Good news if you hate Bally Sports: they're trying to give up the Stars' broadcast rights.

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As part of a contingency plan that's been evolving over the past several months, the Stars are said to be looking into partnering with a tech company to launch a direct-to-consumer app that would allow local fans to stream the team's games. As a bonus incentive for Stars enthusiasts, games streamed on the ad-supported platform would be accessible at no additional charge.

A local TV deal is also said to be in the works, although nothing has been finalized.

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https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2024/dallas-stars-local-tv-deal-split-bally-sports-southwest-1234786751/

Knew they were coming with a DTC streaming option, but word was they were going to stay with Ballys (soon to be FanDual) for the time being as well. Glad to know they're working on a local TV option, they wouldn't survive on a streaming only option. They used to split games between what was Fox Sports Southwest and Channel 27. I'm assuming they'll work something out with 27 or the CW. The CW has been venturing into sports lately. Sounds like ad revenue is less than the broadcast rights they've been receiving though. Going to be interesting to see how this impacts the organization's bottom line moving forward. Then again, with the team selling the ads and the ability to create synergies with other team advertising opportunities, they may very well come out better.

https://dcastillo.substack.com/p/the-dallas-stars-shouldnt-sign-matt

An article from last year arguing for pairing Heiskanen with Dumba.

gabehcoud said:

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Talked to my insider friend last night at the game
1) rumors of moving north are false. stars are staying at the aac and have a good relationship w new mavs owners for possible future move w mavs. If stars don't go w mavs they'll stay at AAC
2) No bally for Stars next year. Will launch streaming service partnering w some other teams.

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👀

— Brad Alberts (@bradalberts20) July 8, 2024

I'm guessing more app/TV info. is about to drop.

Will be interesting to see how bars adapt to this.
And I guess older customers?

PatAg said:

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Will be interesting to see how bars adapt to this.
And I guess older customers?

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There will probably be a deal to broadcast locally too. I'm guessing it'll be on TX27 or something of the like and maybe only around 25-30 games to be simulcast on it.

I'm impressed they got such a large territory. There was speculation they would have to blackout outside of DFW because of NHL Center Ice and ESPN+. Streaming to such a wide area will help with ad revenue, but they're going to have to really market the H-E-double-hockey-sticks out of it across that region.

Also interesting how much viewership was hurting due to Ballys' issues with Dish, etc. They're convinced viewership will be up from the start.

I absolutely think viewership will be up. I'm a diehard, watch 75% of Rangers games, and since Xfinity dropped Bally I have watched maybe one game since. It's no different with the Stars, Mavs etc.

FWAppraiser said:

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The future has arrived! Starting this fall, #TexasHockey fans can stream Stars games for FREE on @victoryplustv! 📺

MORE: https://t.co/MGYnwKzAyd pic.twitter.com/coT39gBtLT

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 8, 2024

7 year agreement

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VICTORY+ will be available for download on smart TVs, tablets and smart phones in September 2024 ensuring fans within the Dallas Stars regional territory (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas) can enjoy content wherever they are on their preferred device. Fans outside the Stars regional territory will still be able to enjoy VICTORY+ to watch a robust menu of ancillary content provided by the team.

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This is amazing. I can watch games in bed on my iPad. Sometimes I don't feel like sitting on the couch or watching in the living room.

Stars fans continue to be spoiled. Best broadcast crew in hockey / all of the DFW sports and now it will be extremely accessible to fans.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40509506/nhl-power-rankings-2024-2025-best-teams-standings-free-agency-trades-draft

Stars #3 on way too early rankings

Already seeing projections of the Stats finishing 1st or 2nd in the Central again.

I was too down on the free agent signings. If you look at the analytics, the new defensemen free agents ARE a net negative when compared to their replacements (Tanev, Suter, and Hakanpaa/Petrovic). BUT replacing Pavelski and Faksa with Bourque and Blackwell more than makes up for it. The Stars are actually slightly better, from an analytics perspective, than they were to finish this last season.

Add to it, if Lian Bichsel can force his way onto the roster and one of the old guys to sit or go through waivers, they may get even better.

This is still a really good team. Have to remind myself we went into last season relying on Ryan Suter and Jani Hakanpaa to play big minutes. Even with weaknesses on the blue line, this team is going to be dangerous.

micahb2002 said:

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https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40509506/nhl-power-rankings-2024-2025-best-teams-standings-free-agency-trades-draft

Stars #3 on way too early rankings

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Makes sense. If you ask me, we've pretty much gotten 3rd place the last few years anyway. I think we were better than the last 2 teams who lost in the eastern conference finals.

Are we really better than last year as constructed right now?

Tanev seemed to make our defense elite. We might not have beaten Vegas or Colorado without him. However, it's fair to say in hindsight that by the time the playoffs arrived, Pavelski was washed up and didn't help at all and Hintz was hurt / didn't look like the Hintz we got in the playoffs last year.

I hope we are. I'm just not so sure.

David Castillo has an article in D Magazine addressing this:

https://www.dmagazine.com/sports/2024/07/dallas-stars-moneyball-tanev-dumba/

FYI, David is not a fan of the offseason moves, but he's also a big analytics guy. Looks like we are, in fact, slightly better.

He's a pretty crazy analytics guy. He was the one calling for Faksa to be moved to defense based off of numbers.

Brad Alberts on the HL https://post.futurimedia.com/ktck/playlist/listen-8454.html

Borque for Pavs is the only positive and that's a pure guess. D is bad with bad depth.

gabehcoud said:

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Borque for Pavs is the only positive and that's a pure guess. D is bad with bad depth.

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It's pretty guaranteed that whoever replaces Pavs will be better in the playoffs. Regular season? We will see. Pavs just doesn't have enough in the tank for a regular season AND playoffs anymore.

gabehcoud said:

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Borque for Pavs is the only positive and that's a pure guess. D is bad with bad depth.

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Blackwell is also an upgrade over Faksa, but it's 100% a case of addition by subtraction in the forward group. The defense got worse, but not as much when comparing with what we started last season with. There's also some thought that Dumba might not be as bad in Dallas' system. I'm not holding my breath, but it is a possibility. I also still think there's a very real possibility that we see Bichsel called up this season and they'll move one of the bottom defensemen via trade or waivers.

Pavs was -8, but Dumba and lyushkin are -6. Ouch

Dumba has been recovering from a torn pectoral. His upper body is weaker but his legs are great. We are betting on him being an ideal partner for Miro.

It's not an easy comparison of plus minus between forwards and defensemen.

Want to join in on all the 2024-25 season action?#TexasHockey Victory Club Memberships have now sold out!

Join the waitlist today ⤵️

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 12, 2024

Tuesday means SuperStar Summer on NHL Network!

Today, we're focusing on @DallasStars legend Mike Modano!

10am ET/7am PT: Modano's 500th Goal
12pm ET/9am PT: Game 6 of 1999 WCSF
2pm ET/11am PT: Game 6 of 1999 SCF
4pm ET/1pm PT: Modano becomes the all-time American points leader pic.twitter.com/NFboSQELNF

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 16, 2024

We have reached a one-year affiliation agreement with the ECHL's @AllenAmericans!

𝙳𝙴𝚃𝙰𝙸𝙻𝚂 🔗 https://t.co/EtOgY1Hd2b#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/y1jtnphsgL

— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) July 31, 2024

It seems like the Americans change affiliation every other year. Not sure if that is normal or not.

I had season tickets the first 6 years of the franchise and they had a great run with 4 championships in that stretch and it was reasonably good hockey. Much better than the CHL in the 90s when I used to go to a lot of the FW Fire games.

Season ticket holders looking for add ons, it opened up this morning and they're going fast