MLB is on the cusp of a complete broadcasting renovation after all ties to FanDuel Sports Network have been cut.
Main Street Sports Group, which operates FanDuel Sports Network, will no longer have any relationship with Major League Baseball (MLB) after all nine franchises in its portfolio are expected to leave the network.
Six teams, the Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, announced on February 2 in separate statements that they will join MLB Media. The Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers, are reportedly still unsure about their next steps.
The six teams joining MLB Media will also partner with local distributors, a model Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby said matches the club’s commitment to improving the fan experience.
“With MLB’s best-in-class streaming platform, Rays fans in our home market will finally be able to stream games on the MLB app without local blackouts,” said Babby.
“And just as importantly, fans who prefer the tradition of watching Rays baseball on television will continue to find our games on cable and satellite. Every decision we make is done first and foremost with our fans in mind.”
The final of the nine franchises, Atlanta Braves, have confirmed they will launch their own network, which would see the team distribute games directly through major streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime, alongside cable deals. This approach would give the franchise greater control over pricing, production and audience reach while reducing reliance on regional sports networks.
Closing the door on Main Street
Main Street Sports Group emerged from the bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group (DSG), the former operator of Bally Sports regional networks. The company rebranded FanDuel Sports Network in a bid to reset its business model and stabilise operations.
At the time of Diamond’s bankruptcy filing, CEO David Preschlack said: “DSG will continue broadcasting games and connecting fans across the country with the sports and teams they love.
“We look forward to working constructively with our team and league partners and all DSG stakeholders throughout this process and beyond.”
Later reports found Diamond owed significant sums to MLB teams, with the league confirming it had contingency plans to ensure broadcasts could continue if the network failed. These plans included keeping the league’s own network on standby to distribute games via MLB Network.
This back up plan could now kick off a new era for MLB broadcasting, with the league already holding local rights to seven other baseball teams. It is believed the goal will now be to secure the rest, allowing the network to sell them all under one package.
Could other leagues follow?
Following the MLB exit, a Main Street spokesperson said: “FanDuel Sports Network is continuing to broadcast NBA and NHL games, and we appreciate the leagues’ engagement in ongoing discussions on our go-forward plans.
“We appreciate the relationships we have had with our MLB partners and fans over many years, and we wish them the best.”
The company currently holds local media rights to several NBA franchises, including the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder, to name a few.
In the NHL, FanDuel Sports Network carries games for the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets and St Louis Blues.
If the MLB departures add to Main Street’s financial problems, there is a risk teams across other leagues could be left without a broadcast partner midseason.
While the NBA operates its own digital distribution infrastructure similar to MLB, the NHL folded NHL.TV into ESPN+ and no longer has a league run local streaming replacement, raising the stakes should further disruption occur.
Insider Sport has approached the NHL for comment.
