Earlier this year the Cincinnati Reds changed course on how their games would be available to fans. Their initial plan, announced roughly a year ago was to allow MLB to produce the games and they would distribute them via a standalone streaming package through MLB.tv as well as have the games carried on local cable and satellite broadcasting companies. That plan changed a few months later when the Reds announced they had a deal with FanDuel Sports Network Ohio to carry the games. They too would have the games on greater Cincinnati cable and satellite packages, and fans could buy the FanDuel Sports Network as a standalone app to stream games without blackouts if they wanted to.
That deal worked out well for both parties. It made the games available to far more fans and following the season the two announced that viewership was up 21% from 2024, with it being up 6% on traditional broadcasts with the rest coming through streaming via the FanDuel Sports Network app. That deal, though, was only for the 2025 season. On Wednesday afternoon it was announced that the Reds had an option for 2026 on that deal and that they exercised it.
That means that for the 2026 baseball season you will be able to watch games the same way you chose to do so in 2025. Whether you were doing so on your local provider or simply by getting the FanDuel Sports Network app during the season and streaming games on your phone/computer/tablet/smart TV – it’ll be there once again for you.
You can read the entire press release from FanDuel Sports Network here, which also talks about deals with the Brewers and Royals. What isn’t known is how much the deal is for. Nor is there any information on whether it’s for the same amount as 2025 or if there’s an increase.
Could this agreement add some budget room to increase Reds payroll?
no, food costs for post-game spread have skyrocketed….
I’m glad this has been settled early on. Since I am also a CBJ follower, I can switch my plan from monthly to annual and save a few bucks.
Now the question is whether Fanduel is going to up the ante, though.
Good news, that should add a few coins to the coffer. Now, let’s get a national deal in place to replace the one ESPN opted out of.
This one ain’t happening for keeps until a new CBA covers 2027 and beyond. I hope Manfred succeeds in getting control of all the rights and that there is a single logon that sends folks to the games, whether via MLBTV, Fanduel, Apple, Roku, or whatever.
What I’d like to see even more is for MLB to collect all subscription fees and distribute them to the sub providers, but that’s probably two bridges too far. So, I’d settle for the single logon, and if I am routed to a service I don’t subscribe to, then let them try to sell it to me and route me back to Gameday if I don’t buy in.
I agree, Jim; but they need a bridge contract for 2026 and $550M is moreover than $17M per club. That’s a big deal to the Reds. Timing also matters. The longer the replacement contract is delayed the more free agents will be off the table. My guess is that this contract is holding the Reds back on spending more right now.
Really going to miss Red Sox and Yankees games every other Sunday, after I’m done cheering about that.
More coins. Reds decline options on Hays, Suter and Barlow. $19.25M
So one more excuse to not spend has been eliminated. What’s the next excuse? Ah yes, next year’s CBA.
Almost all the stuff that is happening with contract options appears to be positioning by teams or players ahead of the presumed lockout. Bieber and Story take the sure money versus shopping themselves. Others opt out.
Brewers decline on Contreras, but he remains under team control because of service time short of 6years.
And in a truly CubsWorld situation, the team declines Shota Imanaga’s club option at $20m only to have him return serve by declining on his separate player option at $15m. The bottom line is that the team dumps a potential total $60m payable through 2028, while the player apparently ends up as a free agent despite having only 1 year of MLB service time at the start of the 2025 season.
And it’s being whispered that the Cubs may actually make a Qualifying offer on him. So, the club’s motivation apparently is less about 2026 money than getting the potential payout from 2027 and 28 off the books.
This is why we pay Spectrum the big bucks. I’m glad FD got the deal done and continue to patch it down to FD South!
Good deal except the app did not allow you to record the game, but still worth every penny!
Will Spring training games be televised on Fanduel?
Thanks.
The ones that they decide to broadcast will be, but they’ve rarely done more the a few so don’t hold your breath thinking you are going to get a full slate of games rather than maybe one a week.