Overview
- The Braves, Reds, Tigers, Royals, Angels, Marlins, Brewers, Cardinals and Rays have exited their Main Street/FanDuel contracts to preserve flexibility and avoid potential bankruptcy constraints, according to multiple reports.
- Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB is ready to produce and distribute local telecasts if needed, adding to a portfolio that already includes the Padres, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Guardians, Twins and Mariners, with the Nationals expected to join.
- Main Street has missed rights payments to at least the Cardinals and Marlins, and reporting says a potential sale to DAZN is close to extinguished, leaving the operator in deep financial trouble.
- Teams that terminated their agreements could still return on renegotiated terms, and Main Street says it remains in active dialogue with its MLB partners about revised deals.
- In-market streaming of MLB-produced local games on the ESPN app is not expected until 2027, so 2026 distribution would run through MLB platforms, a setup that typically yields less than traditional RSN fees that provide more than 20% of club revenue; MLB is not offering new financial assistance.