Cincinnati Reds heading back to FanDuel Sports Network in 2025
Cincinnati Reds heading back to FanDuel Sports Network in 2025
The team had previously announced its intention to let MLB handle production and distribution for the upcoming season.
The Cincinnati Reds are making a big lineup change heading into the 2025 season. This one won’t affect the product on the field, however, so much as it affects the product off the field. The Reds have announced that instead of allowing MLB to produce and distribute their games for the upcoming season as intended, they will return to FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, offering all their non-national contests on the regional sports network (RSN) as they have for years.
Key Details:
- The Reds originally announced in November that they would let MLB take over their broadcasting duties instead.
- The team will also stream their games on the FanDuel Sports Network streaming service.
- Main Street Sports Group sweetened original offers to the Reds to convince the team to switch gears.
The Reds’ decision to head back to FanDuel Sports Network airwaves comes as a bit of a surprise. The team originally announced its intentions to let MLB handle its broadcasting duties back in November, signaling the end of a longstanding relationship with Bally Sports Ohio and its parent company Diamond Sports Group.
But Bally Sports and Diamond Sports Group have both gotten rebrands since then, emerging from bankruptcy as FanDuel Sports Networks and Main Street Sports Group respectively. Major League Baseball teams made up a huge chunk of the overall revenue generated by Bally Sports RSNs in the past, and having another one return to the fold is an undoubted boon for the company.
“We are eager to continue our partnership with the Reds and look forward to collaborating with them to elevate the fan experience,” Main Street Sports COO and CFO David DeVoe said. “With our best-in-class partnerships, cutting-edge technology and highly skilled production team, we remain committed to delivering high quality viewing options to local fans. We are confident that our recent agreements and reimagined business model position us to best serve our partners. We are appreciative of the support from both Major League Baseball and the Reds.”
One change that the new deal will bring is the ability for fans in the broadcast market of FanDuel Sports Network Ohio to stream the Reds on the FanDuel Sports Network streaming service. This service replaces Bally Sports+, and will let customers in markets of partner teams stream their non-national games without a cable subscription. Those who get a FanDuel Sports Network channel as part of their channel package can log into the service at no additional cost.
The Reds say that going forward, they still plan to partner with MLB to distribute their games at some point. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred wants to create an MLB streaming service with no local blackouts by 2028, and will need the participation of as many clubs as possible to make that a viable option.
It’s likely the Reds agreed to come back to FanDuel Sports Network Ohio because they felt they could make more money doing so, at least in the short term. Main Street “improved its previous offers” to broadcast Reds games according to the release announcing the deal, and that should directly affect the team’s payroll heading into the season.
FanDuel Sports Network
FanDuel Sports Network is a direct-to-consumer streaming service that offers live games for those who want access to your local FanDuel Sports Network RSN without subscribing to a cable or satellite package.