FanDuel Sports Network's future hangs in the balance as clubs from MLB, the NBA, and NHL evaluate revised contract offers from Main Street Sports Group, which is actively seeking a buyer to avoid shutting down operations.
The company, operating regional channels under the FanDuel Sports Network brand, faces severe financial strain after missing rights-fee payments, prompting nine MLB teams—the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays—to cancel their 2026 deals last week.
According to The Athletic, Main Street's latest proposals, delivered last week and over the weekend, hinge on finding a buyer soon. Without a sale, the company has warned partners it would wind down after the current NBA and NHL seasons end. Revised terms include three-year deals for MLB teams through 2028, potential payment deferrals into Q2 or Q3 this year, and a shift away from traditional fixed annual fees (often tens of millions) toward a modified model more akin to MLB's revenue-sharing approach for league-broadcast teams.
Timing poses the biggest hurdle for baseball clubs, an MLB executive told sources on condition of anonymity. Spring training games begin in about a month, leaving little room to finalize a sale and ensure seamless broadcasts.Main Street has engaged Lazard as a financial advisor in its sale efforts.
Previous talks with potential buyers like DAZN have faltered, and while some reports mentioned other suitors, no deal has materialized.
The NBA (13 teams with Main Street) and NHL (7 teams) face more immediate pressure, as their seasons are underway and payments—including January's—have been missed or delayed. Both leagues are monitoring closely to protect fan access to games.
This instability echoes Main Street's prior challenges, including its emergence from bankruptcy in early 2025 after operating as Diamond Sports Group. The situation could accelerate shifts toward league-controlled or streaming-focused local broadcasts across the sports landscape.