Victory+ is a sports-focused over-the-top, free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service owned by A Parent Media Co. The service primarily carries content relating to the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League, including team-produced video content and in-market streaming of Stars and Ducks games not broadcast by one of the NHL's national media partners. The service launched in September 2024, ahead of the 2024–25 NHL season.
 | |
| Type of business | Over-the-top media service |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 9, 2024, in Dallas, Texas, U.S. and Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Headquarters | , |
| Area served |
(Each team's regional availability varies) |
| Owner | Victory Plus, Inc. |
| Founder(s) | Neil Gruninger |
| Key people | Neil Gruninger Brad Alberts Jason Walsh |
| Industry | Sports broadcasting |
| Parent | Dallas Stars A Parent Media Company |
| URL | victoryplus |
| Registration | Required |
| Launched | September 11, 2024 |
| Current status | Active |
History
editOn March 14, 2023, Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of the then-broadcasting partner of the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars, the then-Bally Sports (the teams being on West & SoCal and Southwest, respectively) filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.[1] In the company's restructuring process, Diamond filed a motion with the U.S. bankruptcy court to terminate the company's contract with the Dallas Stars in early July.[2]
On July 7, 2024, the Stars announced a seven-year contract with Calgary-based A Parent Media Co. (APMC, who also owns children's video platform Kidoodle.TV, and is the streaming provider for the sports comedy troupe Dude Perfect)[3] to launch a free ad-supported streaming platform for the team's ancillary video content and regional games, known as Victory+.[4][5][6] The name of the service comes from the Stars' team color of "Victory Green" (a color also referenced by the team's mascot, Victor E. Green).[7]
On August 27, 2024, the Anaheim Ducks announced that they would not renew their contract with Diamond Sports Group and Bally Sports West & SoCal, which had expired at the end of the 2023–24 season. The team subsequently announced that it would also stream its regional games on Victory+ under a two-year agreement. Games will also be carried on broadcast television by KCOP-TV and sister station KTTV-TV in Los Angeles.[8][9][10]
The service officially launched on September 11, 2024. At launch, it was available to download on Android, Google TV, iOS, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV devices.[11] The same day, the Stars announced an agreement with Cumulus Media to also stream KTCK The Ticket—the team's radio home—on Victory+.[12]
Later that month, the St. Louis Blues announced that four of its five preseason games would stream on Victory+, with all but one of the broadcasts featuring the Blues' radio announcers. Regular season games will remain on Bally Sports Midwest.[13]
Notable Broadcast Staff
editCurrent
edit- John Ahlers - Ducks play-by-play commentator[14]
- Brian Hayward - Ducks color commentator
- Aly Lozoff - Ducks rink-side reporter
- Guy Hebert - Ducks studio analyst
- Josh Bogorad - Stars play-by-play commentator[15]
- Daryl "Razor" Reaugh - Stars color commentator
- Brien Rea - Stars studio analyst
- Brent Severyn - Stars studio analyst
References
edit- ^ "Diamond Sports Group Commences Voluntary Chapter 11 Proceedings to Strengthen Balance Sheet". Business Wire. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ Crupi, Anthony (5 July 2024). "Stars' Local TV Deal Goes Supernova as Team and RSN Agree to Split". Sportico.com. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ Hale, James (12 October 2023). "Dude Perfect gets its own streaming service". Tubefilter. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Silverman, Alex (7 July 2024). "Stars taking all local broadcasts to new ad-supported digital platform". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ Assimakopoulos, Lia (12 July 2024). "How APMC landed revolutionary deal to stream Dallas Stars games for free". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ Dachman, Jason (9 July 2024). "Dallas Stars Depart Bally Sports; Launch New VICTORY+ Free DTC Ad-Supported Streaming Service". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ Osborne, Ryan (8 July 2024). "Dallas Stars reach new TV agreement with free streaming service". WFAA. Tegna, Inc. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "Anaheim Ducks will move local broadcasts from Bally to over-the-air channel and streaming". AP News. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ Stephens, Eric (27 August 2024). "Anaheim Ducks shift games away from Bally Sports, announce free streaming option". The Athletic. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Ducks Announce 2024-25 Television Schedule | Anaheim Ducks". www.nhl.com. 30 September 2024.
- ^ Assimakopoulos, Lia (11 September 2024). "Stars announce official launch of Victory+ app where games will be streamed for free". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 AM The Ticket joins Victory+". Dallas Stars. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "Blues announce preseason streaming schedule | St. Louis Blues". www.nhl.com. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ "Ducks Announce 2024-25 Television Schedule | Anaheim Ducks". www.nhl.com. 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Dallas Stars announce 2024-25 regular-season broadcast schedule | Dallas Stars". www.nhl.com. 10 September 2024.