Bally Sports is Back: What You Need to Know

By now, hopefully you've heard the good news that Bally Sports is back on your TV. Comcast/Xfinity customers who haven't been able to watch their favorite MLB teams on Bally this summer will finally get to see those games starting on Aug. 1. It's a long time coming. Bally has been off the Comcast/Xfinity airwaves since early May. Customers have been up in arms, and rightfully so. Cable TV isn't cheap. Many people buy cable just to see their favorite local sports teams, too. So, I'm extremely happy that Bally Sports is back, because it's better late than never.

Following months of negotiations, Diamond Sports Group, which operates the Bally Sports network, has come to a deal with Comcast to have the regional sports networks back on Xfinity beginning Aug. 1. The two parties weren't able to come to a deal before their April 30 deadline early this year, which is why Xfinity customers weren't able to watch Bally Sports in their area. In the summertime, Bally carries many local MLB teams, so baseball fans weren't able to catch those games. Come fall, Bally will also air NBA and NHL games, so those customers would have also been left in the dark if this deal hadn't been made.

According to a statement on Business Wire, those who subscribe to Xfinity's Ultimate TV package will now be able to watch the MLB, NHL and NBA games that air on Bally Sports. Those customers will also be able to log into the Bally Sports app to watch using their Xfinity credentials.

"Entering a new carriage agreement with Comcast, our third largest distributor, is a critical step forward in our restructuring effort, and we are pleased that fans will again be able to access broadcasts of their local teams through Xfinity," David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond Sports said in a statement. He added, "With certainty on our distribution, we are focused on finalizing an agreement with the NHL and resolving our ongoing negotiations with the NBA."

So, what do you need to know if you want to watch the games? As long as you have Xfinity's Ultimate TV package, all you have to do is switch to the Bally Sports channel starting Aug. 1, and you'll be able to see all the usual Bally coverage. It's easy as that. Bally Sports is back, after a long negotiation process. Of course, some customers have already left Xfinity and opted for streaming services that offer Bally. But, if you're someone who hasn't, like me, put Aug. 1 on your calendar. I'm a big Detroit Pistons fan (don't judge), so I'm glad they remedied this before the new NBA season started. Contact me with your thoughts.