ST. PETERSBURG, FL, March 26, 2026 – Major League Baseball is stepping in to directly manage local television broadcasts for the Tampa Bay Rays, ensuring all 162 regular-season games remain accessible to fans. This move comes after the Rays terminated their agreement with Main Street Sports Group, the parent company of FanDuel Sports Network stations, due to missed rights payments.
A New Ballgame for Rays Broadcasts
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MLB’s direct involvement aims to stabilize local game access amid a shifting media landscape.
- The Rays, along with five other teams, are now partnering with MLB for local broadcast production and distribution.
- The change guarantees continued access to games via cable, satellite, and MLB’s streaming service.
- Main Street Sports Group’s financial difficulties prompted the league to take action.
- Streaming will be available on MLB.com and the MLB app, without local blackouts.
“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,” Rays CEO Ken Babby said in a news release. “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.”
What’s happening with regional sports networks? The situation highlights the evolving challenges facing regional sports networks (RSNs) as the traditional cable bundle unravels and streaming gains prominence. The economics of local sports broadcasting are changing, and MLB is adapting to ensure continued fan access.
Beyond the Rays: A Wider Trend
The Rays aren’t alone in this shift. The Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and St. Louis Cardinals have also confirmed they will have their local broadcasts produced and distributed by MLB this season. These six clubs, along with the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Angels, all ended their deals with Main Street Sports Group after the company failed to make scheduled payments.
While the Braves, Tigers, and Angels haven’t finalized their local coverage plans, the Braves are reportedly exploring the possibility of launching their own broadcast network. MLB will now produce broadcasts for at least 13 teams this season, adding the Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners to the list during the offseason.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized that local media contributes over 20% of industry revenue for major league teams, making its stability crucial.
The Fallout for Main Street Sports Group
Main Street Sports Group, which rebranded from Diamond Sports Group last March, is facing potential insolvency. The company reportedly lost approximately $200 million in 2025 and was unable to secure a sale to London-based DAZN. According to the New York Times, Main Street even requested teams accept significant pay cuts in rights fees during negotiations.
“We appreciate the relationships we have had with our MLB partners and fans over many years, and we wish them the best,” Main Street said in a statement reported by the Sports Business Journal.
The Tampa Bay Lightning also broke ties with FanDuel in May, opting for a deal with E.W. Scripps Co. to broadcast games on WXPX-TV, with a streaming option available through a Lightning TV app for $66 per year. The Orlando Magic remains partnered with Main Street, but the Orlando Sentinel reports the NBA team is preparing contingency plans, including simulcasting 10 games on WMOR-TV, with six already aired and the next scheduled for March 14 against Miami.
Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger acknowledged the changing landscape. “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,” he said. “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 determined.”
Main Street currently operates 15 networks under the FanDuel banner, holding the rights to 20 professional teams – 13 in the NBA and seven in the NHL.
