The Golden Knights want to make it as easy as possible for fans to watch their games. Beginning next season, Golden Knights games will be broadcast on free, over-the-air TV within the team’s broadcast area and Nevada, as per a deal signed by owner Bill Foley with Scripps Sports.
In February, Warner Bros. Discovery, broadcasting Golden Knights games on AT&T SportsNet since 2017, announced its exit from the regional sports network business. You’ll want to check back here regularly to stay up to date on news.
Diamond Sports departure
This was due to Diamond Sports Group’s bankruptcy filing. Diamond Sports Group, a subsidiary of the Sinclair Broadcast Group, owned 19 regional sports networks operating under the Bally Sports name and decided not to make a $140 million interest payment that was missed.
As a result of Warner Bros. departure, eight teams, including the Golden Knights, were affected. Kerry Bubolz, the team’s president and CEO, said discussions with Scripps Sports began two months ago.
Under the agreement, the E.W. Scripps Company will have the rights to air all non-nationally exclusive games of the Golden Knights, with complete distribution on cable, satellite, and over-the-air television. Scripps’ local station, KMCC, Channel 34, which currently broadcasts ION Network programming, will air the Golden Knights games.
Furthermore, the Knights are also developing a direct-to-consumer option. KMCC-34, which currently airs ION content, will be rebranded as an independent station before the next season, showcasing local and national news, local sports, and entertainment programming.
In addition to KMCC-34, some Knights games will be simulcast on KTNV-13, which Scripps Sports’ parent company owns. The deal makes the Golden Knights the first NHL team to announce free over-the-air broadcasts to all fans.
By allowing more fans to watch their games on TV, the Knights believe that this partnership will assist in achieving this goal.
This partnership is strengthened by Scripps’ ownership of KTNV, the Las Vegas ABC affiliate, which will provide a powerful marketing platform for KMCC.
The team’s goal was to serve their fan base in the best way possible, and this partnership with Scripps Sports helped them achieve that.
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Cord cutters and expanded coverage
The Golden Knights’ President, Kerry Bubolz, has stated that the team is currently working on making the channel available on cord-cutting platforms, such as YouTube TV and Hulu, before the start of next season.
This is the first-ever partnership of a professional sports team with Scripps Sports, which launched in December, and it is the second major deal announced by Scripps in the last 15 days, following an agreement with the WNBA. Financial details of the agreement were not revealed.
The broadcasts of Vegas Golden Knights games will continue to feature Dave Goucher and Shan Hnidy as commentators, along with pre and post-game coverage.
Ashali Vise is staying as the rinkside reporter, while Daren Millard and Gary Lawless will be at the desk for the pregame and intermission reports.
According to the announcement, there will be expanded distribution to the following regions:
• Idaho: Boise, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls
• Montana: Billings, Butte-Bozeman, Glendive, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula
• Nevada: Reno
• Utah: Salt Lake City
• Wyoming: Casper-Riverton and Cheyenne-Scottsbluff
Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are currently leading the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs so don’t forget to bet on them with the latest NHL odds.
