The Cincinnati Reds have flip-flopped on their broadcast plans for the upcoming season.
According to an announcement from the team on Monday, the Reds will abandon their original plan to have MLB produce and distribute their local broadcasts for the 2025 season and instead return to FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Bally Sports), the regional sports network owned by Main Street Sports Group (formerly Diamond Sports Group).
The move will give Main Street its ninth MLB franchise. Earlier this year, the Milwaukee Brewers similarly decided to forego plans with MLB Media to pursue a deal with FanDuel Sports Network.
Per the release, the Reds’ deal with Main Street is just one year in length.
“Representatives of the former Diamond Sports and myself and Phil [Castellini, the team’s president] stayed in touch periodically since we made the decision to go to [MLB],” Reds chief operating officer and chief financial officer Doug Healy said. “Recently, as in the last few weeks, they approached us about re-engaging and discussing our 2025 broadcast rights. Major League Baseball was a great partner and remains a great partner. And they are incredibly supportive of our efforts to continue our relationship with FanDuel in 2025.”
Reds fans will also have the option to purchase a direct-to-consumer streaming service to watch games. Subscription and pricing options have not yet been announced.
The announcement states that “Main Street Sports improved its previous offers to carry Reds games under the new deal,” though it can be assumed that the new fee is still a reduction from its previous deal with Diamond Sports Group, as the vast majority of teams remaining with the company have taken a haircut as part of negotiations.
Even though the team inked a deal with FanDuel Sports Network for this season, the Reds remain open to MLB Media as their long-term local rights solution.
“The way we view this is we had two good options,” Healy said. “We had MLB Media and we had FanDuel. For 2025, obviously we are going on the path of FanDuel. Long-term, it’s our intention to partner with MLB Media. The Commissioner, [deputy commissioner] Noah Garden and the team up at Major League Baseball, they really have created a world class product. We believe that they are the long-term future to enhance broadcasts for our fans and teams in the league. They will be able to distribute across multiple and different types of platforms that we believe will be a win-win for fans of Major League Baseball.”
The post Reds reverse course, ink deal with FanDuel Sports Network appeared first on Awful Announcing.
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