The regional sports broadcasting landscape in the United States faces another major disruption as Main Street Sports Group prepares to shut down its FanDuel Sports Network operations in April 2026. The company, which rebranded from its previous incarnation after emerging from bankruptcy in early 2025, has issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notices to employees, signaling impending layoffs and the closure of its regional sports networks by the end of the current NBA and NHL regular seasons. This comes after months of reports that the network would be shutting down.
Main Street Sports Group entered 2026 holding local broadcast rights for 29 professional teams across Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League. The networks, operating under the FanDuel Sports Network branding, produced and distributed thousands of live games annually, serving as the primary local media outlet for fans in various markets. However, financial pressures mounted throughout late 2025 and into the new year, culminating in missed rights fee payments to several partners.
The situation deteriorated rapidly in early 2026 when all nine MLB teams under contract terminated their agreements with Main Street Sports Group due to the non-payment issues. This loss stripped the company of a significant portion of its portfolio, leaving it with rights to 13 NBA teams and seven NHL teams. Affected MLB franchises shifted toward alternative arrangements, with many aligning with league-managed production and distribution through MLB’s local media efforts. This move aligns with broader trends in baseball, where centralized handling of local broadcasts aims to streamline distribution and reduce blackout restrictions over time.
With the departure of MLB rights, Main Street Sports Group’s viability weakened further. The organization continued to air NBA and NHL games through February and into March, maintaining operations amid ongoing discussions with leagues and potential partners. Employees in multiple offices, including locations in Minnesota and Missouri, received formal notifications about potential workforce reductions, with some positions already slated for elimination in mid-April. These WARN notices provide the legally required advance warning for significant layoffs or plant closings, though certain aspects remain subject to change based on final developments.
The streaming service DAZN has emerged as a key player in the unfolding scenario, engaging in direct conversations with the remaining NBA and NHL teams to potentially secure their local rights for future seasons. Reports indicate that DAZN has proposed deals that could involve substantial reductions in rights fees, possibly up to 40 percent lower than previous agreements, presenting a hurdle in negotiations. While no acquisition of the entire Main Street operation materialized—partly due to the earlier MLB exits—DAZN’s interest underscores the growing shift toward streaming platforms as viable alternatives to traditional regional sports networks.
The impending closure highlights persistent challenges in the RSN model, which has struggled with declining cable subscriptions, rising production costs, and evolving viewer habits favoring direct-to-consumer options. Main Street Sports Group’s difficulties follow a pattern seen in prior years, where similar entities faced bankruptcy and restructuring amid an uncertain media environment. For the 20 teams still tied to the networks through the end of the current campaigns, the winddown raises questions about continuity of local broadcasts beyond April. Options under consideration include temporary streaming solutions through league platforms, such as the NBA’s in-market streaming via its League Pass service in the event of an earlier blackout.
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