The Miami Marlins are cutting pregame and postgame coverage during MLB’s broadcast transition, while other teams expand access. Here’s what it means.
The Miami Marlins may label it "modernization," but the initial insights into the team tell a different story. The narrative surrounding television feels all too familiar: diminished offerings, reduced engagement opportunities, and an audience seemingly resigned to the status quo.
Miami is a just one player in a broader industry-wide upheaval. In January, nine Major League Baseball teams ended their partnerships with FanDuel Sports Network (Main Street Sports), prompting Commissioner Rob Manfred to announce the league was ready to take over production of its own broadcasts. As of Feb. 2, MLB began creating and distributing local TV broadcasts for six teams: the Brewers, Marlins, Royals, Cardinals, Reds, and Rays. Meanwhile, the Braves, Tigers, and Angels were still navigating their broadcasting strategies.
Understanding the bigger picture is crucial, as the Marlins are not the sole team adjusting to life after the regional sports network era. They’re simply opting for one of the more disheartening iterations.
While other franchises are leveraging the MLB transition to broaden their reach, Miami is opting to reduce its coverage.
Kansas City, for instance, is embracing its potential for expansion. The Royals’ MLB-produced initiative features 10 games broadcast free over-the-air on local stations, a strategic move aimed at maintaining engagement with casual fans who may not have subscriptions.
Recent updates on the Brewers' transition indicate the team will maintain its pregame and postgame shows for locally produced broadcasts. Additionally, the Brewers have unveiled a spring schedule that promises extensive coverage through various radio and streaming platforms.
But Miami? According to Barry Jackson’s reporting, relayed by Fish On First, the Marlins are going in the opposite direction: home pre- and postgame shows will be cut to 15 minutes, with road pregames eliminated entirely, and the road postgame reduced to five minutes.
It's worth noting the Marlins will broadcast only two spring training games. It appears less like a "new era" and more like a budget memo with a streaming logo hastily attached.
Low attendance is a concern, yet this highlights the importance of broadcasts.
Attendance at Marlins games has always been lackluster, and South Florida has long struggled to cultivate a regular fan base at the stadium. However, that’s the crux of the matter. If the stands aren’t filled, the broadcast serves as the franchise's welcoming mat, and local media continues to account for a substantial portion of the league's revenue.
When Miami decides to eliminate the programming that fosters routine, develops storylines, and strengthens community ties, the pregame context and postgame analysis, it's only natural for fans to question whether this shift aims to enhance accessibility or merely reduce expenses.
In contrast to other teams' efforts to expand their reach, the Marlins seem to be narrowing theirs.
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