On March 14, 2023, Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of Bally Sports New Orleans (the previous television home of the Pelicans), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy,[1] 30 days after they failed to make a $140M interest payment.[2]
As part of the bankruptcy, during the 2023–24 NBA season, Bally Sports reached an agreement with the NBA to allow teams to exclusively air up to 10 games on local over-the-air networks.[3] The Pelicans reached an agreement with Gray Television for its over-the-air games.[4] On August 23, 2024, Diamond Sports rejected its contract with the Pelicans through bankruptcy court.[5]
On September 17, 2024, the Pelicans announced that Gray Television would become the exclusive home of local Pelicans games beginning with the 2024–25 NBA season. In order to air games across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, Gray announced that all games would air on the soon-to-launch Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, which would mostly be available on digital subchannels.[6][7] The network launched on October 2, 2024.[8][9]
Prior to the 2025 MLB season, Gray Media announced agreements with the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers to air 15 games, 10 additional spring training games for the Braves, over-the-air.[10] Braves games will air on the Gulf Coast Sports Network in Biloxi, Birmingham, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Mobile and Montgomery.[10] Rangers games will air on the Gulf Coast Sports Network in Alexandria.[11]
