The Atlanta Braves announced on Tuesday that starting in the 2026 season, BravesVision will serve as the team’s official local television broadcast. This move allows the Braves to directly manage the production, marketing, sales, and distribution of over 140 game telecasts this year, marking a major shift from previous arrangements where Major League Baseball supervised the broadcasts.
Reasons Behind BravesVision and the Shift from MLB-Controlled Broadcasts
This year, six other teams—the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays—announced that MLB would produce and distribute their local TV broadcasts. These teams, joined by the Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Angels, ended prior local broadcast agreements following non-payment of rights fees by Main Street Sports Group, operator of FanDuel Sports Network regional stations.
Major League Baseball will handle broadcasts for 14 teams this season and is also distributing Braves and Angels games directly to fans through dedicated streaming platforms such as braves.tv and angels.tv. Meanwhile, the Braves are finalizing partnerships with cable, satellite, and streaming providers to expand BravesVision’s availability, which will also be accessible on MLB’s streaming service.
Leadership Perspective: Derek Schiller on BravesVision’s Return
Braves president and CEO Derek Schiller emphasized the significance of returning game broadcasts to the team’s direct oversight.
“Back under the control of our organization,”
Schiller said, this change is expected to resonate well with fans accustomed to watching Braves games on TBS, a network historically connected with the team.
Schiller added,
“Generations of Braves fans were raised watching games on a network that shared ownership with the baseball team,”
before explaining,
“With BravesVision, we believe that we can present Braves baseball in new and innovative ways allowing us to expand and elevate our storytelling capabilities across all of our platforms.”
Additional Broadcast Coverage and Distribution Plans
In addition to BravesVision’s regular season coverage, Gray Media will broadcast 15 Braves spring training games. The Braves aim to broaden their reach by connecting with various media partners, ensuring that fans across platforms can access live games and related content.
Implications for Fans and Future Broadcasting Trends
By launching BravesVision, the Atlanta Braves join an emerging trend of teams reclaiming control over their local television broadcasts to craft a more customized and direct fan experience. This initiative is likely to enhance content innovation while providing the Braves with greater flexibility in how games are presented and monetized. Fans can expect more dynamic storytelling and expanded access to Braves baseball in the upcoming seasons as the team finalizes its distribution networks.
