Earlier this year the Cincinnati Reds changed course on how their games would be available to fans. Their initial plan, announced roughly a year ago was to allow MLB to produce the games and they would distribute them via a standalone streaming package through MLB.tv as well as have the games carried on local cable and satellite broadcasting companies. That plan changed a few months later when the Reds announced they had a deal with FanDuel Sports Network Ohio to carry the games. They too would have the games on greater Cincinnati cable and satellite packages, and fans could buy the FanDuel Sports Network as a standalone app to stream games without blackouts if they wanted to.
That deal worked out well for both parties. It made the games available to far more fans and following the season the two announced that viewership was up 21% from 2024, with it being up 6% on traditional broadcasts with the rest coming through streaming via the FanDuel Sports Network app. That deal, though, was only for the 2025 season. On Wednesday afternoon it was announced that the Reds had an option for 2026 on that deal and that they exercised it.
That means that for the 2026 baseball season you will be able to watch games the same way you chose to do so in 2025. Whether you were doing so on your local provider or simply by getting the FanDuel Sports Network app during the season and streaming games on your phone/computer/tablet/smart TV – it’ll be there once again for you.
You can read the entire press release from FanDuel Sports Network here, which also talks about deals with the Brewers and Royals. What isn’t known is how much the deal is for. Nor is there any information on whether it’s for the same amount as 2025 or if there’s an increase.
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