Victory+
{{Short description|Over-the-top sports streaming service}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Victory+
| logo = Victory+ Logo.svg
| logo_caption =
| screenshot =
| screenshot_size =
| caption =
| company_type = Over-the-top media service
| founder = Neil Gruninger
| key_people = Neil Gruninger
Brad Alberts
Jason Walsh
| area_served = {{Plainlist|
- Canada
- United States
(Each team's regional availability varies)
}}
| owner = Victory Plus, Inc.
| industry = Sports broadcasting
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2024|7|9}}
| launched = {{Start date and age|2024|9|11}}
| location_city = Dallas, Texas
| location_country = U.S.
| revenue =
| website = {{URL|https://victoryplus.com/}}
| parent = Dallas Stars
A Parent Media Company
| current_status = Active
| registration = Required
| users =
}}
Victory+ is an American free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) sports network owned by Calgary-based A Parent Media Co. It officially launched in September 2024, ahead of the 2024–25 NHL season.
The service was first established in partnership with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL), offering in-market streaming of regional Stars games not broadcast by one of the NHL's national media partners, as well as other team-produced video content. The contract succeeded an agreement with Bally Sports Southwest, which was terminated as part of a restructuring by its parent company Diamond Sports Group.
Prior to its launch, Victory+ would expand beyond Dallas Stars content; it would also partner with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks to succeed a contract with Bally Sports West, and sub-licensed selected preseason—and later, regular season—games from the St. Louis Blues. In 2025, Victory+ became the streaming partner for the Texas Rangers' new Rangers Sports Network, and the service began to add non-regional content, including streaming agreements with Overtime and the Western Hockey League (WHL).
History
{{Main|Main Street Sports Group#Bankruptcy (2023–25)}}
On March 14, 2023, Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of the Dallas Stars' then-broadcaster Bally Sports Southwest (now FanDuel Sports Network Southwest), filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.{{Cite web |date=March 14, 2023 |title=Diamond Sports Group Commences Voluntary Chapter 11 Proceedings to Strengthen Balance Sheet |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230314006050/en/Diamond-Sports-Group-Commences-Voluntary-Chapter-11-Proceedings-to-Strengthen-Balance-Sheet |access-date=September 14, 2024 |website=Business Wire}} In July 2024, as part of 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.{{Cite web |last=Crupi |first=Anthony |date=July 5, 2024 |title=Stars’ Local TV Deal Goes Supernova as Team and RSN Agree to Split |url=https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2024/dallas-stars-local-tv-deal-split-bally-sports-southwest-1234786751/ |access-date=September 14, 2024 |website=Sportico.com |language=en-US}}
On July 7, 2024, the Stars subsequently 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){{Cite web |last=Hale |first=James |date=October 12, 2023 |title=Dude Perfect gets its own streaming service |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/10/12/dude-perfect-streaming-service-app-launch/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US}} to launch a free ad-supported streaming platform for the team's ancillary video content and regional games, known as Victory+, beginning in the 2024–25 season.{{Cite news |last=Silverman |first=Alex |date=July 7, 2024 |title=Stars taking all local broadcasts to new ad-supported digital platform |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/07/08/dallas-stars-local-broadcasts-digital-platform |access-date=August 29, 2024 |work=Sports Business Journal}}{{Cite web |last=Assimakopoulos |first=Lia |date=July 12, 2024 |title=How APMC landed revolutionary deal to stream Dallas Stars games for free |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2024/07/12/how-apmc-landed-revolutionary-deal-to-stream-dallas-stars-games-for-free/ |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=The Dallas Morning News}}{{Cite web |last=Dachman |first=Jason |date=July 9, 2024 |title=Dallas Stars Depart Bally Sports; Launch New VICTORY+ Free DTC Ad-Supported Streaming Service |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/07/09/dallas-stars-depart-bally-sports-launch-new-victory-free-dtc-ad-supported-streaming-service/ |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=Sports Video Group}} The name of the service comes from the Stars' team color of "Victory Green" (which is also the namesake of the team's mascot, Victor E. Green).{{Cite web |last=Osborne |first=Ryan |date=July 8, 2024 |title=Dallas Stars reach new TV agreement with free streaming service |url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nhl/stars/dallas-texas-stars-streaming-service-tv-contract-victory-plus-parent-media-bally/287-e3913f2e-9d95-480b-ac09-101e450f7605 |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=WFAA |publisher=Tegna, Inc. |language=en}}
In August 2024, Victory+ would add regional rights to a second NHL team—the Anaheim Ducks—under a two-year agreement; the team declined to renew its contract with Bally Sports West & SoCal. The team also reached a sublicensing agreement with Fox Television Stations to simulcast the games on KCOP-TV (with some games airing on parent Fox station KTTV-TV).{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Anaheim Ducks will move local broadcasts from Bally to over-the-air channel and streaming |url=https://apnews.com/article/ducks-tv-deal-victory-bally-7e010caea276f04b3e653e158f34211b |access-date=September 14, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Eric |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Anaheim Ducks shift games away from Bally Sports, announce free streaming option |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5725635/2024/08/27/anaheim-ducks-tv-schedule-streaming/ |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=The Athletic}}{{cite web |date=September 30, 2024 |title=Ducks Announce 2024-25 Television Schedule {{!}} Anaheim Ducks |url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-announce-2024-25-television-schedule |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Assimakopoulos|first=Lia|date=September 11, 2024|title=Stars announce official launch of Victory+ app where games will be streamed for free |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2024/09/11/stars-announce-official-launch-of-victory-app-where-games-will-be-streamed-for-free/ |access-date=September 15, 2024 |website=The Dallas Morning News |language=en}} The same day, the Stars announced an agreement with Cumulus Media to stream the team's radio broadcaster KTCK The Ticket on Victory+.{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2024 |title=Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 AM The Ticket joins Victory+ |url=https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/sportsradio-96-7-fm-1310-am-the-ticket-joins-victory-091124 |access-date=September 15, 2024 |website=Dallas Stars |language=en}}
In May 2025, Victory+ announced "Victory+ Anaheim" and "Victory+ Dallas" channels for the Samsung TV Plus service.{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2025 |title=Samsung TV Plus Beefs Up Live Sports Programming |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/05/06/samsung-tv-plus-scores-big-as-it-becomes-a-top-destination-for-sports-fans/ |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}}
Programming
= Current regional broadcast rights =
== National Hockey League ==
Victory+ holds the regional rights to the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League, airing all games not televised exclusively by the NHL's national media partners; the games stream for free within the teams' respective markets. Both teams previously had agreements with FanDuel Sports Network. The Ducks also have a sublicensing agreement with Fox Television Stations to simulcast its regional broadcasts on KCOP-TV and KTTV in Los Angeles. In March 2025, Victory+ reached a sublicensing agreement with Fox Television Stations to simulcast four Stars games on KDFI and KDFW through the remainder of the 2024–25 regular season.{{Cite web |last=Fullerton |first=Adam |date=March 13, 2025 |title=Dallas Stars games coming to FOX 4, More27 |url=https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-stars-games-fox-4-more27-schedule |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=FOX 4 |language=en-US}}
In September 2024, 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 would remain on FanDuel Sports Network Midwest.{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2024 |title=Blues announce preseason streaming schedule {{!}} St. Louis Blues |url=https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/blues-announce-preseason-streaming-schedule |access-date=September 21, 2024 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}} Later, the Blues announced that three games would air on Victory+ and local Gray Media television stations through the remainder of the 2024–25 regular season.{{Cite web |date=February 7, 2025 |title=Blues to stream 3 upcoming games on Victory+ |url=https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/blues-to-stream-3-games-on-victory |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}
== Rangers Sports Network ==
{{Main|Rangers Sports Network}}
On January 15, 2025, the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball announced a multi-year agreement to stream its games on Victory+ beginning in the 2025 season via the team-owned Rangers Sports Network. Unlike Stars games, these games will require either the purchase of a paid subscription priced at $100 per-season,{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Evan |date=January 15, 2025 |title=Texas Rangers to join Dallas Stars on Victory+ for 2025 season, but it’ll cost you |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2025/01/14/texas-rangers-to-join-dallas-stars-on-victory-for-upcoming-2025-season/ |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rangers announce multi-year streaming partnership with Victory+ |url=https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/rangers-sign-multi-year-streaming-deal-with-victory |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} or TV Everywhere authentication with a television provider that had reached an agreement to carry the games.{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=Kennedi |date=January 28, 2025 |title=Rangers announce details for 2025 game TV broadcasts |url=https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/rangers-announce-2025-game-tv-broadcast-details |access-date=January 28, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=How to Watch the Rangers |url=https://www.mlb.com/rangers/schedule/programming |access-date=January 28, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}
= High school football =
In June 2025, Victory+ acquired the rights to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school football championships, also replacing FanDuel Sports Network.{{Cite web |last=Hull |first=Quinton Martinez and Jonathan |title=How to watch the Texas UIL State high school football finals 2024: TV channel, streaming |url=https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2024/12/16/how-to-watch-the-2024-uil-state-football-championships-tv-streaming/76968489007/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Times Record News |language=en-US}} The service will stream the 12 divisional championship games, as well as up to 20 playoff games per-season. The possibility of a regular season "game of the week" package has also been explored.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-16 |title=Victory+ adds Texas high school football championships, select playoff games |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/06/10/victory-adds-texas-high-school-football-championships-select-playoff-games/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}
= Current national/international broadcast rights =
In November 2024, Victory+ announced an agreement to become the exclusive streaming home of the Women's National Football Conference.{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2024 |title=Victory+™ Becomes the Exclusive Home for WNFC Football, Establishing the Saturday Night Women’s Pro Football Showcase |url=https://www.wnfcfootball.com/news/victory-becomes-the-exclusive-home-for-wnfc-football-establishing-the-saturday-night-women-s-pro?srsltid=AfmBOorKLfgijkJ4uFLsbdIUvWzvQksHh-SZe3wXFXPfwyh8fwJipT2D |access-date=May 11, 2025 |website=Women's National Football Conference |language=en}}
In February 2025, Victory+ announced an agreement with Overtime, adding non-exclusive rights to events from its Overtime Elite, OT Select, and OT7 leagues, and OTX boxing. It also reached a streaming agreement with the Major Arena Soccer League.{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2025 |title=Overtime Creates Premium, Ad-Supported Streaming Experience on Victory+ |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/02/18/overtime-creates-premium-ad-supported-streaming-experience-on-victory/ |access-date=February 18, 2025 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2025 |title=Playoff Berth, Positioning at Stake as Empire Faces Sockers Twice |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/playoff-berth-positioning-at-stake-as-empire-faces-sockers-twice/n-6202959 |access-date=March 22, 2025 |website=Our Sports Central |language=en}}
In March 2025, Victory+ announced a streaming agreement with the Western Hockey League (WHL), a major junior hockey league operating in Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest; beginning with the 2025 playoffs, Victory+ will stream all WHL games worldwide (aside from the WHL finals), along with ancillary content such as classic games.{{cite news |last=Kierszenblat |first=Adam |date=March 20, 2025 |title=WHL & Victory+ Announce Historic New Streaming Deal |url=https://thehockeynews.com/whl/latest-news/whl-victory-announce-historic-new-streaming-deal |accessdate=March 20, 2025 |work=The Hockey News}}{{Cite web |last=Rocca |first=Taylor |date=2025-03-20 |title=Victory+ and WHL come together on most comprehensive streaming deal in junior hockey history |url=https://chl.ca/whl/article/victory-and-whl-come-together-on-most-comprehensive-streaming-deal-in-junior-hockey-history/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Western Hockey League |language=en-US}} The platform also acquired rights to the three Canadian Hockey League finals and 2025 Memorial Cup outside of Canada.{{Cite web |last=Séguin|first=Christopher |date=May 8, 2025 |title=TSN & RDS to provide complete coverage of the 2025 WHL, OHL & QMJHL Championship Series |url=https://chl.ca/article/tsn-rds-to-provide-complete-coverage-of-the-2025-whl-ohl-qmjhl-championship-series/ |access-date=May 11, 2025 |website=Canadian Hockey League |language=en-US}}
Notable staff
= Current =
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
- John Ahlers - Ducks play-by-play commentator{{cite web |title=Ducks Announce 2024-25 Television Schedule {{!}} Anaheim Ducks |url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-announce-2024-25-television-schedule |website=www.nhl.com |language=en |date=September 30, 2024}}
- Brian Hayward - Ducks color commentator
- Aly Lozoff - Ducks rink-side reporter
- Guy Hebert - Ducks studio analyst
- Josh Bogorad - Stars play-by-play commentator{{cite web |title=Dallas Stars announce 2024-25 regular-season broadcast schedule {{!}} Dallas Stars |url=https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-announce-2024-25-regular-season-broadcast-schedule-091024 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en |date=September 10, 2024}}
- Daryl "Razor" Reaugh - Stars color commentator
- Brien Rea - Stars studio analyst
- Brent Severyn - Stars studio analyst
{{div col end}}
- Dave Raymond - Rangers play by play
- David Murphy - Rangers color commentator
- Laura Stickells - Rangers field reporter
- Jared Sandler - Rangers studio host
- Mark McLemore - Rangers studio analyst
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://victoryplus.com}}
{{Dallas Stars}}{{Texas Rangers}}{{Anaheim Ducks}}
Category:Streaming television in the United States