Cavs Playoff Broadcasts Move to Streaming, Drawing Fan Backlash
cavs-playoff-broadcasts-move-to-streaming-drawing-fan-backlash
Cleveland Cavaliers supporters will have to turn to streaming services to follow the team’s first-round playoff series, ending more than two decades of regional television coverage on FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland.
The opening matchup against the Toronto Raptors tips off Saturday at 1 p.m. EST on Amazon Prime Video. Game 2 shifts to Peacock on Monday night, and Game 3 returns to Prime. With FanDuel out of the picture—and traditional cable offering no local option—viewers without paid streaming subscriptions will miss live action.
Because the broadcasts are national streams, familiar local voices will be absent. Play-by-play announcer John Michael and analysts Brad Daugherty and Austin Carr will not be on the call, removing the hometown perspective fans have heard since the network’s Fox Sports Ohio days.
“This really blows that the only way to see the games is to subscribe to some useless platform like Peacock that charges outrageous fees,” reader Joseph Fabeetz wrote on Hoops Wire. “I guess it’s not as bad as the outrageous ticket prices to see them in person.”
Under normal circumstances, regional sports networks carry team broadcasts through at least the first round. That arrangement ended after Diamond Sports Group, owner of the FanDuel Sports regional channels, filed for bankruptcy and exited NBA coverage.
“I do have Prime, but it’s unfortunate,” Cavaliers fan Mere Boylan told Cleveland’s Fox 8. “I kind of hate that everything moved on to streaming. It’s not fair for actual fans.”
Team officials expect a new regional partner next season, with speculation centering on Dan Gilbert’s proposed Rocket Entertainment Sports Network, though no agreement has been announced.
For now, supporters hoping for locally aired games must root for a deep playoff run that would shift later rounds to national outlets ESPN, NBC or, in the case of the Finals, ABC.
Source: Hoops Wire
