The MLB-FanDuel Sports Network Situation, Explained

Rebrand from Fox Sports to Bally Sports

In 2017, Disney made a $52.4B USD deal with 21st Century Fox. The deal gave Disney majority control over Hulu, movie and TV studios, FX, and National Geographic, plus Fox Sports’ regional sports networks. However, Disney had to sell the RSNs to meet anti-trust requirements set forth by the U.S. government.

Sinclair, with help from entrepreneur Byron Allen, purchased those networks for $10B in 2019 and formed Diamond Sports Group. Two years later, Diamond would rebrand the Fox Sports networks as Bally Sports in 2021, per the terms of an agreement with Bally’s Corporation.

Financial Difficulties in 2020 & 2021

Not only were small businesses and individuals hit hard by COVID and the subsequent shutdowns but so was sports. The sports world shuttered for parts of 2020 and re-emerged in a different form. A case in point was Major League Baseball, as the league contested a 60-game season in 2020.

Not only was Major League Baseball shut down, but so were the NHL and NBA, both leagues that Bally Sports had rights to. As a result, both leagues played shortened campaigns in 2020-21.

The shutdowns had a trickle-down effect on regional sports networks. With no games to air and bars and businesses — some of which rely on sporting events to get foot traffic — shut down, RSNs saw the loss of millions of subscribers, per the Wall Street Journal.

Diamond Sports continued to accrue losses and missed a $140MM rights payment in February 2023. That set forward a 30-day grace period, followed by bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy

Diamond Sports Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2023. In Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a company can stay in business and re-organize their finances to pay creditors over a certain period. The entity stated it had around $8.7B in debt.

DSG remains in bankruptcy as of this writing, and the past two years have been eventful. On top of Chapter 11, Diamond Sports Group also got into a carriage dispute with Comcast, which kept their networks off the provider for months. During that dispute, Major League Baseball casts doubt in legal motions that it could remain afloat and come up with a reorganization plan.

The carriage dispute, which started in May 2024, ended in August 2024. Bally Sports returned to Comcast but the networks were put on the provider’s Ultimate TV package. That is Xfinity’s most expensive tier.

In October 2024, Diamond Sports Group submitted its reorganization plan amidst bankruptcy. DSG stated its desire to shed its TV deals with the Rays and Tigers, keeping only the Atlanta Braves.

Additionally, Diamond wanted to sever ties with the Angels, Cardinals, Marlins, Reds, and Royals. Those five teams were trickier, given their RSNs are joint ventures between Diamond and their respective teams.

However, Diamond will stick with the Cardinals in 2025. The two sides came to an agreement to broadcast games in 2025, both on TV and a digital rights agreement that will give fans a direct-to-consumer option.

Additionally, it came to terms on new deals with both the Tigers and Rays in November. MLB and the Braves filed objections to Diamond Sports Group’s bankruptcy emergence, citing concern that parties could be found in the same distress as in the past. However, the two sides pulled that objection.

The Royals’ situation was resolved in December 2024. Kansas City confirmed games will air on FanDuel Sports Network during the 2025 season. It’s part of a deal that will allow the Royals to re-evaluate potential TV/streaming options after the year.

Diamond received approval to emerge from bankruptcy on November 14, clearing a major hurdle in its reorganization process.

From Bally Sports to FanDuel Sports Network

On October 18, 2024, Diamond Sports Group and FanDuel agreed to a deal that would see the DFS/betting provider acquire the naming rights for the Bally Sports networks. The rebrand officially took place on October 21.

Per the agreement, FanDuel would seek to integrate its own programming on FanDuel TV (formerly known as TVG) through a new direct-to-consumer app with the RSNs, as well as “additional economic and equity elements” with it.

Further complications and DAZN

The 2025 campaign saw all nine MLB teams that had TV deals with FanDuel complete the year without notable complications. However, things began to turn again in the winter.

In December 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported that Main Street Sports Group, currently in control of the RSN conglomerate, was in advanced talks with media company DAZN, intending to sell the former to the latter.

But in December, Main Street missed a rights payment deal to the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also reported in the Sports Business Journal that if a deal with DAZN can’t be completed by January, it could result in the collapse of FanDuel Sports Network.

A month later, the SBJ indicated that at least most of the NBA teams that have rights deals also did not receive payments.

Which MLB teams air on FanDuel Sports Network?

As of 2026, nine MLB teams have deals with FanDuel Sports Network, although that can change. Here’s a look at the current list, as of January 2026:

• Atlanta Braves
• Cincinnati Reds
• Detroit Tigers
• Kansas City Royals
• Los Angeles Angels
• Miami Marlins
• Milwaukee Brewers
• St. Louis Cardinals
• Tampa Bay Rays

Diamond Sports Group lost TV rights to the Twins, Guardians, Brewers, and Rangers after the 2024 season. Minnesota, Cleveland, and Milwaukee announced shortly thereafter that MLB would take over local broadcasts for those three teams, while Texas launched a hybrid streaming/cable option through Victory+ and the Rangers Sports Network.

The Brewers, however, reversed course in December 2024. Milwaukee came to an agreement to continue working with Diamond in 2025, keeping games on the RSN.

The Reds confirmed that MLB will take over their broadcasts in November 2024. But like the Brewers, Cincinnati reversed course in January 2025, coming to a new agreement with Main Street Sports.

Major League Baseball took control of the Diamondbacks and Padres‘ TV broadcasts in 2023, and Colorado’s in 2024.

Will all those teams be on FanDuel Sports Network in 2026?

As of this writing, all of the teams listed above will be on FanDuel Sports Network. However, that could change if Main Street can’t complete a sale to DAZN.

Why does it matter?

The ongoing saga between MLB and FanDuel Sports Network matters for several reasons.

One, the ability to watch games on TV. Teams that no longer have TV deals with the company formerly known as Diamond Sports Group have partnered with the league itself to produce local games. Thus, the league and teams worked with cable and satellite providers to show the games, plus provide a direct-to-consumer product to reach those who don’t have either.

It, in essence, removes the worry of carriage disputes and blackouts, and makes it simpler to watch the product. However, it comes at a cost.

Teams lose out on the rights payments from Main Street Sports in this situation, which can lead to cuts to player payrolls if it means lower revenues.