Bally Sports Detroit

Bally Sports Detroit

Type	Regional sports network
Country	United States
Broadcast area	Michigan NortheasternIndiana Northwest Ohio NortheastWisconsin Nationwide (via satellite)
Network	Bally Sports
Headquarters	Southfield, Michigan
Programming
Language(s)	English
Picture format	1080p(HDTV) 480i(SDTV)
Ownership
Owner	Diamond Sports Group
Parent	Sinclair Broadcast Group&Entertainment Studios
History
Launched	September 17, 1997(1997-09-17)
Replaced	Pro-Am Sports System (unrelated/defunct)
Former names	Fox Sports Detroit (1997–1999, 2008–2021) Fox Sports Net Detroit (1999–2004) FSN Detroit (2004–2008)
Links
Website	www.ballysports.com/detroit
Availability (Some events may air on overflow feed Bally Sports Detroit Extra due to event conflicts)
Streaming media
Bally Sports app	www.ballysports.com/ (U.S. cable internet subscribers only; requires login from participating providers to stream content; some events may not be available due to league rights restrictions)
DirecTV Stream	Internet Protocol television
FuboTV	Internet Protocol television

Bally Sports Detroit(BSD) is an Americanregional sports networkowned byDiamond Sports Groupthat operates as aBally Sportsaffiliate. It provides coverage of local sports teams in the state ofMichigan,primarily focusing on those inMetro Detroit.The network airs exclusive broadcasts of games involving theDetroit Tigers,Detroit Pistons,andDetroit Red Wings;repeats ofDetroit Lionspreseason games; and some high school sports.

Bally Sports Detroit is available oncable televisionthroughout Michigan, as well as in northeasternIndiana,northwest Ohioand some portions of northeasternWisconsinand nationwide onsatelliteviaDirecTV.Bally Sports Detroit is available for streaming throughDirecTV StreamandFuboTV.The network's production facilities and offices are based inSouthfield, Michigan,withmaster controloperations based at theSinclair Broadcast GroupMedia Operations Center inAtlanta,Georgia.It also maintains dedicated remote sets in the concourses ofComerica ParkandLittle Caesars Arena.

History

Beginnings

Bally Sports Detroit traces its origins to 1996, whenNews Corporationpurchased 50% of thePrime Network,a group ofregional sports networksowned byLiberty Media,and immediately rebranded them under the "Fox Sports Network" banner.At the time of the purchase,Post-Newsweek Stations(owners of DetroitNBCaffiliateWDIV-TV,channel 4) owned the Detroit-basedPro-Am Sports System(PASS Sports), which served the local affiliate of the Prime Network. News Corporation announced plans to launch a Fox Sports Net affiliate in Michigan, and made a surprise bid for, and won, the local cable television rights toNBAgames involving theDetroit Pistons.

Former Fox Sports Detroit logo, used from 2012 to 2021

When PASS Sports' respectiveNational Hockey LeagueandMajor League Baseballbroadcast rights to theDetroit Red WingsandDetroit Tigersfranchises came up for renewal, Fox Sports Net made a bid for the contracts and won them both.Fox Sports decided to push the launch date of the new channel forward in time for the beginning of the1997–98 NHL seasonand1998 MLB season;Fox Sports Detroitbegan broadcasting on September 17, 1997.Post-Newsweek, meanwhile, concluded that its coverage area was not large enough to support two RSNs and sold the remainder of its Tigers and Pistons contracts, and the contract of sportscasterJohn Keating,to Fox Sports Detroit.Post-Newsweek shut down PASS Sports on October 31, 1997, leaving Fox Sports Detroit as the sole regional sports network in Michigan.

Studios

From its launch until January 16, 2008, Fox Sports Detroit broadcast its studio shows out ofFSN Northwest's facilities inBellevue, Washington.On October 1, 2009, the network unveiled a new all-digitalhigh definition-capable studio in its Southfield headquarters dubbed the "Call Sam Studio", named after its sponsor, the Sam Bernstein Law Firm. It serves as the production base of the pre-game/post-game showsTigers Live,Pistons LiveandRed Wings Live,as well the magazine shows of all three teams and all of the channel's other local programming. It was expected that 80% of the shows produced from the studio would be produced and broadcast in HD. The first program to originate from the new studio wasWingspan,a special previewing the2009–10 Red Wings season,on October 1.

Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings switch to cable full-time

The channel shared professional team coverage rights with some Detroit areabroadcast televisionstations until the spring of 2008. In March 2008, the channel signed new long-term contracts with the Pistons, Red Wings and Tigers to broadcast more games than in previous years, becoming the exclusive local home of all three teams for the first time until at least 2018.This leaves only theNFL'sDetroit Lionsas the only local professional sports team in Detroit to have all of its games on broadcast television.

Around this time a720phigh definitionsimulcast feed of Fox Sports Detroit was launched. It telecasts all Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers games in HD, their respective pre-game and post-game shows and team magazine shows, as well as all college and high school games and programs.Wingspanbecame the first locally produced pre-recorded program to be broadcast in HD when it began in 2009.In 2010,Central Collegiate Hockey Association(CCHA) and MHSAA games began airing in HD. Today almost all programming is shown in HD.

Detroit Lions coverage added

On May 21, 2015, the Detroit Lions announced a multi-year broadcast partnership with Fox Sports Detroit andWJBK(Fox 2). Fox Sports Detroit produces the preseason game broadcasts with Fox 2 producing the pre-game and post-game segments. The games air live on Fox 2 and the rest of theDetroit Lions Television Network,with re-airings on Bally Sports Detroit.Bally Sports Detroit also airsLions Liveafter regular season games, and Monday head coach press conferences.

Change of ownership and rebranding

On December 14, 2017, as part of a merger between both companies,The Walt Disney Companyannounced plans to acquire all 22 regional Fox Sports networks from21st Century Fox,including Fox Sports Detroit. However, on June 27, 2018, theJustice Departmentordered their divestment underantitrustgrounds, citing Disney's ownership ofESPN Inc.

On May 3, 2019,Sinclair Broadcast GroupandEntertainment Studios(through their joint venture,Diamond Sports Group) boughtFox Sports NetworksfromThe Walt Disney Companyfor $10.6 billion.The deal closed on August 22, 2019.

In October 2020,YouTube TVandHulufailed to reach agreements with network owner Sinclair, leading those streaming services to drop the channel.

On November 17, 2020, Sinclair announced an agreement with casino operatorBally's Corporationto serve as a newnaming rightspartner for the FSN channels. Sinclair announced the new Bally Sports branding for the channels on January 27, 2021.On March 31, 2021, coinciding with the2021 Major League Baseball season,Fox Sports Detroit was rebranded asBally Sports Detroit,along with 18 other regional sports networks following suit in their respective regions.

On March 14, 2023, Diamond Sports filed forChapter 11 Bankruptcy.As a result of the bankruptcy, acarriage disputearose between Diamond Sports and certaincable companies,leading toXfinitydropping Bally Sports Detroit (as well as all other Bally Sports networks in their respective markets) on May 1, 2024.

Programming

Local team coverage

Professional teams

• Detroit Red Wings– Bally Sports Detroit holds the exclusive local television rights to 70 Detroit Red Wings regular season games, as well as some preseason games and the first round of the playoffs.Red Wings Liveairs before and after all games.
• Detroit Tigers– Bally Sports Detroit holds the exclusive local television rights to at least 150 Detroit Tigers regular season games, as well as someSpring traininggames.Tigers Liveairs before and after all regular season games, and after all playoff games.
• Detroit Pistons– Bally Sports Detroit holds the exclusive local television rights to up to 70 regular season Detroit Pistons games, as well as some early round playoff games.Pistons Liveairs before and after all games.
• Detroit Lions– Bally Sports Detroit airs repeats of Detroit Lions preseason games. It also airsLions Liveafter regular season games, and the Monday press conference with the Lions' head coach.

Minor league teams

• Grand Rapids Griffins– Bally Sports Detroit airs a select number of Grand Rapids Griffins regular season and playoff games.

High school sports

• Michigan High School Athletic Association(MHSAA) football playoffs
• MHSAA girls and boys basketball state finals
• MHSAA Championships (for all sports; events are either broadcast on television or streamed on the channel's website)

Weekly shows

• Pistons Weekly– A 30-minute in-season show featuring off the court stories from the Detroit Pistons. Hosted byGeorge Blaha,the program also airs onWDIV-TV.
• Pistons In Focus– A 30-minute show that premiered during the 2009–10 season with biographies of notable Pistons players and coaches past and present, hosted by Eli Zaret. Those examined have includedIsiah Thomas,Chuck Daly,Bill Laimbeer,Dave BingandTayshaun Prince.
• Wingspan– a 30-minute in-season show featuring off-the-ice stories of the Detroit Red Wings.
• Inside the Tigers– A 30-minute in-season show featuring off-the-field stories of the Detroit Tigers.
• Inside Michigan Football– A 30-minute weekly discussion ofUniversity of Michigan Wolverines footballwith head coachJim Harbaugh,hosted byJim Brandstatter.The program also features interview segments with Wolverines players, as well as locker room footage and special features presented byDoug Karsch.Formerly known asMichigan Replay,which began on WDIV-TV in 1980 (its original title was retired in honor of former Michigan head coachLloyd Carr). It is also shown onBig Ten NetworkandABCaffiliateWXYZ-TV(channel 7) and via Big Ten NetworkOn Demand.
• Inside Michigan Basketball– A 30-minute weekly discussion ofUniversity of Michigan Wolverines men's basketballwith head coachJuwan Howard,hosted by Matt Shepard. Maintaining a format similar toInside Michigan Football,the program is also shown on Big Ten Network and available via Big Ten Network On Demand.
• Michigan Sports Weekly– A weekly series chronicling theUniversity of Michigan Wolverinessports scene; it is hosted byDoug Karsch.The program is also shown on Big Ten Network and theMichigan Channel.
• Spartan Sports Zone– A weekly program chronicling theMichigan State University Spartanssports scene; it is hosted by Dave Ellis. The program is also shown on Big Ten Network andFox College Sports Atlantic.
• One on One with Tom Izzo– A 30-minute show featuringMichigan State University Spartans men's basketballhead coachTom Izzoand sports anchor Mickey York. It is also shown on Big Ten Network.
• One on One with Mel Tucker– A 30-minute show featuringMichigan State University Spartans footballhead coachMel Tuckerand sports anchor Mickey York. It is also shown on Big Ten Network.
• Michigan Golf Live– A pre-recorded weekly show that promotes golfing and golf courses in Michigan, hosted by Bill Hobson.

Former programs

• The Detroit Sports Report(or simplyDSR) – A Detroit/Michigan-centered sports news show created in September 2000 by Fox Sports Net to help increase ratings for theNational Sports Report.Marc Soicher and Angie Arlotti (now Mentink) were the original anchors of the 10:00 p.m. show, while Soicher hosted a 7:00 p.m. edition of the program solo. Mickey York and Brad Adam hosted the weekend editions of the program. In 2003, Mickey York promoted to weeknight co-anchor replacing Soicher, following his departure forFSN Rocky Mountain,with Ryan Field (previously with WJBK and sports radio stationWDFN) replacing York as weekend anchor in addition to serving as a correspondent. Ratings for theDetroit Sports Reportremained decent, despite declining ratings for theNational Sports Report,which itself was canceled in 2002; FSN dropped many of the regional sports news programs over the next few years, with theDetroit Sports Reportbeing the last to be canceled in April 2007.
• Pistons Insider– A 30-minute pre-recorded in-season pregame show in which Matt Shepard and Pete Skorich preview the night's Pistons opponent. It was canceled after the 2008–09 season.
• Motor City Memories– Discussion of memorable Detroit Pistons teams of the past, hosted by George Blaha. It was replaced byPistons In Focusfor the 2009–10 season.
• Spotlight: Detroit– A series profiling prominent Detroit sports figures.
• In My Own Words: Detroit– A 30-minute interview featuring a sports figure in Detroit. This show is similar toChris Myers Interview.The show debuted September 9, 2007. John Keating was the host. The program was canceled in 2008.
• MHSAA Football Friday Overtime– Debuted in August 2011, the program includes highlights, analysis and interviews from high school football games around the state. Hosted by Mickey York and Rob Rubick, it aired live Friday nights at 12:00 a.m. during the fall.
• Fox Sports Detroit was the home of theWNBA'sDetroit Shockuntil the 2009 season, after which the team relocated toTulsa, Oklahoma.
• State Champs! High School Sports Show– A 30-minute show focusing on Michigan high school sports and certain non-athletic competitions including statewide school participation for theFIRST Robotics Competition.

Specials

• FSN Basement: All Star Edition 2005– Featuring interviews withGeorge KellandAl Kaline,each recalling their memories of playing for the Tigers and working together in the television booth. It was re-aired several times in late March 2009 in memory of former long-time Tigers play-by-play announcer George Kell, who died on March 24, 2009, at age 86.
• Ernie Harwell: We'll Remember– A tribute special shown after the death of legendary Tigers broadcasterErnie Harwellon May 5, 2010.
• A New Day for Detroit– about Detroit's recent sports renaissance and economic revival, focusing on the construction of theLittle Caesars ArenainMidtown Detroit,the home of the Pistons (who had played atThe Palace of Auburn Hillssince 1988) and the Red Wings (who had played at theJoe Louis Arenasince 1979), which will mean both teams' 2017–2018 seasons is the first time since the Lions' move to thePontiac Silverdomein 1975 (and subsequent return to Detroit when they moved toFord Fieldin 2002), that all four of Detroit's major professional teams play in the city. It premiered on April 28, 2017, and was narrated by Oscar-winning actor and Detroit area nativeJ. K. Simmons.
• The Roar of '84- about the1984 World SeriesChampion Detroit Tigers
• Miguel Cabrera: One of a Kind:Documenting the career of longtime Tigers sluggerMiguel Cabrera

Notable on-air staff

Hosts and reporters

• John Keating– Red Wings and Tigers host and reporter (1997–present)
• Mickey York – Tigers and Pistons host and reporter (2000–present)
• Trevor Thompson – Red Wings and Tigers reporter (2000–present)
• Natalie Kerwin – Red Wings, Tigers, and Pistons host and reporter (2022–present)
• Dannie Rogers – Lions host and Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons reporter (2021–present)
• Johnny Kane – Pistons and Tigers host and reporter and fill-in play-by-play (2017–present)
• Matt Shepard- college/high school sports play by play (2000-present) Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons host and reporter (2000-present) Fill in play by play (2000-present)

Detroit Tigers

• Jason Benetti– Tigers play-by-play commentator (2024–present)
• Dan Dickerson– Tigers fill-in play-by-play commentator (2024–present)
• Craig Monroe– Tigers studio analyst (2012–present); Tigers fill-in color commentator (2021–2022); Tigers primary color commentator (2023–present)
• Kirk Gibson– Tigers fill-in color commentator (1998–2002, 2015–present)
• Austin Jackson– Tigers fill-in color commentator (2021–present)
• Dan Petry– Tigers studio analyst (2019–present); Tigers fill-in color commentator (2021–present)
• Todd Jones– Tigers studio analyst (2023–present); Tigers fill-in color commentator (2023–present)
• Carlos Peña– Tigers fill-in color commentator (2024–present)

Detroit Red Wings

• Ken Daniels– Red Wings play-by-play (1997–present)
• Mickey Redmond– Red Wings analyst (1997–present)
• Chris Osgood– Red Wings studio analyst, select road games analyst (2013–present)
• Larry Murphy– Red Wings studio analyst (2006–2013, 2019–present)
• Jimmy Howard– Red Wings Studio Analyst and Reporter

Detroit Pistons

• George Blaha– Pistons play-by-play (1997–present)
• Greg Kelser– Pistons color commentator (1997–present)
• Grant Long– Pistons analyst (2014–present)
• Tim McCormick– Pistons analyst (2017–present)

College/high school sports

• Evan Stockton – High school/college sports play-by-play (2020–present)
• Dan Dickerson– High school/college sports play-by-play (2002–present)
• Fred Pletsch– High school/college hockey play-by-play and high school/ college hockey analyst (2007–present)
• Devin Gardner– High school/college football analyst and reporter and Detroit Lions pre-season analyst (2019–present)
• Rob Rubick– High school/college football analyst (2003–present)
• Mateen Cleaves– High school/college basketball analyst (2008–present)
• Kara Liles- High school/college basketball reporter (2022-present)

Former personalities

• Rod Allen– Tigers color commentator (2003–2018). Currently working forBally Sports Floridaas a game analyst for theMiami Marlins.
• Ryan Field– host/field reporter (2003–2013). Was also onFox Sports 1.Currently a sports anchor atWABC-TVin New York City.
• Ernie Harwell– Tigers play-by-play (1997–2002). Died in 2010.
• Shannon Hogan– Red Wings, Tigers, and Pistons reporter. Left to joinNew York Islandersbroadcast team atMSG Sportsnet.
• Darren Eliot– Red Wings studio analyst and select road games analyst (2012–2019). Now an executive for theVegas Golden Knights.
• Mario Impemba– Tigers play-by-play (2002–2018). Later worked for a season withBoston Red Sox Radio Network,but was let go.
• Al Kaline– Tigers color commentator (1997–2002). Later worked as a Tigers executive. Died in 2020.
• Brooke Fletcher– Red Wings, Tigers, and Pistons host and reporter and high school football reporter (2018–2022). Left to co-host theBally SportsshowThe Rallyand also covers MLB onApple TV+and college football on theBig Ten Network.
• Manon Rhéaume– Red Wings studio analyst/reporter (2021–2022)
• Jack Morris– Tigers color commentator (2015–2016, 2019–2022)
• Earl Cureton- Pistons Analyst and High school and college basketball analyst (2003-2023). Died in January 2024.

Other services

Bally Sports Detroit Extra

Bally Sports Detroit Extrais a game-time only alternate feed of Bally Sports Detroit that was originally branded as Fox Sports Detroit Plus.It was launched in 2007 to solve scheduling conflicts, such as those of the Detroit Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings, as well as CCHA games, MHSAA finals for football and basketball, and TheMid-American Conference basketball tournament(viaBally Sports Ohio). It is frequently used for live college football, college basketball, college baseball and tennis telecasts and other events distributed nationally by BSN, to avoid conflicts with local coverage.

Bally Sports Detroit Extra has been used for special alternate feeds of local games, such as the annual "¡Fiesta Tigres!" game which celebratesLatin Americanplayers, in which alternate announcers conducted Spanish language play-by-play; a "Position-by-position" Tigers game, with the camera isolating on a different defensive player every inning featuring John Keating on play-by-play; as well as a "Social networking"Tigers telecast in which the channel's staff answered viewer questions fromFacebook,Twitter,and their own website.

Fox Sports Detroit On Demand

Fox Sports Detroit On Demandwas thevideo on demandservice of Fox Sports Detroit, which is currently available on Comcast. Launched in October 2008, its offerings include the channel's magazine and coach's shows, which are presented commercial-free. On August 7, 2009, Fox Sports Detroit On Demand began carrying full-length presentations of the channel's Tigers game broadcasts.

See also

• Media in Detroit

External links

• Official website