Reds reach deal to stay with Main Street Sports for TV broadcasts

CINCINNATI – The Reds and Main Street Sports announced on Monday that the team's 2025 local television broadcasts of games will be produced and distributed on the FanDuel Sports Network.

This move is a reversal of plans announced in November to have MLB Media handle Reds local broadcasts. Main Street Sports is the new name for Diamond Sports Group, which owned Bally Sports Ohio, the Reds' longtime television home. Bally Sports has since been rebranded as the FanDuel Sports Network.

So while some of the brand names have changed, the location of where fans can find the game broadcasts is still the same under this new one-year contract. For 2025, fans will be getting more of what they already know and on the same television channel.

“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]. Recently, as in the last few weeks, they approached us about re-engaging and discussing our 2025 broadcast rights," Reds chief operating officer and chief financial officer Doug Healy said. “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.”

With the exception of games selected for national TV partners, FanDuel Sports Ohio will televise all Reds regular-season games, plus a selection of Spring Training exhibition games, via cable and satellite providers and streaming.

As in previous seasons, the FanDuel Sports Ohio network will also have full 30-minute pregame and postgame shows.

“We are eager to continue our partnership with the Reds and look forward to collaborating with them to elevate the fan experience,” David DeVoe, COO and CFO, Main Street Sports, said in a statement. “With our best-in-class partnerships, cutting-edge technology and highly skilled production team, we remain committed to delivering high quality viewing options to local fans. We are confident that our recent agreements and reimagined business model position us to best serve our partners. We are appreciative of the support from both Major League Baseball and the Reds.”

Via a direct streaming package available through the FanDuel Sports Network app, fans in the Reds television market can still watch the games -- without local blackouts -- either through authentication with their pay-tv credentials or by purchasing a direct consumer subscription.

Subscription options and pricing will be announced in the near future, Healy said.

As for the TV broadcast crew, it will likely look quite familiar but those deals have yet to be finalized.

“It’s always been our intention to retain as many members of our on-air talent in 2025. The reason is to keep the broadcast familiar with our fans," Healy said. "We’ve got a great group of broadcasters and they know our franchise in and out. Baseball had started to have conversations with our on-air talent. Now that we’ve made the decision to continue with FanDuel, we are actively lining up our 2025 roster in order to keep that continuity to our fans.”

Economically, Main Street Sports improved its previous offers to carry Reds games under the new deal. This should directly affect the club's payroll and president of baseball operations Nick Krall's ability to make moves to improve the roster. As recently as last week, Krall said, “We’ve got a little bit, not a ton," when it came to payroll flexibility.

“The deal with FanDuel does enhance our economics slightly. Ownership does remain committed to re-investing every available dollar back into the franchise," Healy said. "It’s our goal to continue to give Nick and his staff every available resource that the franchise has in 2025. Then it’s up to Nick how best to spend that.”

MLB Media will broadcast games for the Padres, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Twins and Guardians in 2025 and remains an option for any club that is in need of a broadcast and streaming partner. Like the Reds, the Brewers recently reversed course from their plan to join MLB Media and returned to FanDuel Sports Network with a one-year deal.

Ultimately, in future seasons beyond 2025, the Reds could have their games produced and distributed by MLB Media.

“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.”