At least six baseball teams are leaving Main Street Sports Network and partnering with Major League Baseball (MLB). This shift is significant as it marks a change in how local games are broadcasted. The Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Tampa Bay Rays will now have MLB produce their games starting in the 2026 season. The Cardinals, Royals, and Brewers have already announced this change.
Other teams like the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and Detroit Tigers haven’t made their plans public yet. Reports suggest that both the Angels and Tigers may also join MLB. The Braves mentioned they’re working towards a new broadcasting era and will share details soon.
Recently, all nine MLB teams under Main Street Sports terminated their contracts. This came after the network struggled financially, just a year after emerging from bankruptcy. While the network continues to broadcast NBA and NHL games, the loss of these baseball teams hints at possible liquidation.
Main Street began the year with a considerable portfolio but has seen sharp declines as more teams withdraw. MLB hopes to eventually control local rights for all 30 teams, aiming for a national broadcasting package that could reduce blackouts. This follows their recent establishment of a local media department to address the challenges posed by cord-cutting.
Traditional cable deals account for 20% to 30% of team revenues. The exit of these teams from local contracts could severely affect budgets, raising concerns over equity in player salaries. To mitigate some losses, MLB and the players’ association set up a fund for teams affected by media losses, but this solution was temporary.
Main Street Sports was previously known as Diamond Sports Group. The company accumulated significant debt in its acquisition of regional channels, leading to financial collapse. Despite reemerging from bankruptcy in early 2025, it soon faced further issues, including missed payments and failed sales attempts, ultimately causing all MLB teams to end their affiliations.
As Major League Baseball navigates these broadcasting shifts, many fans are left wondering how this will affect their viewing experience and the future of their favorite teams. The changing landscape raises important questions about the sustainability of local sports networks and what lies ahead for sports broadcasting.
For additional insights on the challenges facing local sports networks, you can refer to a report by Forbes on the end of traditional media deals.
