first company and will continue to seek an agreement with Comcast to restore broadcasts, and at this critical juncture for Diamond, we hope that Comcast will recognize the important and mutually beneficial role Diamond and RSNs play in the media ecosystem.”

As negotiations stall, the availability of local sports broadcasting hangs in the balance, prompting fans to explore other services like Fubo, DirecTV or DirecTV STREAM, or the direct-to-consumer offering, Bally Sports+, for teams where Diamond retains direct-to-consumer rights