Report: DAZN-FanDuel Sports Deal Unlikely; RSN Company In Peril

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Buy Me a Coffee!

Sports programming distributor DAZN is now unlikely to buy FanDuel Sports Network, which has the regional TV rights to 29 NBA, NHL and MLB teams, according to a new article from Sports Business Journal.

If the DAZN deal fails, Main Street Sports Group, which owns FanDuel Sports Network, could soon be forced to shutter although the SBJ report says the RSN (regional sports network) company is telling teams that it may have a second bidder, possibly Fubo.

Despite that prospect, SBJ adds that several MLB teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, have notified FanDuel Sports Network that they are preparing to opt out of their deal. The Tampa Bay Rays may be the only MLB team willing to stay with FanDuel Sports Network, the article states.

The closure of FanDuel Sports Network would potentially create a chaotic situation for the NBA and NHL which are in mid-season. SBJ writes that the leagues are already discussing alternative plans such as streaming their games on league-run services and/or securing fast agreements with other distributors.

If FanDuel Sports Network abruptly folds, the regional TV rights to the 30 teams would revert back to the teams. MLB TV, which already does the broadcasts for six teams including the Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, and Minnesota Twins, would likely take over the FanDuel teams as well.

The league would also likely package the FanDuel teams with the six current teams already under the MLB TV umbrella and sell it to a sports streamer such as ESPN which would make it part of its Unlimited app. (MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has previously stated he wants to do something like this.)

Regardless if a team is on a league-backed network, or an individual team-owned channel, the usual TV providers such as DIRECTV, Verizon and Comcast will create TV channels to air the games, just as they have for teams now broadcast via MLB TV.

Bottom line: You won’t miss any games. But where you watch them might change. And soon.

Please consider making a donation to The TV Answer Man site here at the Buy Me a Coffee site. Any donation size is appreciated and will help me continue to provide these articles to you.

Have a Question? Ask The TV Answer Man!
Have a question about a cable/satellite service, streaming service, TV product, or favorite show? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com.