FanDuel Sports Network to be first RSN to stream games for free
FanDuel Sports Network to be first RSN to stream games for free
Starting next month, FanDuel will kick off a plan to build a hybrid model that blends subscription and linear distribution.
Regardless of sport, any fan will tell you that it is getting more and more difficult to watch your favorite teams play. With every sport’s broadcast rights being broken up across a half dozen outlets, streaming services making it increasingly expensive to subscribe to the channels you want, and regional blackouts making where you can watch the games unnecessarily confusing, it is almost as if rights holders don’t want viewers to be able to watch the games. However, on Thursday, the FanDuel Sports Network (FDSN) announced that it was taking a major step into the future with how it will stream games by becoming the first regional sports network (RSN) to bring live games to viewers in a free, ad-supported, streaming-first environment.
Key Details:
- Coming soon: In mid-November, the FanDuel Sports Network will make select in-market games available to stream for free.
- Free partners: Initially, FanDuel will partner with Pluto, Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus to stream these games.
- Changes to come: This move represents the first phase in FanDuel’s plans to modernize regional sports rights distribution.
Starting in mid-November, FanDuel will launch a new digital distribution initiative that will bring select NBA and NHL games from its partner teams to major streaming platforms, including Pluto TV, Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus, with additional partners expected to be announced soon. The initiative marks the first phase of FDSN’s long-term free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) strategy, which aims to reach younger, digital-first fans while complementing the company’s growing direct-to-consumer (DTC) app and traditional linear offerings.
“Launching this digital game offering is a big step in expanding our national reach and continuing to prioritize the different ways fans can watch their hometown teams,” said Eric Ratchman, the chief revenue officer for FDSN’s parent company, Main Street Sports Group. “By bringing games to free streaming platforms that reach hundreds of millions of viewers, we’re making local sports more accessible than ever and proving what our ubiquitous access model can deliver.”
Within local markets, select games will be available both over the air and free on partner streaming services, giving fans a way to tune in from the same apps and devices they already use. These games will appear in prominent sports zones, carousels, and featured tiles across platforms during live-game windows. The goal is to use this visibility to attract casual fans to these free, ad-supported broadcasts, and then entice them to sign up for the DTC service. Early results in select pilot markets across the country show that roughly 10% of free-viewing audiences have converted into paid subscribers for the company’s DTC app.
The mid-November launches set the stage for what FDSN is calling its “Phase Two,” a dedicated, around-the-clock, national FAST channel that is on schedule to launch in 2026. That channel will feature highlights, original shows like “Golic & Golic” and “Countdown Live,” and expanded local-game coverage designed to serve as the network’s front door across digital platforms.
By blending free access with its subscription ecosystem, FanDuel Sports Network is testing what it thinks could become a next-generation hybrid model for regional sports. In a landscape where RSNs have struggled to find sustainable streaming solutions, FDSN’s strategy is designed to make the most of all linear and DTC options.
The move also reflects a broader trend across the industry: fans want local sports that are easier to find and cheaper to watch. By leaning into ad-supported distribution instead of more subscription fragmentation, FDSN is hoping to turn occasional streamers into habitual viewers — and ultimately, subscribers. With this rollout, FanDuel Sports Network becomes the first sports media brand to turn its over-the-air rights into a streaming-first initiative. If it works, expect more regional sports partners — and even leagues — to follow suit.
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. It was most recently known as Bally Sports, and prior to that, Fox Sports Network.