Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, the owner of the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball (MLB) team and the Detroit Red Wings National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, revealed that MLB will handle the local broadcast production and distribution for both teams starting with the 2026 MLB season and the 2026-27 NHL campaign. This change aims to improve fan access and delivery methods through direct-to-consumer streaming and broadcast partnerships.
Details of Broadcast Production and Distribution Roles
Under the new agreement, MLB will fully oversee the production of all Detroit Tigers games not shown on national television, while also managing their distribution via an over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform alongside broadcast deals. For the Detroit Red Wings, Ilitch Sports and Entertainment will still lead production for non-nationally televised games but will receive support from MLB, which will control the distribution similarly to the Tigers’ setup.
Transition Away from FanDuel Sports Network and Effects on Regional Sports Networks
The deal will terminate existing broadcast contracts with FanDuel Sports Network, a regional sports network (RSN) operated by Main Street Sports Group (MSSG), which is expected to cease operations following the conclusion of the NBA and NHL seasons. The decline of RSNs is tied to years of challenges, including cord-cutting trends affecting companies like MSSG and its predecessor, Diamond Sports Group.
MLB’s acquisition of broadcast responsibilities for six former MSSG teams, combined with adding the Tigers and Red Wings, signals a critical shift in sports broadcasting, potentially marking the end for MSSG as its remaining obligations wind down by mid-2026.
Leadership Perspective on Providing Consistent Viewing Experiences
Ryan Gustafson, president of Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, emphasized the importance of continuity in broadcast access amid industry uncertainty. He stated:
“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.”
— Ryan Gustafson, President of Ilitch Sports and Entertainment
MLB’s Expanding Role in Local Broadcasts and Future Plans
Currently, MLB manages local broadcast production and distribution for 15 of its 30 franchises, a figure that may grow to 17 soon. The inclusion of the Red Wings marks MLB’s first step into broadcast responsibilities for a team in another major professional sports league. The league aims to control local game production for all 30 MLB teams by 2028, enabling it to offer local broadcast rights in a national package. This will eliminate traditional regional blackouts while securing more stable media rights revenue through cable, satellite, and streaming services at a time when RSNs continue to struggle financially.
Viewer Metrics and Team Performance Highlight Broadcast Value
Ilitch Sports and Entertainment shared that during the 2025 MLB season, the Detroit Tigers’ viewership on FanDuel Sports Network ranked among the league’s best. Only five U.S.-based franchises, excluding the Toronto Blue Jays, had higher per-game viewership totals, and just two had superior ratings, which measure the percentage of possible regional viewers watching each game.
On-field improvements have contributed to growing fan interest, with the Tigers entering consecutive playoff seasons starting in 2024 after a lengthy absence since 2014. Star pitcher Tarik Skubal, who signed a $32 million contract for the 2026 season, has played a crucial role in the team’s recent successes and will continue with Detroit when MLB takes over broadcast duties.
Implications of MLB’s Expanded Broadcasting Role
This move represents a significant transformation in how local sports broadcasts are managed, integrating production and distribution under MLB’s control for increased consistency and potentially broader reach. Fans in Detroit can expect more reliable and accessible ways to watch Tigers baseball and Red Wings hockey, reflecting a broader industry shift away from traditional RSN models toward league-controlled streaming and broadcasting solutions. As MLB continues to expand this approach nationwide, local sports media rights could become more centralized, reducing blackout frustration and stabilizing revenue streams amid changing viewing habits.
