Detroit Tigers Move On From FanDuel Sports Network as MLB Broadcast Landscape Continues to Shift

The Detroit Tigers will not return to FanDuel Sports Network for the 2026 season, marking the end of their local television partnership and another notable turn in Major League Baseball’s rapidly changing broadcast environment.

The decision, first reported earlier today by Evan Drellich of the Athletic, places the Tigers among a growing list of clubs reassessing how their games reach fans as the traditional regional sports network (RSN) model continues to fracture. While specific details of the Tigers’ next broadcast arrangement have not yet been announced, the move itself is hardly surprising given the uncertainty surrounding RSNs over the past two seasons. 

FanDuel Sports Network, formerly operating under the Bally Sports branding, inherited a slate of long-term local TV contracts across MLB, NBA, and NHL teams. Financial instability and missed rights payments, however, forced several teams into short-term or league-assisted solutions. MLB has since stepped in to produce and distribute broadcasts for certain clubs, signaling a more centralized approach may be part of the league’s future.

For the Tigers, this transition raises immediate questions — but not necessarily red flags. From a competitive standpoint, nothing changes on the field. From a fan-access perspective, however, the implications are more nuanced. One of the persistent criticisms of the RSN model has been limited availability due to cable bundle requirements and blackout restrictions. A league-run or hybrid distribution model could, in theory, offer fans more direct access through streaming platforms without the traditional barriers.

There is also a business component at play. While RSN deals once provided teams with stable, predictable revenue, the current environment has made flexibility more valuable than long-term guarantees. Teams like Detroit, operating in a mid-market with a broad regional footprint, may benefit from solutions that prioritize reach and engagement over exclusivity.

It’s worth noting that this move does not automatically mean a fully direct-to-consumer Tigers broadcast is imminent. MLB has been deliberate in how quickly it wants to centralize local media rights. The most likely outcome is a short-term bridge solution while the league continues evaluating a more unified streaming model.

For Tigers fans, the takeaway is simple: change is coming, but clarity will take time. The end of the FanDuel Sports Network relationship is less about Detroit specifically and more about a system-wide recalibration across baseball. How the Tigers fit into MLB’s long-term broadcast vision will become clearer in the months ahead. The Tigers, like the others on the list, can renegotiated. 

Until then, the organization joins a growing number of teams navigating an uncertain — but potentially more accessible — future for how the game is watched.

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