FanDuel Sports Network Loses Six MLB Broadcast Deals

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-02-03

So, here's the big shake-up in sports broadcasting that's got everyone talking. The FanDuel Sports Network, you know, that group of regional sports channels, just lost two-thirds of its Major League Baseball teams. That's a massive shift. On Monday, six teams made the announcement together. We're talking about the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Rays. Starting with the 2026 season, MLB itself will be producing their television broadcasts. ### What's Left for FanDuel? That leaves just three MLB teams with the network: the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Angels. But honestly, that number might shrink even more. The Sports Business Journal has already reported that the Angels and Tigers are likely to join MLB's new broadcast setup too. And the Braves? They've put out a separate statement hinting they might jump ship as well. It feels like the dominoes are still falling. ### Will Fans Still Get Their Games? This is the question on every fan's mind, right? The teams making this switch are working directly with MLB to make sure viewers don't lose out. The goal is to give fans just as much access to televised games as they had before, maybe even more. Let's look at the Milwaukee Brewers as an example. They've laid out a clear plan for their fans. If you live in their designated TV market—which covers all of Wisconsin and Iowa, plus parts of Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan—you'll have options. You can catch games on a new Brewers television network through your cable or satellite provider. Or, you can opt for a special Brewers-only streaming package directly through MLB. And for fans living outside those areas? Nothing changes there. You can still subscribe to MLB.tv to watch the games, just like you have for years. It appears the other five teams will be rolling out similar plans for their own local markets. The league seems committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for the viewers. ### The Rocky Road of Regional Sports Networks Man, it's been a wild ride for these RSNs over the last five or six years. The networks that now make up the FanDuel Sports Network have a long history. For decades, fans knew them as the Fox Sports Networks. Then, in 2019, Diamond Sports bought them from Disney. That sale was actually a requirement from the US Department of Justice after Disney's huge purchase of 21st Century Fox. Diamond tried to rebrand, selling the naming rights to Bally's. So in March 2021, Fox Sports Network became Bally Sports. But the landscape was changing fast. More and more households were cutting the cord, ditching cable packages for streaming services. That shift hit Diamond's traditional business model hard. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2023. It scrambled, renegotiating contracts with some teams while losing others. In a move to stabilize, Diamond struck a deal with the daily fantasy and sports betting giant, FanDuel, in October 2024. Bally Sports was renamed the FanDuel Sports Network. Diamond Sports Group emerged from bankruptcy 13 months ago and even changed its name to Main Street Sports Group. But the financial troubles didn't magically disappear. The company missed payments to teams at the end of 2025. It tried a last-ditch effort to sell its streaming service to DAZN, but that deal fell through. Through all this, Main Street Sports, operating as the FanDuel Sports Network, still holds valuable local broadcast rights. They have deals with 13 NBA teams and 7 NHL teams. So, while baseball is slipping away, they're not out of the game entirely. This story is a perfect example of how the way we watch sports is evolving right before our eyes.