In a significant shift for Major League Baseball’s broadcasting landscape, nine teams have severed ties with FanDuel Sports Network, formerly known as Bally Sports under Main Street Sports Group, paving the way for MLB to take over production and distribution of their local games starting in the 2026 season. This move affects the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays, which collectively represent a substantial portion of the league’s regional media rights. The decision stems from ongoing financial struggles at Main Street Sports Group, which emerged from bankruptcy in late 2024 and rebranded its networks with FanDuel, but failed to make the required rights payments to these clubs.
For most of these teams, MLB will step in to handle game production, aiming to ensure seamless access for fans through a mix of traditional cable, satellite providers, and direct-to-consumer streaming options. Six of the nine—the Brewers, Marlins, Rays, Royals, Cardinals, and Reds—have already confirmed partnerships with MLB for 2026, allowing the league to oversee broadcasts and negotiate distribution deals. The Tigers and Angels are expected to follow suit, potentially turning to MLB as well, while the Braves’ plans remain under discussion, with possibilities for independent arrangements. This expansion builds on MLB’s existing role in managing local media for seven other teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, and Washington Nationals.
Under MLB’s model, fans can expect games to appear on dedicated team-specific channels via cable and satellite services, alongside streaming through platforms like MLB.tv or team-branded apps such as Royals.TV or Cardinals.TV. Pricing for these streaming services typically hovers around $19.99 per month or $99.99 for the full season, offering in-market access without blackouts for local viewers. In some markets, over-the-air television will play a larger role, with select games broadcast for free on local networks to broaden reach. For instance, the Royals have expanded their partnership with Gray Media to air 10 regular-season games, including the home opener, on channels like KCTV5, reaching up to 18 markets across eight states.
However, the availability of these MLB-produced games on YouTube TV remains unclear, casting doubt on whether subscribers will have straightforward access. YouTube TV, a popular virtual pay-TV service, no longer carries MLB Network, having dropped it in 2023 amid carriage disputes. This absence extends to other MLB-owned properties, and there has been no announcement of new agreements to include the league’s local productions. While MLB.tv, the out-of-market streaming package, is set to integrate with the ESPN app starting in 2026, it will not be available through YouTube TV as part of recent Disney carriage deals. Local in-market games, which ESPN acquired rights to for some teams, are also unlikely to appear on its platforms until 2027, leaving distribution primarily in MLB’s hands for the upcoming season.
In cases where games air on existing local channels already included in YouTube TV’s lineup, such as network affiliates for over-the-air broadcasts, viewers might still catch them without issue. The Mariners, for example, have explicitly noted that their MLB-produced content will appear on a dedicated channel accessible via YouTube TV, alongside other providers like Comcast and DirecTV. Similar arrangements could emerge for the nine departing teams, but as of now, no specific deals have been confirmed for YouTube TV. This lack of clarity stems from the recent nature of the teams’ announcements, with spring training approaching and negotiations ongoing.
The broader implications highlight MLB’s push toward centralizing media rights, with ambitions to control all 30 teams’ local broadcasts by 2028 and bundle them into a national package to eliminate blackouts. This strategy could streamline access but currently leaves gaps for services like YouTube TV, which must negotiate individually for carriage. Fans in affected markets may need to explore alternatives, such as direct streaming subscriptions or traditional cable, to ensure they don’t miss out on their team’s action. As the 2026 season draws near, more details on distribution partnerships are anticipated, potentially resolving the uncertainty for YouTube TV users.
This transition underscores the evolving challenges in sports media, where financial instability at regional networks has forced leagues to intervene, reshaping how games reach audiences. For now, the outlook suggests limited integration with YouTube TV for these specific MLB-produced feeds, though opportunities via local over-the-air simulcasts provide a partial workaround in select areas.
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