Reds Beat: Reds Say Goodbye to FanDuel (And Local Blackouts), What Else It Means For Watching Reds In 2026

CINCINNATI — Over the weekend, the Reds made a decision that will impact how fans watch their favorite team in 2026.

The Reds joined the Brewers, Marlins, Rays, Royals and Cardinals in leaving Bally Sports and parent company Main Street Sports behind and let Major League Baseball produce and distribute all non-network broadcasts this season. The Braves, Tigers and Angels are still uncommitted.

The move was necessitated by the financial uncertainty from the bankruptcy filed by Main Street Sports Group, when it could not meet financial payments to nine clubs in December. The Reds and five others decided over the weekend to take MLB up on the offer to produce and distribute their telecasts if Main Street did meet the payment obligation. The Diamondbacks pursued this option last season.

What it means:

Most importantly, under this new agreement, fans in the team’s home television territory will be able to watch all locally distributed Reds games via cable and satellite providers or stream digitally on Reds.TV without blackouts.

“Partnering with MLB will allow fans to continue watching Reds games on the platforms they’ve always used, including cable and satellite, as well as direct‑to‑consumer streaming with no blackouts,” Reds Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Doug Healy said in a statement Monday. “MLB’s production expertise and resources ensure our fans will enjoy a high-quality viewing experience for every game.”

Reds.TV subscriptions will be available soon. Prices are expected to be $99.99 for the season or $19.99 per month.

The broadcast crew of the last several years have included regular crew of play-by-play man John Sadak, analyst Barry Larkin, studio hosts Brian Giesenschlag and Sam LeCure. Monday’s announcement by the Reds did not mention the specific plans for the crew.

Information on cable and satellite providers, including specific channel locations, will be announced at a later date along with the Spring Training broadcast schedule.

In recent seasons, MLB-produced local games have incorporated national-level innovations, including live drones, Wire Cam, RF cameras with a shallow depth-of-field cinematic look, and two Umpire Cam formats—the mask-mounted camera behind home plate and the chest-mounted camera in the field. These broadcasts have also delivered unprecedented player access, introducing multiple first-of-their-kind moments for MLB local coverage.

For more information, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit Reds.com/Watch.