Six Major League Baseball teams-the Cincinnati Reds,Kansas City Royals,Miami Marlins,Milwaukee Brewers,St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays-will have their local television broadcasts produced and distributed by MLB itself this season, a move triggered by financial issues with a key broadcast partner.
The six clubs joined the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Angels in terminating their agreements with Main Street Sports Group, the operator of the FanDuel sports Network stations, after the company failed to make scheduled rights payments.
The Braves, Tigers, and Angels have not yet announced their plans for local coverage.
“the Atlanta Braves are aware of the reports regarding Main Street Sports Group. While disappointed with this growth, we have been actively preparing for this outcome and are well on our way towards launching a new era in Braves broadcasting,” the team said in a statement.
MLB Steps In to fill Broadcast Void
The league will now directly produce broadcasts for at least 13 teams this season, expanding its reach through cable, satellite, and streaming platforms.
MLB added the Washington nationals and seattle Mariners to its list of teams whose broadcasts it will handle directly, bringing the total to 13.
The situation stems from the financial instability of the networks formerly under the Bally Sports banner, holding the rights to 42 professional teams across baseball, basketball, and hockey.
those networks emerged from bankruptcy last March under the Main Street Sports Group umbrella, rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network. Though, the networks are now facing potential insolvency without new investment.
Main Street sports Group currently operates 15 networks under the FanDuel banner, broadcasting games for 20 professional teams: 13 NBA and seven NHL.
NBA and NHL teams are developing contingency plans in case Main Street Sports Group goes out of buisness, a scenario that has become increasingly likely in recent weeks, despite the company’s commitment to continue broadcasting hockey and basketball through the end of the regular season.
“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,” a Main Street Sports Group spokesperson said in a statement. “We appreciate the relationships we have had with these MLB partners and their fans over many years, and we wish them the best.”
MLB previously took over broadcasts for the San diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2023 season and the Colorado Rockies in 2024.The Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins were added last season.
Manfred stated last month that local media revenue accounts for more than 20% of the industry’s total income.
Adapting to a Changing Landscape
“The local media landscape is evolving very quickly. It’s still a very robust audience on the customary cable model. But the economics are changing. They’re becoming more of a challenge,” Brewers President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger said on Monday. “The bundle that fortified all of the large rights fees in the ecosystem of 15-20 years old is changing, and we’re adapting to it.”
Schlesinger added, “The universe is going to be there. There’s going to be a local game element to baseball. Whether that evolves from the typical RSN model to solely streaming or a hybrid or other forms, to be resolute. I think the fans will have optionality for local games.”
With 162 games in a season,Schlesinger expressed confidence that there will be “plenty for everybody,” and he remains optimistic about the future,even without a clear picture of how local broadcasts will ultimately be delivered.
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum and Sports Writer Steve Megargee in milwaukee contributed to this report.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
