MLB Expands Direct Broadcast Role as Regional Sports Network Model Crumbles
Major League Baseball is significantly expanding its direct involvement in local television production this season, taking control of broadcasts for six more teams. This strategic move comes as the future of the FanDuel Sports Network, operated by the financially troubled Main Street Sports Group, hangs in the balance.
Six Teams Shift to MLB Production
The Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays will all have their local television broadcasts produced and distributed directly by Major League Baseball this season. The Royals, Brewers, and Cardinals made their plans official on Monday, with the other three clubs expected to announce similar arrangements in the coming days.
These six clubs join the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Angels in terminating their agreements with Main Street Sports Group. The termination followed the company's failure to make scheduled rights payments, highlighting the deepening crisis within the regional sports network sector.
Broadcast Landscape in Flux
With these additions, MLB will now produce broadcasts for at least thirteen teams this season. The league had previously added the Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners during the offseason, continuing a trend of bringing broadcast operations in-house.
Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed the situation last month, stating: "Our focus, particularly given the point in the calendar, is to maximize the revenue that's available to the clubs, whether that's MLB Media or third party. The clubs have control over the timing. They can make a decision to move to MLB Media because of the contractual status now."
Manfred emphasized that teams are carefully evaluating their alternatives, balancing significant payroll commitments against finding the best revenue sources and quality broadcast outlets for their fans.
FanDuel Network's Precarious Position
The FanDuel Sports Network faces an uncertain future, with the company on the verge of insolvency unless new majority owners or investors are found. The network emerged from bankruptcy proceedings just last March under the Main Street Sports Group banner, rebranding from the previous Bally Sports networks.
A Main Street Sports Group spokesperson stated: "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 these MLB partners and their fans over many years, and we wish them the best."
Historical Context and Industry Impact
MLB's increasing involvement in local broadcast production represents a significant shift in sports media distribution. The league previously took over broadcasts of the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2023 season, followed by the Colorado Rockies in 2024. Last season saw the addition of the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins to MLB's production roster.
Commissioner Manfred revealed last month that local media provides more than twenty percent of industry revenue, underscoring the financial importance of these broadcast arrangements.
Broader Industry Challenges
The regional sports network model has faced mounting challenges in recent years. Diamond Sports Group, previously the largest owner of regional sports networks, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2023. At that time, Diamond operated nineteen networks under the Bally Sports banner with rights to forty-two professional teams across baseball, basketball, and hockey.
Main Street Sports Group currently operates fifteen networks under the FanDuel banner with rights to twenty professional teams: thirteen NBA and seven NHL franchises. Both the NBA and NHL have been developing contingency plans should Main Street suddenly cease operations, a scenario that has become increasingly plausible over the past three weeks.
Adapting to Changing Media Consumption
MLB has promoted expanded market reach when it assumes production responsibilities, citing advantages from being available on local cable systems, satellite providers, and direct-to-consumer streaming platforms.
Brewers President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger commented on Monday about the evolving media landscape: "The local media landscape is evolving very quickly. It's still a very robust audience on the traditional cable model. But the economics are changing. They're becoming more of a challenge. 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 determined. I think the fans will have optionality for local games. There's so many games that we deliver — 162 — there's plenty for everybody."
Despite the uncertainty, Schlesinger expressed confidence in the future of baseball broadcasting, even while acknowledging the difficulty in predicting exactly where and when the industry will stabilize.
