Pelicans Fans Are Right To Question Value Of Bally Sports+
![Pelicans Fans Are Right To Question Value Of Bally Sports+ Pelicans Fans Are Right To Question Value Of Bally Sports+](https://www.si.com/.image/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/MTkwMTQxMjU4NjAwMDk3NDM4/usatsi_18169415_168388561_lowres-1.jpg)
Since Bally Sports took over the broadcast rights to New Orleans Pelicans games in March of 2021, its relationship with New Orleans Pelicans fans has been tenuous at best. The fanbase has had issues with everything from the constant unreliability of the Bally Sports streaming app to the accessibility of Bally Sports New Orleans from various broadcast streaming sites, and price gouging.
Just about the only thing that Bally seems to get universal approval on is the tandem of play-by-play man Joel Meyers and color commentator Antonio Daniels, sideline reporter Jen Hale, and studio hosts Erin Hartigan and David Wesley.
But they are all holdovers from the Fox Sports era, so it was pretty much a no-brainer to retain that group. The animosity between Pelicans Nation and Bally Sports has now reached Hatfield and McCoy levels with the introduction of Bally Sports+.
At a time when consumers are dealing with historic levels of inflation and stagnant wages, the streaming service is being offered to viewers at a cost of $19.99 per month or $189.99 per year.
It’s unfathomable to me another NBA season is about to start and there’s still no way to easily purchase streaming-only options for Pelicans* games.
— Scott Kushner (@ScottDKushner) October 1, 2021
It’s a pox on a league that champions young customers and tech.
*And other markets where Bally Sports controls the rights.
To put that into perspective, the NBA announced that it had reduced the cost of League Pass by almost 50 percent, down to $14.99 per month, which also includes complete access to NBA TV.
You can “Netflix and Chill” all you want for as little as $9.99 each month and Hulu will let me watch live sports, Disney+ and ESPN+ for only three times as much as the monthly cost of Bally Sports+
Besides Pelicans broadcasts, what added value does Bally Sports+ provide that can’t be gotten elsewhere?
The head of Bally Sports refuting my claims over the Pelicans' injury luck since they took over broadcasting: pic.twitter.com/ASF78hep1W
— Kevin Barrios (@kevinbforbounce) April 5, 2021
As an organization, the Pelicans must be given credit for listening to fans more closely over the past couple of seasons. The arena experience itself has become more reflective of the spirit and the people of New Orleans.
The New Orleans Pelicans may not belong to the city per se but they are quickly becoming a big part of the area's cultural fabric. Many New Orleanians who helped weave that fabric, have been priced out of the city they love, taking them to other locales and in some cases other states.
Everyone KNEW the Pelicans re-upping with Sinclair/Bally was a disaster and the business side just said F the fans.
— David Fisher (@Fish_TBW) August 17, 2022
YouTubeTV is $64.99. If the Pelicans went with NBC Sports the Pelicans would be included there (and every other streaming service.
Now is not the time for the Pelicans to force its fan base to stretch their dollars just a bit more for the luxury of watching the team they’ve supported through thick and thin.
Perhaps they’ll renegotiate the deal after thousands of subscriptions go unsold, or as the negative tweets and posts begin to pour in at the first moment the service goes down during the first quarter of the first preseason game.
Really important point here. The blame mostly falls with Bally Sports/Sinclair, but the Pelicans are not without fault. https://t.co/98gh5nBAjI
— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) August 17, 2022
Perhaps there will be rebates for those brave souls who put down their good money on a bad value. Though considering the process that led to this situation, well. Perhaps, not.
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