FanDuel Sports Network Detroit

[edj]

I’d love to see the Tigers on 20, but that would also likely require the team to pick up affiliates in the rest of the state, as well as Toledo.

[MWmetalhead]

Don't forget, either, that neither YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling, nor Hulu+ Live TV carry WMYD.

These services generally will not carry any OTA independent stations.

It would be incredibly stupid of the Tigers not to make their games available on a streaming platform that can be used in-state.

[MegaHertz]

If you had told me in 1995 that, at a time when three of the four major sports teams had half of their games on OTA TV and the other half on a pay TV cable channel (with the occasional national game) we would have issues in figuring out how to view these games or where to get them or who produces them in 30 years...when technology improved...even at the tender age of 10 I would have laughed you out of the house.

[CurlyHoward]

Don't forget, either, that neither YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling, nor Hulu+ Live TV carry WMYD.

These services generally will not carry any OTA independent stations.

It would be incredibly stupid of the Tigers not to make their games available on a streaming platform that can be used in-state.

Totally. Now if they want to use OTA to SUPPLEMENT the streaming platform that's a different matter and probably smart. The Guardians were doing that last season as mentioned up thread.

[MWmetalhead]

Exactly right.

[craigrussell100]

From Twitter/X/Whatever the hell it is...

"Cardinals Take $55 Million TV Revenue Hit in MLB Shift

The Cardinals terminated their contract with the troubled FanDuel Sports Network and joined MLB's new broadcast model for 2026, producing games for cable, satellite, and a blackout-free Cardinals.TV stream at $19.99 monthly or $99.99 seasonally. This nets them $40 million less than expected and $55 million below prior highs, amid regional sports networks' collapse from bankruptcy and cord-cutting. Fans highlight payroll strains for mid-market teams like St. Louis, contrasting massive deals for clubs like the Dodgers, while MLB promises upgraded production like drone cams."

Im sure the other 8 teams will be in a similar boat...gonna have to sell alot more Crazy Bread and pizza combo's to make up that lost revenue...

[Harvey]

TV-20 is on the FriendlyTV service, a cheaper cable TV alternative, but Scripps Sports is attempting to get something up and running with the Detroit Tigers on their local channels.

[Ken H]

There will definitely be a direct-to-consumer (DTC) offering.

Carriage will also be on pay TV multichannel providers.

The OTA part will be in addition, like I said probably somewhere around a dozen or two games a year.

The fact a station will carry these games makes it much more likely they get wider carriage. For TV20, Xfinity already carries them.

For DirecTV, in the LA TV market they carry KCAL 9, a nonaffilated station. It's not out of the question they would carry TV20 in Detroit.

And yes, Scripps is trying to ramp up sports content. This would be a good way to help that effort. All the pieces fit together.

[Dan in Northville]

FanDuel just did a really nice tribute to Mickey Lolich before tonight's Red Wings game. So sad to see another childhood hero pass away. That 1968 World Series still seems like it was yesterday. Rest in Peace, Mick. Thanks for the memories.

[statmanmi]

So, MLB.tv will likely handle telecasts for 8 of the 9 teams, assuming a remarriage doesn't occur. This is no major surprise.

It's official!

https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/tiger ... p-with-mlb

Perhaps not in this thread, or elsewhere on this site, but somewhere I read that the MLB TV production organization has already been handling some NHL teams. So Detroit isn't the first instance of NHL games being produced by the baseball company.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

[MWmetalhead]

It's hilarious that the TV arm of Major League Baseball will be handling Red Wings telecasts.

It's a good solution, though. Let's see what pricing looks like. Now we know why the Tigers didn't announce the new partnership as soon as most of the other affected major league baseball teams; they wanted to make sure all bases were covered with the Red Wings first.

FanDuel Sports Detroit is clearly a goner barring a miracle.

It will be interesting to see how closely the MLB-led effort mirrors an RSN with regard to programming and distribution strategy.

[MWmetalhead]

Detailed article from Tony Paul:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sport ... 589731007/

[uncleb67]

Though I literally watched FanDuel Detroit for Tigers/Red Wings/Pistons, does that mean all those shows that show on there during “non-game-coverage” (Up And Adams, Golic & Golic) hours go away?

[Ken H]

Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings Enter Broadcast Partnership with Major League Baseball

DETROIT – Ilitch Sports + Entertainment has entered a first of its kind partnership with Major League Baseball, which will provide broadcast support to both the Detroit Tigers (beginning with the 2026 MLB season) and the Detroit Red Wings (starting with the 2026-27 NHL season). This partnership creates a new platform where fans throughout the teams’ home television territories, including all of Michigan, can watch games and other content when and where they want.

Maintaining consistency with years past, fans within the Clubs’ home television territory will be able to watch Tigers and Red Wings games through the same options that have been recently available. Information on cable/satellite providers and direct-to-consumer streaming subscriptions will be communicated at a later date.

“Given recent uncertainty throughout the regional sports broadcasting industry, we recognize the importance of providing fans with a consistent, year-round outlet to watch Tigers baseball and Red Wings hockey,” said Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “We have two of the top-rated broadcasts in our respective sports and remain focused on listening to fans about what matters most to them. What we’ve heard includes making sure our games are available throughout the market, providing a reliable streaming product, and producing a broadcast that’s informative and entertaining in all the right ways. This is a great path forward in those areas, allowing us to provide a great experience for fans throughout our local market.”

Aside from games selected to be national broadcasts, Tigers and Red Wings games will air throughout our market – available to everyone through either a cable or satellite package or streaming subscription.

Detroit Tigers

Major League Baseball will now produce and distribute games for the Tigers – leading broadcast production, negotiating distribution agreements, operating a direct-to-consumer streaming product, and more.

Led by Jason Benetti and Dan Dickerson in the play-by-play role, and Andy Dirks and Dan Petry as analysts, Detroit’s on-air broadcast talent is considered one of the best groups in baseball. Each are expected to return for the 2026 campaign.

Detroit’s new partnership with MLB follows a season of remarkable viewership growth in 2025 – including increases of 121% in per-game streamers and 101% in per-game household impressions. Only five U.S.-based teams had higher per-game viewership last season, and only two had a higher average rating.

Detroit Red Wings

Following the 2025-26 NHL season, the Red Wings will make their transition into this partnership. Ilitch Sports + Entertainment will assume broadcast production duties, while MLB assists with production processes.

Red Wings coverage on FanDuel sports network is expected to continue through the end of this season. Additional details regarding the 2026-27 season will be announced when available.

Voted as the top NHL broadcast in back-to-back seasons (2024-25, via The Athletic’s annual fan survey), the iconic duo of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond are expected to continue leading Red Wings telecasts for years to come. Future production planning will take place after the 2025-26 season concludes.

[rawmustard]

Though I literally watched FanDuel Detroit for Tigers/Red Wings/Pistons, does that mean all those shows that show on there during “non-game-coverage” (Up And Adams, Golic & Golic) hours go away?

Unless this new consortium picks up those shows, they would go away.