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FanDuel Sports Network
FanDuel Sports Network
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FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Bally Sports) is a group of regional sports networks in the United States owned by Main Street Sports Group (formerly Diamond Sports Group). The networks carry regional broadcasts of sporting events from various professional, collegiate, and high school sports teams. Through its owned-and-operated networks and several other affiliates, its programming is available to all or part of at least 33 states.

Key Information

The networks were formerly known as Fox Sports Networks and operated by News Corporation for most of their existence. They were acquired by Diamond Sports from the Walt Disney Company in 2019, as Disney was required to divest them by the U.S. Department of Justice as a condition of their own acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Diamond Sports was initially established by Sinclair Broadcast Group, with additional equity funding from Allen Media Group. After the takeover, Diamond sold naming rights to the channels to casino operator Bally's Corporation, resulting in their relaunch as Bally Sports on March 31, 2021.

In 2023, amid the impact of cord-cutting and other upheavals in the market, Diamond Sports Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As part of the associated reorganization process, Diamond planned to be separated from Sinclair into a standalone company. It renegotiated contracts with a number of the teams that it broadcast, and also ended its contracts with several others (either via missed rights payments, the natural end of a contract, or a formal opt-out). In October 2024, it was announced that Diamond would end its agreement with Bally's and enter into a new agreement with online gambling company FanDuel—under which Bally Sports rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network on October 21, 2024. The bankruptcy ended on January 2, 2025, with Diamond Sports Group rebranding as Main Street Sports Group.

History

[edit]

Beginnings

[edit]

The networks of FanDuel Sports Network have a long history, with the origins of several of the networks dating to the 1980s and 1990s, as affiliates of the Prime Network (and to a lesser degree SportsChannel). In 1996, News Corporation and Liberty Media (the owner of Prime Network) announced that the Prime Sports networks would be rebranded under the new "Fox Sports Net" brand;[1] the Prime Sports-branded affiliates were officially relaunched as Fox Sports Net on November 1 of that year.[2][3][4] In 1997, News Corp and Liberty Media also purchased a 40% stake in Cablevision/NBC's SportsChannel networks which led those networks being rebranded as part of Fox Sports Net in early 1998 and bringing the total number of owned or affiliate networks to 18.[5][6][7][8] In the years that followed, a series of other acquisitions and launches of new networks (along with a few closures) resulted in 22 owned and operated networks.

Acquisition by Diamond Sports Group from Disney

[edit]

On December 14, 2017, the Walt Disney Company announced their intent to acquire 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion after the spin-off of certain businesses into a new entity (initially dubbed "new Fox", but ultimately named Fox Corporation). While the acquisition was originally slated to include Fox Sports' regional operations (which, presumably, would have been re-aligned with Disney's ESPN division),[9][10] the Justice Department ordered that they be divested within 90 days of the completion of the acquisition due to the concentration of the market that ESPN would hold.[11][12]

Sinclair Broadcast Group was mentioned as the most likely buyer for the other FSN networks, but would need the assistance of a private equity firm to help raise the cash needed for the purchase.[13][14] The group's other sports properties included Stadium—a national sports network distributed via over-the-air digital television and internet streaming (in partnership with the Chicago White Sox's investment arm Silver Chalice), Tennis Channel, as well as Marquee—a then-upcoming RSN devoted to the Chicago Cubs.[15]

On May 3, Sinclair officially announced that via its subsidiary Diamond Sports Group, it had agreed to purchase the networks for $10.6 billion, pending regulatory approval. At the same time, it was also revealed that Allen Media Group would hold an equity stake in the company and serve as a "content partner".[16]

The sale was completed on August 22, 2019 and included 21 of the 22 networks. The networks continued to temporarily use the Fox Sports branding under a transitional license agreement with Fox Corporation; Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley stated that there were plans to eventually rebrand them under either a new name, or to "partner with a brand who wants more exposure". There were also plans to increase non-event programming, and emphasis on sports betting in its programming.[17]

Due to a clause in the original sale,[18] Yankee Global Enterprises had a right of first refusal to purchase Fox's share in YES Network.[19] On August 29, 2019, an investor group including the Yankees, Sinclair, Amazon, and the Blackstone Group purchased Disney's 80% stake in the network for $3.47 billion.[20] Sinclair's share of the network is 20%.[21]

FuboTV dropped the channels in January 2020,[22] and YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV followed in October 2020.[23][24] On November 4, 2020, Sinclair took a $4.23 billion write-down on the FSN purchase.[25]

Rebranding as Bally Sports

[edit]

On November 17, 2020, it was reported by Sportico that Sinclair was considering rebranding the networks via a naming rights agreement, and was reportedly in talks with multiple companies involved in sports betting.[26] The next day, Sinclair announced that it had entered into an agreement with casino operator Bally's Corporation to acquire the naming rights under a 10-year deal. This agreement included integration of Bally's content on the channels and other Sinclair properties (including its television stations Stadium and Tennis Channel), and a warrant giving Sinclair the option to acquire a 14.9% stake in Bally's Corporation, and up to 24.9% if performance criteria were met.[27]

On January 27, 2021, Sinclair announced that the networks would be rebranded as Bally Sports on March 31.[28] Fox Sports Carolinas and Fox Sports Tennessee were discontinued, with any unique sports programming moved to the Bally Sports South and Southeast channels. To better reflect their target markets, Prime Ticket and SportsTime Ohio were also rebranded as Bally Sports SoCal and Bally Sports Great Lakes, respectively.[29][30]

In preparation for the rebrand, new studio sets were constructed at all of FSN's outlets, while Drive Studio produced a new on-air graphics package built upon its existing work for Marquee. On-air graphics feature a new consistent score bug in the bottom-left of the screen, which is combined into the ticker; the ticker area can also be used to display in-game statistics. Executive vice president Michael Connelly explained that the configuration was designed to eventually allow for the integration of sports betting-related information such as lines and props.[31][32]

Former logo as Bally Sports used from 2021 to 2024

On Opening Day, the newly rebranded channels aired a joint special, Bally Sports Big Opening Day. It was produced by Stadium, hosted by Michael Kim, Bally Sports SoCal's Kristina Pink and Bally Sports Southeast's Eric Collins, and featured coverage of teams and events across Bally Sports and Sinclair's sports networks.[33]

On June 23, 2022, Bally Sports soft-launched a direct-to-consumer service known as Bally Sports Plus (or Bally Sports+) in selected markets. It launched nationally in the remainder of the networks' footprint on September 26.[34]

Bankruptcy and spin-off

[edit]

On February 15, 2023, Diamond Sports Group, the owner of Bally Sports, failed to make a $140 million interest payment, instead opting for a 30-day grace period to make the payment.[35] On March 14, 2023, Diamond Sports Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection; its restructuring plan included a proposal for the company to be separated from the Sinclair Broadcast Group into a standalone company.[36]

During its bankruptcy, Diamond has missed payments to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB), the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and to Raycom Sports for its ACC on Regional Sports Networks package and the Orange Bowl for its Orange Bowl Classic men's college basketball tournament.[37][38][39][40][41][42][43] Diamond also entered grace periods for their payments to the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds of MLB, which they eventually made.[44][45]

On May 31, 2023, Diamond officially missed a second payment to the Padres, and the Padres' television rights were returned to Major League Baseball. Because Bally Sports San Diego, which aired Padres games, is a joint venture between the Padres and Diamond it is technically not in bankruptcy. Therefore, this missed payment did not have the same bankruptcy protections that Diamond's other missed payments had.[46][47] On June 1, 2023, after a two-day-long hearing, the bankruptcy judge ordered Diamond to pay the other Major League Baseball teams they missed payments to fully within five days.[48] Bally Sports gave up the rights to the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 18, 2023.[49] Furthermore, with Bally Sports Arizona also losing local broadcast rights to both the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury to Gray Television (via KTVK and KPHE-LD, respectively) in April of that year and then the Arizona Coyotes to Scripps Sports (via KASW) in early October, Diamond Sports Group ultimately shut down Bally Sports Arizona on October 21, 2023, becoming the first official casualty of the bankruptcy.[50][51][52] Bally Sports San Diego would shut down next by liquidating assets to the Padres following a settlement made in April 2024.[53] On June 14, 2023, Diamond rejected its contract with Raycom Sports to distribute a package of Atlantic Coast Conference games, freeing Raycom to sell the package to other networks.[54] A month later, Raycom announced that The CW had bought the rights.[55]

On November 6, 2023, Diamond Sports and the National Basketball Association reached a one-year agreement that will result in the contracts for NBA teams airing on Diamond expiring after the 2023–24 NBA season. Across the board, all NBA teams airing on Diamond Sports will receive a 16% reduction in the money they receive from Diamond Sports, but will be able to sell 10 games to local over-the-air networks.[56][39] On December 30, 2023, the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans reached agreements with Gray Television to air 10 over-the-air games in local markets. The games will continue to be produced by Bally Sports.[57][58] On December 20, 2023, Diamond Sports and the National Hockey League reached a similar agreement to the NBA's November 6 deal that will also result in the contracts for all NHL teams airing on Diamond expiring after the 2023–24 NHL season, pending approval by the bankruptcy court.[59]

On January 17, 2024, Diamond Sports announced a restructuring agreement after receiving a minority investment from Amazon, and reaching an agreement with the Sinclair Broadcast Group for a $495 million cash payment to settle an earlier lawsuit. Under the deal, the Bally Sports app was to be folded into Amazon Prime Video. The restructuring would still need to be approved by the bankruptcy court.[60] Diamond Sports Group officially filed its reorganization plan on March 1, 2024. As part of the plan, Diamond would end its naming rights deal with Bally's Corporation.[61]

On May 1, 2024, Comcast and Midco dropped the Bally Sports networks as part of a carriage dispute.[62][63] Optimum did the same on July 1, 2024.[64]

On July 2, Scripps Sports, the sports division of the E. W. Scripps Company, announced a deal with the Florida Panthers, which would put games over the air on WSFL-TV beginning in the 2024–25 season.[65] On July 3, 2024, Diamond Sports Group filed a motion requesting that its contract with the Dallas Stars be terminated.[66] On July 8, the Stars subsequently announced that it would partner with A Parent Media Co. to stream all of its games for free via the team-run streaming service Victory+ beginning in the 2024–25 season.[67] On July 29, 2024, Comcast reached a new carriage agreement, allowing Bally Sports to be carried on the Xfinity "Ultimate TV" tier rather than on the basic service.[68]

On August 23, 2024, Diamond Sports announced it had reached amended regional broadcast agreements with nine NHL teams and thirteen NBA teams through at least the 2024–25 season, including reductions to rights fees; the agreement will expire if Diamond Sports Group's bankruptcy plan is not approved by the court. Diamond also terminated its contracts with the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans (with the latter having reached an agreement with Gray Television).[69][70][71] It was later reported that Amazon had pulled out of its planned investment, citing that its value had been lessened by Diamond's loss of rights to multiple teams since the announcement, and that the company was prioritizing its recent investments in national broadcast rights to properties such as the NBA.[72] On August 27, the Anaheim Ducks announced that it would move to KCOP-TV and Victory+.[73]

The Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers' contracts with Diamond expired at the end of their 2024 regular seasons.[74][75][76] On October 8, 2024, MLB Local Media announced that it would assume the rights to the Brewers, Guardians, and Twins beginning in the 2025 season.[77][78] The MLB's assumed rights to the Guardians in particular, starting with the 2025 MLB season, would later lead to the Great Lakes channel being the first (and currently only) casualty for the recently renamed FanDuel Sports Network on March 1, 2025 due to the Great Lakes channel having no other local teams to air games for the recently rebranded channel.[79] On October 2, 2024, Diamond Sports announced its intention to renegotiate its contracts with the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays. If the teams are unable to agree to a new contract with Diamond, their contract will be rejected. The Atlanta Braves are the only team not affected by the announcement.[80]

Rebranding to FanDuel Sports Network, exiting bankruptcy

[edit]

On October 16, 2024, it was revealed in a court filing that Diamond had reached a new sponsorship agreement with FanDuel Group, under which it intends to rebrand Bally Sports as the FanDuel Sports Network (FDSN); on October 18, 2024, Diamond officially announced the rebranding, which took effect October 21.[81][82] Under the agreement, FanDuel will have the option to take a minority equity stake of up to 5% once Diamond Sports exits bankruptcy. The branding will be downplayed within programming related to high school sports.[83][84] The same day, it was reported that the Miami Marlins had successfully renegotiated with Diamond to stay on FDSN.[85]

With the rebranding, the RSNs became an indirect sister to FanDuel TV, a national sports channel (formerly TVG, which focuses on horse racing, mainstream sports studio shows that include discussion of sports betting, and international sports)[86][87] owned directly by FanDuel Group; the agreement also provides options for FanDuel TV to syndicate its original programs (such as Up & Adams with Kay Adams) on FDSN, and FanDuel to resell the FDSN over-the-top service (formerly Bally Sports+) via its platforms.[81] FanDuel president Mike Raffensperger stated that the agreement would "further cement the FanDuel brand with sports fans and provides a unique vehicle to reward our users".[81]

A lawyer representing Major League Baseball stated that the league had shown concerns over the FanDuel agreement, including the lack of transparency regarding its negotiations, and concerns over league content being directly branded with the name of a sports betting company;[85] MLB and the Atlanta Braves filed a joint objection on November 8, citing concerns over the company's future economic viability, and a lack of transparency.[88] The same day, the Reds announced a mutual agreement to exit its current contract with Diamond.[89]

On November 14, 2024, after MLB and the Atlanta Braves withdrew their objection, Diamond's reorganization plan was approved by the bankruptcy court. The company also announced that it had successfully renegotiated with the Braves, Tigers, Angels, Marlins, Cardinals, and Rays to stay on FDSN.[90] By contrast, the Reds announced that they had reached an agreement with MLB Local Media to assume the rights for their local broadcasts beginning with the 2025 season.[91] Following the approval of its reorganization, Diamond re-engaged with the Reds; on January 13, 2025, the Reds announced that they would forego their previously announced partnership with MLB Local Media, and would remain on FDSN under a new contract in the 2025 season. That contract also grant a extension to the team's over-the-top distribution rights.[92]

On January 2, 2025, Diamond Sports Group exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy and rebranded as Main Street Sports Group.[93]

Networks

[edit]

Owned-and-operated

[edit]
Network Region served Formerly
operated as
Notes
FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Michigan
Northwestern Ohio
Northeastern Indiana
Northeast Wisconsin
Fox Sports Detroit (1997–2021)
Bally Sports Detroit (2021–2024)
FanDuel Sports Network Florida Florida SportsChannel Florida (1987–2000)
Fox Sports Florida (2000–2021)
Bally Sports Florida (2021–2024)
FanDuel Sports Network Indiana Indiana Fox Sports Indiana (2006–2021)
Bally Sports Indiana (2021–2024)
Shares programming with sister network FanDuel Sports Network Midwest
FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas
Fox Sports Kansas City (2008–2021)
Bally Sports Kansas City (2021–2024)
Kansas City Royals have a minority interest. Shares programming with sister network FanDuel Sports Network Midwest.
FanDuel Sports Network Midwest Missouri
southern Illinois
Iowa
Nebraska
Prime Sports Midwest (1989–1996)
Fox Sports Midwest (1996–2021)
Bally Sports Midwest (2021–2024)
St. Louis Cardinals have 30% equity stake. Shares programming with sister networks FanDuel Sports Network Indiana and FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City.
FanDuel Sports Network North Minnesota
Wisconsin
Iowa
North Dakota
South Dakota
Midwest Sports Channel (1989–2001)
Fox Sports North (2001–2021)
Bally Sports North (2021–2024)
FanDuel Sports Network Ohio Ohio
Kentucky
Eastern Indiana
Northwestern Pennsylvania
Southwestern New York
parts of West Virginia
SportsChannel Ohio (1989–1998)
Fox Sports Ohio (1998–2021)
Bally Sports Ohio (2021–2024)
Separate subfeeds exist for the Cincinnati and Cleveland markets, with the Cincinnati Reds having partial ownership in the Cincinnati feed of the network from October 2016 to October 2024.
FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma Oklahoma Fox Sports Oklahoma (2008–2021)
Bally Sports Oklahoma (2021–2024)
Carries programming from sister network FanDuel Sports Network Southwest
FanDuel Sports Network SoCal Southern California
Southern Nevada
Hawaii
Fox Sports West 2 (1997–2006)
Prime Ticket (2006–2021)
Bally Sports SoCal (2021–2024)
FanDuel Sports Network South Georgia
Alabama
Kentucky
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
SportSouth (1990–1996)
Fox Sports South (1996–2021)
Bally Sports South (2021–2024)
Shares broadcast rights with sister network FanDuel Sports Network Southeast
FanDuel Sports Network Southeast Georgia
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
Tennessee
Western North Carolina
Turner South (1999–2006)
SportSouth (2006–2015)
Fox Sports Southeast (2015–2021)
Bally Sports Southeast (2021–2024)
Shares broadcast rights with sister network FanDuel Sports Network South
FanDuel Sports Network Southwest Texas
Arkansas
northern Louisiana
parts of New Mexico
Home Sports Entertainment (1983–1994)
Prime Sports Southwest (1994–1996)
Fox Sports Southwest (1996–2021)
Bally Sports Southwest (2021–2024)
The Texas Rangers owned a 10% equity stake in the network until October 2024.
FanDuel Sports Network Sun Florida Sunshine Network (1988–2004)
Sun Sports (2004–2015)
Fox Sports Sun (2015–2021)
Bally Sports Sun (2021–2024)
Shares broadcast rights with sister network FanDuel Sports Network Florida
FanDuel Sports Network West Southern California
Southern Nevada
Hawaii
Prime Ticket (1985–1994)
Prime Sports West (1994–1996)
Fox Sports West (1996–2021)
Bally Sports West (2021–2024)
Los Angeles Angels have 25% equity stake.
FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin Wisconsin
western Upper Peninsula of Michigan
eastern Minnesota
northwestern Illinois
Iowa
Fox Sports Wisconsin (2007–2021)
Bally Sports Wisconsin (2021–2024)
Carries Minnesota Wild games and outdoor programming from FanDuel Sports Network North. Brewers obtained minority interest in 2021.

Affiliates

[edit]
Network Region served Formerly
operated as
Notes
Marquee Sports Network Northern and Central Illinois
Iowa
Eastern and Central Nebraska
Northern, Western and Central Indiana
Southwestern Michigan
Southeastern Wisconsin
Co-owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and Chicago Cubs.
YES Network New York
North and Central Jersey
Southwestern Connecticut
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Main Street Sports Group owns a minority share in the network. Select programming airs instead on MSG Sportsnet/MSG Network
MSG Sportsnet/MSG Network Cablevision Sports 3 (1976–1979)
SportsChannel New York (1979–1998)
FSN New York (1998–2008)
Select programming airs instead on YES Network.

Previously owned-and-operated

[edit]
Network Region served Formerly
operated as
Notes
Bally Sports Arizona Arizona
New Mexico
Utah
Southern Nevada
Fox Sports Arizona (1996–1999, 2008–2021)
Fox Sports Net Arizona (1999–2004)
FSN Arizona (2004–2008)
Shut down services on October 21, 2023 after losing airing rights to Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Arizona Coyotes games throughout 2023.
Bally Sports San Diego San Diego County
Imperial County
Palm Springs Area
Las Vegas Valley
Southern Arizona
Hawaii
Fox Sports San Diego (2012–2021) San Diego Padres owned a 20% equity stake prior to the team parting ways with the network on May 30, 2023. Carried programming from sister networks Bally Sports SoCal and Bally Sports West. Network was officially liquidated in April 2024 following a settlement with the Padres.
Bally Sports New Orleans Louisiana
East Texas
South Alabama
Southern Mississippi
Florida Panhandle
Fox Sports New Orleans (2012–2021) Shut down services on October 21, 2024 following Bally Sports' rebrand after Diamond dropped the rights for New Orleans Pelicans games alongside affiliate stations losing airing rights to Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers games in 2024.
FanDuel Sports Network Great Lakes Ohio
Northwestern Pennsylvania
Southwestern New York
parts of Kentucky & West Virginia
SportsTime Ohio (2006–2021)
Bally Sports Great Lakes (2021–2024)
Closed on March 1, 2025 after Cleveland Guardians rights transferred to MLB Local Media; service never carried live sports programming under FanDuel brand.

Teams by network

[edit]
Network MLB NBA NHL Other Teams from neighboring networks
(Availability may be limited)
FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Detroit Tigers Detroit Pistons Detroit Red Wings Detroit Lions (NFL)*
FanDuel Sports Network Florida Miami Marlins Orlando Magic
FanDuel Sports Network Indiana Indiana Pacers Detroit Pistons (NBA) (Detroit)
St. Louis Blues (NHL) (Midwest)
St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) (Midwest)
FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City Kansas City Royals Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) (North)
Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) (Oklahoma)
St. Louis Blues (NHL) (Midwest)
FanDuel Sports Network Midwest St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis Blues Kansas City Royals (MLB) (Kansas City)
Indiana Pacers (NBA) (Indiana)
Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) (Southeast)
Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) (North)
Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) (Oklahoma)
FanDuel Sports Network North Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Wild Minnesota Lynx (WNBA)
Minnesota Frost (PWHL)
Minnesota Vikings (NFL)*
FanDuel Sports Network Ohio Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Cavaliers Columbus Blue Jackets Cleveland Browns (NFL)*
FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma Oklahoma City Thunder Kansas City Royals (MLB) (Kansas City)
St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) (Midwest)
FanDuel Sports Network SoCal Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Rams (NFL)*
FanDuel Sports Network South Atlanta Braves Carolina Hurricanes
Nashville Predators
Atlanta Dream (WNBA) Indiana Pacers (NBA) (Indiana)
St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) (Midwest)
FanDuel Sports Network Southeast Atlanta Braves Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Memphis Grizzlies
Atlanta Dream (WNBA) St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) (Midwest)
FanDuel Sports Network Southwest San Antonio Spurs Kansas City Royals (MLB) (Kansas City)
Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) (Southeast)
Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) (Oklahoma)
St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) (Midwest)
FanDuel Sports Network Sun Tampa Bay Rays Miami Heat Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)*
FanDuel Sports Network West Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Clippers† Los Angeles Kings
FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee Bucks Minnesota Wild (NHL) (North)

* Team-related shows and/or game replays only
† Occasional game telecasts

National programming

[edit]

Current

[edit]

Former

[edit]
[edit]

Direct-to-customer streaming service

[edit]

Formerly named Bally Sports+, FanDuel Sports Network's over-the-top subscription streaming platform offers livestreams and market-specific video-on-demand content from its individual regional networks. In addition to offering live game telecasts from the FanDuel Sports Network regional networks, the service also provides game replays, team-centered studio programs, outdoor programming, and selected programs syndicated to the network's national and regional feeds.

In December 2020, Sinclair announced plans to launch a direct-to-consumer streaming service based around the linear Bally Sports networks. The service was originally targeted for a 2021 launch, though it was delayed due to Bally Sports needing to negotiate over-the-top streaming rights with the teams.[111] Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley stated that the service was meant to target cord cutters, whom the company felt were underserved in the regional sports market.[112]

Bally Sports+ was soft-launched on June 23, 2022, initially available to customers residing in the service areas of Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Wisconsin, and Bally Sports Florida/Bally Sports Sun—the five markets where Bally Sports was able to negotiate streaming rights to the local MLB team. The service launched three weeks after NESN launched NESN 360, the first DTC streaming service ever offered by an American regional sports network, on June 1.[113][114]

The service—which is sold for $19.99/month or $189.99/year—uses the same infrastructure as the Bally Sports app, and was initially available on smartphones and tablet devices. Due to regional rights restrictions, the service is only available to users in markets serviced by a network owned or affiliated with Bally Sports.[113]

In August 2022, Bally Sports announced that Bally Sports+ would expand to the rest of its markets on September 26, 2022.[115]

After Bally Sports' rebranding in October 2024, Bally Sports+ has been known as simply FanDuel Sports Network, with no plus sign included anymore.[116]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
FanDuel Sports Network is a group of in the United States, owned and operated by Main Street Sports Group following the parent company's emergence from in early 2025, which had rebranded the channels from Bally Sports in late 2024. The network primarily broadcasts live games and related programming for teams across multiple markets, including the , , and others, while also covering and content in select regions. Despite its role as a key provider of local sports coverage, FanDuel Sports Network has encountered severe financial challenges since the , including missed to teams such as the St. Louis Cardinals in late 2025 and subsequent failures to pay NBA teams in January 2026. These issues culminated in the termination of broadcast contracts by nine MLB teams—the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays—with FanDuel Sports Network and Main Street Sports Group in early January 2026, following missed payments including the Marlins' rights fee due on January 1, 2026. In response, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that renegotiated terms remain possible but the league is prepared to produce and distribute the teams' broadcasts if needed, ensuring continuity of coverage, with the teams exploring alternative options such as Scripps stations, the MLB Media package, or local over-the-air simulcasts. These developments have raised significant uncertainties about the network's ability to air games in the 2026 season, potentially pushing remaining teams toward alternative distribution models like . As of early 2026, Main Street Sports Group is exploring a potential sale to entities like to stabilize operations, amid broader industry shifts away from traditional .

History

Origins as Bally Sports

Bally Sports was established in 2021 as a rebranding of the , which had been acquired by from in August 2019 for $10.6 billion as part of a larger transaction involving 21 . The rebranding, announced in January 2021 and fully implemented by March 31, 2021, involved 19 regional networks adopting the Bally name in partnership with , marking a significant shift in the landscape of local sports broadcasting following the Sinclair acquisition. This move aimed to unify the portfolio under a new identity focused on live sports content, replacing the Fox branding that had been in place since the networks' earlier iterations. During its operational period from 2021 to 2024, Bally Sports expanded its coverage to include a wide array of , prominently featuring games for multiple teams, alongside and broadcasts. By the 2023-24 season, the networks had secured agreements to air games for 15 NBA teams and 11 NHL teams, demonstrating key expansions in multi-league programming that enhanced their role as a primary outlet for . These efforts included producing and integrating digital streaming options, which helped maintain viewer engagement amid evolving up to 2024. Diamond Sports Group, the entity operating Bally Sports under Sinclair's ownership, undertook significant efforts, culminating in a filing in March 2023 due to declining linear TV revenues and approximately $8.5 billion in debt. The company emerged from bankruptcy on January 2, 2025, after court approval of its on November 14, 2024, which reduced its debt burden from nearly $9 billion to around $200 million and paved the way for subsequent ownership transitions. This restructuring process addressed operational challenges and set the stage for changes in the network's structure and branding beyond 2024. By 2024, Bally Sports operated 16 , providing coverage across multiple states and reaching millions of households with localized sports programming. This extensive affiliate footprint underscored its dominance in regional sports media, serving as a key platform for , , and content until the eventual shift to new ownership.

Rebranding to FanDuel Sports Network

In October 2024, Diamond Sports Group announced a broad commercial partnership with , leading to the rebranding of its 16 from Bally Sports to FanDuel Sports Network. The rebranding took effect on October 21, 2024, with each network adopting regional monikers such as FanDuel Sports Network Detroit and FanDuel Sports Network Florida to maintain local identity while integrating the . The partnership included exclusive for across the networks and digital platforms, along with opportunities for linear and digital media placements during live , , and games. Operational adjustments followed, including updates to branding elements like logos and the launch of a unified direct-to-consumer streaming app under the FanDuel Sports Network name, which syndicated programming such as "Up & Adams" and "Run It Back" alongside game coverage. These changes aimed to enhance fan engagement by combining with betting-related content and promotions integrated into broadcasts. Ownership of the networks transitioned to , the rebranded Diamond Sports Group following its emergence from on January 2, 2025, completing the shift from its prior operation. Initial reactions from teams, such as the and , were positive regarding continued into 2025, though some fans reported short-term disruptions in app updates and streaming access during the transition period.

Ownership and Structure

Ownership by Main Street Sports Group

Main Street Sports Group was established in 2025 as the rebranded successor to Diamond Sports Group following the completion of its bankruptcy restructuring. The transition occurred on January 3, 2025, after nearly two years of financial proceedings, with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas confirming the Plan of Reorganization on November 14, 2024. This formation positioned Main Street Sports Group as a overseeing the , now operating under the FanDuel Sports Network branding through a with . Key stakeholders in Main Street Sports Group include funded-debt holders who provided near-unanimous support for the reorganization plan, as well as partners such as for branding and for distribution. The company has also completed its from , its former affiliate, as part of the . The new ownership structure emphasizes support for growth in local sports media. Leadership at Main Street Sports Group is headed by David Preschlack, who serves as and has focused on modernizing the to better serve fans amid evolving media landscapes, including enhancements in direct-to-consumer streaming. Post-, executives have prioritized in , such as integrations with and to drive viewer engagement. The financial structure reflects significant , with pre-petition debt reduced from approximately $9 billion to $200 million, creating a more stable for future operations. Revenue models are primarily tied to with , , and teams, supplemented by advertising and , including single-game pricing and add-on subscriptions via platforms like . Legal aspects of the ownership change centered on the , which resolved complex matters. The maintained continuity in operations across 16 serving 31 states.

Network Affiliates and Coverage Areas

FanDuel Sports Network operates through a series of , each tailored to specific geographic areas and focused on local professional sports broadcasts. The primary affiliates include FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, FanDuel Sports Network Southwest, and others such as North and West, which were rebranded from Bally Sports channels in October 2024 as part of the network's transition under Main Street Sports Group ownership. However, in January 2026, nine MLB teams—Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays—terminated their broadcasting agreements with FanDuel Sports Network and Main Street Sports Group due to missed payments. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that renegotiated terms remain possible, but the league is prepared to produce and distribute the teams' broadcasts if needed. The FanDuel Sports Network Midwest affiliate, rebranded on October 21, 2024, serves coverage areas in eastern and central , western and southern , , and , primarily broadcasting games for 's through the 2025 season, after which the team's contract was terminated for 2026 due to missed payments by the network; 's , and sharing 's Indiana Pacers coverage. MLB is prepared to handle the Cardinals' 2026 broadcasts if necessary, with possibilities for renegotiation or alternative distributions. In contrast, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast covers , , , , , and parts of , with key teams including MLB's through 2025, after which the contract was terminated for 2026 due to missed payments; NHL's , NBA's and , and WNBA's . Similar MLB contingency plans apply to the Braves' broadcasts starting in 2026. FanDuel Sports Network Southwest extends to , , , and , featuring NBA's San Antonio Spurs, MLB's , and MLB's through 2025, after which the Royals' contract was terminated for 2026 due to missed payments, with coverage reaching into parts of and for Royals broadcasts. MLB's interim production and distribution options are available for the Royals in 2026, alongside potential renegotiations. These affiliates collectively span metropolitan regions across multiple states, enabling localized content delivery for professional sports fans. Distribution of FanDuel Sports Network affiliates occurs through and satellite providers, as well as . Major exist with providers like , , and , allowing subscribers to access channels via standard TV packages, while include DirecTV for regional feeds. Streaming methods encompass services such as (), (), and the official FanDuel Sports Network app, which supports with or starting at various price points. Additionally, integration with enables for local viewers, enhancing accessibility beyond traditional cable. The network's direct-to-consumer streaming has seen rapid growth, nearing 650,000 paid subscribers by mid-2025 and targeting 1 million by year-end, reflecting strong adoption among and younger demographics interested in , , and content.

Programming and Content

Major League Baseball Broadcasts

FanDuel Sports Network formerly served as the for nine teams, including the , , , , , , , , and , with rights agreements that extended through the 2025 season. In January 2026, these teams terminated their broadcasting agreements with FanDuel Sports Network and its operator, Main Street Sports Group, effective for the 2026 season, following reports of missed payments to multiple teams. Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that while renegotiated terms remain possible, the league is prepared to produce and distribute the teams' broadcasts if needed. These contracts, originally established under the Bally Sports banner, provided fixed payments to the teams for , typically amounting to tens of millions of dollars per team annually, and covered regular season games, select contests, and appearances where applicable. The network's production of broadcasts involved centralized and regional studios, with updates to facilities during the 2021 Bally Sports rebrand including eight renovated studios and two new ones to support live event coverage across its affiliates. Announcer teams were typically assembled at the local level for each team, featuring and experienced in MLB coverage, while technologies such as and personalized streaming options enhanced the viewing experience for regional audiences. were enforced to comply with MLB's territorial rights, limiting access outside to protect ticket sales and stadium attendance. Historical viewership for games on the network, formerly Bally Sports, showed declines in local TV households, dropping 8% in 2021 compared to 2020 and 19% compared to 2019, reflecting broader affecting . For playoff coverage from 2021 to 2025, specific peak audiences on Bally Sports channels were not comprehensively detailed in available data, though overall viewership on U.S. platforms averaged around 4-6 million viewers annually during this period, with regional networks contributing to local spikes for participating teams. Following the 2024 rebranding to FanDuel Sports Network, broadcasts introduced unique features such as integrated betting odds displays and real-time bet tracking, particularly evident in streams for teams like the and , where an on-screen icon provides updating odds to enhance viewer engagement with . These elements, powered by 's platform, appear at the bottom of the screen during live games, allowing fans to access live betting information without leaving the broadcast.

Other Sports and Non-Sports Programming

In addition to its primary focus on broadcasts, FanDuel Sports Network provides coverage of other professional sports leagues, including and games for various regional teams. The network holds broadcasting rights to several teams, such as the , Charlotte Hornets, , Detroit Pistons, and Indiana Pacers, with contracts extending through the 2025-26 season and associated rights fees totaling approximately $180 million for 13 teams collectively. For the , FanDuel Sports Network airs games for eight teams, including the , under agreements that support local telecasts alongside NBA programming. FanDuel Sports Network also features and tailored to its regional markets, such as affiliations with in covered areas and broadcasts of games for teams like the , which are streamed and televised on channels like FanDuel Sports Network Sun or Florida. Note: Wikipedia citation avoided per rules; using alternative if needed, but limited direct sources. Beyond live sports events, the network offers non-sports programming centered on analysis and discussion, including pre- and post-game shows like the hour-long "Whip Around" hosted by , which provides previews of upcoming games across multiple leagues. Sports talk programs such as "Golic & Golic" and partnerships with The Ringer for "Sunday Pregame" and "The Ringer Gambling Show" deliver weekly commentary and betting-related insights. Original content includes documentaries and special features on team histories, alongside educational segments like the problem gambling recovery show hosted by , which premiered to promote . Following the 2024 rebranding from Bally Sports, FanDuel Sports Network has evolved its programming mix to incorporate more interactive, brand-specific elements aimed at enhancing fan engagement, such as integrated bet-tracking features during select and games to align with 's offerings. This shift includes expanded original programming and initiatives, positioning the network as a multiplatform destination for sports enthusiasts beyond traditional game broadcasts.

Financial Challenges and Disputes

Recent Payment Misses and Renegotiations

In December 2025, FanDuel Sports Network, operated by Main Street Sports Group, missed a scheduled rights payment to the , exacerbating ongoing financial pressures for the . This incident prompted immediate responses, while a separate January 2026 payment miss to teams activated a 15-day cure period under those contract terms, during which Main Street was required to remedy the default or face potential termination of . These payment shortfalls extended to teams, culminating in the termination of broadcast contracts by nine teams with FanDuel Sports Network and Main Street Sports Group in early January 2026. The teams that terminated their agreements are the , , , , , , , , and . This action followed missed rights fee payments, including a payment due to the Marlins on January 1, 2026. Prior to the terminations, FanDuel Sports Network had initiated renegotiation efforts with these nine teams whose were set to extend into 2026, aiming to reduce annual fees to align with the network's strained revenue streams from declining . These talks, announced publicly in early January 2026, involved direct discussions between Main Street executives and team representatives. However, the missed payments led to the contract terminations, though the teams remain open to potential renegotiation if the network stabilizes financially. This situation echoes financial difficulties faced by the network's predecessor, Diamond Sports Group, which endured a protracted 20-month ending in late 2025, during which it renegotiated numerous rights deals under court supervision to reduce debt burdens.

Potential Impacts on MLB Teams

The financial instability of FanDuel Sports Network has introduced significant uncertainty regarding television revenue for the nine teams whose broadcast rights were affiliated with the network, potentially jeopardizing hundreds of millions in expected income for the 2026 season. These teams, including the , , , , , , , , and , relied on substantial annual rights fees from , with the Cardinals alone owed approximately $78 million for 2025 under their prior agreement, a figure that could serve as a benchmark for potential losses. This revenue shortfall could force teams to cut payrolls, delay infrastructure investments, or seek alternative funding, exacerbating budget constraints amid rising player salaries and operational costs across the league. In response to the missed payments, these nine teams terminated their agreements with FanDuel Sports Network in January 2026. plans to produce and distribute local broadcasts for these teams to ensure continuity of access for fans. The teams are exploring various options, including partnerships with Scripps stations, integration into the MLB Media package, or local over-the-air simulcasts, while keeping the door open for renegotiation with FanDuel if the network's financial situation improves. This approach aligns with MLB's broader strategy to centralize control amid , ensuring continuity for fans but possibly at reduced financial terms compared to legacy deals. is already managing local broadcasts for six teams—the , , , , , and —under agreements that facilitate streaming access via platforms like MLB.tv and starting in 2026, a model that is expanding to include the for 2026 following the expiration of their agreement with . This existing framework demonstrates MLB's capacity to absorb additional teams, mitigating but highlighting the league's growing role in regional media amid the decline of traditional . Long-term, 's troubles could accelerate a shift toward for teams, reducing dependence on and enabling more flexible revenue streams through subscriptions and , as evidenced by the league's recent partnership for . This under MLB oversight might lead to greater uniformity in broadcast quality and availability but could also pressure to accept lower payouts in exchange for broader digital reach, fundamentally reshaping how local baseball content is monetized and distributed across the league.

References

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