DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- As the Dallas Stars have powered through the last few great seasons on the ice, their fans have become increasingly frustrated with the television distribution situation.
Bally Sports Southwest has struggled to remain on some of the more popular cable providers, resulting in low ratings and disconnected fans. Diamond Sports Group, which owns Bally Sports Southwest, ended its broadcasting agreement with the Stars after the 2023-24 season.
So the Stars were left without a broadcast home for next season.
“It’s been a two-year issue," said Brad Alberts, President and CEO of the Dallas Stars. "The most complicated business problem that I’ve ever had to solve.”
So in a groundbreaking move for the Dallas Stars, the team announced the VICTORY+ Sports Network, a new, free streaming platform to ensure fans have easier access to Stars games and content.
The app, which will be available on every smart TV, phone, and tablet, aims to revolutionize how the team engages with its growing fan base.
“We set out to try to create a solution that increased viewership and fixed the distribution problem,” said Brad Alberts, President and CEO of the Dallas Stars.
The Dallas Stars have partnered with APMC to bring this vision to life.
“The same group that created Dude Perfect's app is the partner that we work with in APMC. So they've done this before, and, obviously, that was a big key to us,” Alberts noted.
VICTORY+ will not only provide live game streaming but also additional programming and behind-the-scenes content. This comprehensive approach aims to keep fans engaged well beyond game time.
“Our group is excited about creating additional content that can fit into the different slots around our games and create some really compelling behind-the-scenes content for our fans,” Alberts stated.
Maintaining high-quality broadcasts remains a top priority for the team. With Jason Walsh, a former executive producer at Bally Sports, joining the team to oversee production, the Dallas Stars are confident that their broadcasts will meet, if not exceed, previous standards.
“We've taken great pride for our history here in delivering great TV. We've had great announcers. We've had great production staff, and that standard isn't gonna drop off,” Alberts assured.
The introduction of VICTORY+ also represents a significant shift in control for the Dallas Stars.
“It's ours now. And we have no one to blame if something goes wrong,” Alberts admitted. This newfound control will allow the team to tailor the viewing experience precisely to their fans' preferences and needs. And all for free.
This innovative move may set a new trend in how sports teams distribute their content.
“I do think that this is going to be the future. It's going to be exciting to watch over the next two years how this all evolves,” Alberts said.
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