The formation of
Fox Sports New Orleans was announced on June 25, 2012, after
Fox Sports Networks signed a new long-term agreement with the New Orleans Hornets (now the
New Orleans Pelicans) to broadcast the
NBA team's games. Fox acquired the regional cable television rights to the Hornets after
Cox Sports Television declined to renew its contract with the team. The channel launched on October 31, 2012, at the start of
the New Orleans Hornets regular season that year; Fox Sports New Orleans broadcast 75 Hornets games during the first year of the team's agreement with the channel. On May 3, 2019,
Sinclair Broadcast Group and
Allen Media Group (via
Diamond Sports Group) acquired the Fox Sports Networks from
Disney for $10.6 billion, as part of a divestment mandated during Disney's
acquisition of 21st Century Fox. On March 31, 2021, the channel was rebranded as
Bally Sports as part of a sponsorship of the channels by casino operator
Bally's Corporation.
Bankruptcy and closedown In March 2023, Diamond Sports Group filed for
chapter 11 bankruptcy. In 2024, the company declined to renew its broadcasting contracts with the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Stars, and Texas Rangers. The Pelicans in particular partnered with
Gray Media and its subsidiary
Raycom Sports to carry their games on a
network of broadcast television stations led by
WVUE-DT in New Orleans, as well as a subscription streaming service. With the loss of its professional sports programming, Bally Sports New Orleans quietly closed on October 21, 2024. ==Programming==