Local Regional Sports Networks Renamed

     The two regional sports networks in South Florida have been renamed and the transition will happen by the end of March. Fox Sports Florida will become Bally Sports Florida and Fox Sports Sun will become Bally Sports Sun. Sinclair Communications bought 19 Fox regional sports networks in the United States from The Walt Disney Company in 2019. 

     The three local professional sports teams will remain on their specific channel. The Miami Heat will be on Bally Sports Sun while the Florida Panthers and the Miami Marlins, who are currently without a television deal, will be assigned to Bally Sports Florida. 

     Both local regional sports networks have roots for the past several decades. Sunshine Network began in March 1988, was renamed Sun Sports in January 2005 and changed to Fox Sports Sun in October 2015. SportsChannel Florida started in July 1987, switched to Fox Sports Net Florida in March 2000, FSN Florida in 2004 and then Fox Sports Florida in 2008.