CLEVELAND — Cavaliers fans are feeling like the season is on the brink.
After the team took a 2-0 lead in their first-round NBA playoff series against the Magic, they proceeded to drop the next two games in Orlando by a combined 71 points, including the worst postseason defeat in franchise history. The best-of-seven matchup is now essentially a best-of-three, with Game 5 back in Cleveland Tuesday night seen as pivotal for both sides.
The Wine and Gold faithful are already in a sour mood, and to make matters worse, many of them may not even be able to see the biggest game of the year on television Tuesday evening.
How in the world could this happen in 2024, when there are so many options available to watch and stream sporting events? And in the playoffs, no less?
The answer likely won't satisfy those impacted, but it greatly lies with the league's ongoing regional sports network crisis.
You see, all playoff games are nationally televised, but Game 5 between the Cavs and Magic will be broadcast on NBA TV. According to league rules, games aired on the league-owned channel are also shown locally by the teams' regional networks, with the national NBA TV broadcast being blacked out in the local markets.
In Cleveland's case, this means the only viewing option for Game 5 will be Bally Sports Ohio, with John Michael and Brad Daugherty calling the action. Those wishing to watch the national broadcast on NBA TV will get either a blank screen or a message indicating the feed is unavailable in their area.
Here's the problem: Bally Sports Ohio owner Diamond Sports Group is currently in the throes of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, and a number of area TV providers have dropped the network from their lineups along with Bally Sports Great Lakes (which airs most Guardians baseball games). So while those with Spectrum cable, DirecTV, or Fubo will be able to watch the game on Bally, fans with carriers like Dish Network, YouTube TV, Hulu, and Sling TV cannot. What's more, even though NBA TV is available on all of those services, the national broadcast will be blacked out in Cleveland, meaning a good chunk of viewers could be completely out of luck.
If this dilemma sounds familiar, it's because it already reared its ugly head in Games 2 and 3 of the series, both of which were shown on NBA TV and Bally. Naturally, this did not sit well with Cavaliers supporters, many of whom seemed unaware of the issue until they turned on their televisions. What's more, it seems like the blackouts even extended to markets outside Cleveland.
Adding insult to injury, the Magic's RSN is... Bally Sports Florida, so many down south have run into the same problem.
So do these restrictions apply to all games in the first round? No, because Game 1 aired on ESPN, which routinely allows viewers in the home markets to watch either the local or the national broadcast without blackouts. TNT usually owns exclusive rights to the games on their air, but these rules appear to be relaxed during the first round of playoffs, and Cavs fans were able to watch Game 4 on either TNT or Bally this past Saturday.
The blackouts only apply to NBA TV games, and the rules are not altered during the postseason. When the league revealed its updated schedule on Monday, Clevelanders collectively groaned as it was confirmed Game 5 would indeed air on both Bally Sports Ohio (for those who can access it) and NBA TV (but not in Northeast Ohio or much of Florida).
Obviously, Cavs and Magic followers are going to want to sit down and watch the action at 8 p.m., but their options appear to be limited to going to a bar or friend's house, switching television providers, or tuning in to Tim Alcorn and Jim Chones on the Cavaliers AudioVerse. Those impacted can also try to purchase the separate streaming service Bally Sports Plus for $19.99 a month.
Of course, you can always try to see the game the old-fashioned way and go right to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Tickets are currently available on SeatGeek for as little as $38, before fees.