In a move touted to “modernize the U.S. sports gambling industry,” Sinclair’s Fox Sports local networks would be rebranded as Bally Sports.
The new name comes 18 months afterward Sinclair Broadcast Group — which possesses WKRC-TV, WSTR-TV, WKEF-TV plus WRGT-TV in Southwestern Ohio – purchased Fox Sports Ohio and 20 other Fox local sports networks. Sinclair obtained them in August 2019 from Disney, which owns ESPN, plus was required to sell off the Fox Sports regional while it purchased 21st Century Fox’s TV along with film assets.
Last November, Sinclair and Bally’s declared a tactical partnership. The logo was revealed today.
“Rolling out Bally’s iconic logo across Sinclair’s local sports networks is a satisfying first step in a transformational partnership that is going to transform the U.S. sports gambling, gaming plus media industries,” said George Papanier, Bally’s business president plus chief executive, in a media release today.
Bally logos would replace Fox Sports local logos in the approaching months. Fox Sports Ohio would become Bally Sports Ohio; Cleveland’s Sports Time Ohio would turn into Bally Sports Great Lakes. FSO carries the Cincinnati Reds, Columbus Blue Jackets plus Cleveland Cavaliers games, along with Access Reds, Bearcats Insider, tennis plus poker programming.
Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes programming – which has aired on the part-time Fox Sports Carolinas plus Fox Sports Tennessee channels – would be carried by full-time network Bally Sports South (formerly Fox Sports South) and Bally Sports Southeast (formerly Fox Sports Southeast).
Besides 19 local sports networks, Sinclair Broadcast Groupowns, operates, and/or offers services to 188 television stations in 88 markets; the Tennis Channel plus Stadium channel; as well as the Stirr streaming service.
When acquisitions are complete, Bally’s company will possess 15 casinos in 11 states, a horse racetrack plus 13 authorized off-track gambling licenses in Colorado.