Minnesota Timberwolves’ Broadcasting Future Uncertain Amid Diamond Sports Group Bankruptcy

The broadcasting future of Minnesota Timberwolves games remains unclear as they continue to be televised locally on Bally Sports North this season. The uncertainty arises due to Diamond Sports Group‘s ongoing struggles in bankruptcy court. Recent developments have seen the Minnesota Twins and Major League Baseball move forward with Bally Sports North by adopting an independent streaming plan, enabling their games to be produced and distributed through MLB.TV, accessible on cable, streaming, and satellite providers.

Timberwolves insider Dane Moore has speculated that Minnesota’s NBA team might also shift its approach. Moore suggested a change in how Wolves games are distributed could occur soon, writing in a post on X, “I’ve heard a change will be coming in how Wolves games are distributed as well. I don’t know all the details, but would assume we get more information on that here soon.”

The situation with Diamond Sports Group has been turbulent in recent years, marked by contract stalemates with numerous providers. One notable issue in the past summer involved two months of Minnesota Twins games not being available to Comcast customers due to unresolved negotiations over a fair deal. Diamond Sports Group is currently navigating the challenges of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with a significant hearing scheduled for mid-November. The outcome could decide Diamond’s future, potentially allowing it to detach from Sinclair Broadcasting and continue independently. Reports suggest that FanDuel is a prospective sponsor for the regional network.

According to Awful Announcing, Diamond Sports Group owes a total of $253 million in rights fees to the 12 NBA teams it covers for the 2024-25 season, including the Timberwolves. Should Diamond’s financial situation fail to improve, the court might order them to pay between $163.7 million and $187.9 million instead of the full amount, potentially affecting revenue for the Timberwolves.

As the legal proceedings unfold, Timberwolves games continue to be broadcast as scheduled. Their next televised game will be a preseason match against the New York Knicks on October 13, aired on ESPN at 5 p.m. CT. Following this, preseason games against the Chicago Bulls and Denver Nuggets on October 16 and 17, respectively, will be broadcast on Bally Sports North. The regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 22 will be a national broadcast on TNT.