Rob Manfred: MLB prepared to step in for FanDuel TV broadcasts

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is prepared to produce and distribute local broadcasts for teams whose telecasts are uncertain this season because of the financial problems of the FanDuel Sports Network regional networks.

Main Street Sports Group, which operates the networks, did not make its December payment to the St. Louis Cardinals. It also carries games of the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays along with 13 teams in the NBA and seven in the NHL.

“No matter what happens, whether it’s Main Street, a third party or MLB media, fans are going to have the games,” baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday.

MLB took over broadcasts for the San Diego Padres in May 2023 after Diamond Sports Group missed a payment to the team and added the Arizona Diamondbacks that July.

The Colorado Rockies joined MLB’s distribution in 2024, and the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins in 2025. The Seattle Mariners are being added this season and possibly the Washington Nationals, who are leaving the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

Diamond was renamed Main Street Sports Group as it emerged out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings last year.

“Our focus, particularly given the point in the calendar, is to maximize the revenue that’s available to the clubs, whether that’s MLB Media or third party,” Manfred said. “The clubs have control over the timing. They can make a decision to move to MLB Media because of the contractual status now. I think that what’s happening right now clubs are evaluating their alternatives. Obviously, they’ve made significant payroll commitments already and they’re evaluating the alternatives to find the best revenue source for the year and the best outlet in terms of providing quality broadcasts to their fans.”

Manfred said local media provides more than 20% of industry revenue.

MLB and the players’ association for 2024 allowed discretionary fund distributions of up to $15 million each to teams whose local media revenue had declined since 2022 or 2023, but they did not reach a similar agreement for 2025.

“We are not providing financial assistance right now,” Manfred said.

He spoke at a news conference to announce an initiative with Foster Love that envisions 250,000 volunteer hours to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. At the news conference, MLB staff assembled duffel bags with goods for foster care children.