#United States #FanDuel Sports #Main Street Sports #MLB Teams #Southport, Connecticut

Local Sports Media Rights Renewed

In a significant development for local sports broadcasting, the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, and Milwaukee Brewers have opted to extend their media rights agreements with Main Street Sports Group. This partnership, which also owns the FanDuel Sports Network, facilitates an enriched viewing experience for fans and strengthens the growing trend towards fan-first local sports models.

A Renewed Commitment to Fans

The renewals are part of a strategic move by Main Street Sports Group to reinforce its relationship with major league teams and ensure that fans enjoy high-quality coverage across multiple platforms. The broadcasts for the Reds, Royals, and Brewers will continue to be accessible via FanDuel Sports Network’s extensive offerings—spanning cable, satellite, and virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs). Fans can also enjoy content through TV Everywhere (TVE) streaming and the network's consumer app, compatible with iOS, Android, smart TVs, connected devices, and even Amazon Prime Video.

According to David DeVoe, President of Main Street Sports Group, this initiative reflects a steadfast commitment to building a fan-first, innovative multi-platform business model. He emphasized that these partnerships with the Brewers, Reds, and Royals align perfectly with the goal of increasing audience engagement while ensuring reliability and quality in media distribution.

Record-Breaking Viewership

The extension comes on the heels of a record-breaking season for the 2025 MLB, which saw FanDuel Sports Network reach an average of 1.5 million viewers each night. This growth is significantly attributed to the surge in streaming, with over 900,000 unique fans tuning in through the app and total streaming minutes soaring by nearly 70% year-over-year, amassing over 2.8 billion minutes. This engages a younger, digital-savvy audience, showcasing FanDuel's ability to connect local teams with their fans comprehensively.

Voices from the Teams

Team executives from each respective franchise have expressed their enthusiasm regarding the continued partnership:

• - Rick Schlesinger, President of Business Operations for the Milwaukee Brewers, welcomed the renewal with excitement, saying, "This past season's surge in viewership reflects our fans' unwavering passion for Brewers baseball. We are eager to build on this momentum and deliver an enhanced viewing experience."
• - Phil Castellini, President and CEO of the Cincinnati Reds, underscored the importance of dependable coverage: "FanDuel Sports Network has proven to be an exceptional partner, committed to elevating the storytelling and production of Reds baseball, ensuring fans have access to our games across various platforms."
• - John Sherman, Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Royals, stated, "Connecting with our fans is paramount. Our viewership has shown substantial growth, making our content more accessible. We’re excited to keep this trend going and bring more Royals baseball to our audience."

This renewal of media rights signifies not only a strategic victory for these teams but also highlights a broader industry shift towards prioritizing direct connections with audiences through innovative media solutions. The ongoing collaboration between Main Street Sports Group and these MLB franchises promises to transform the local sports viewing landscape, setting a standard that prioritizes inclusivity, accessibility, and quality content for all fans.

In conclusion, as local sports continue to evolve, the extended agreements are a testament to the evolving dynamics of sports media, the importance of partnerships in enhancing viewer experience, and the growing passion of fans across the country.