Main Street Sports Group, operator of the FanDuel Sports Network, has notified NBA and NHL teams that it will cease operations at the end of their respective seasons.[1][2] This move frees 13 NBA teams after their regular season concludes on April 12, 2026, and seven NHL teams following the first round of the playoffs later that month. The decision caps a turbulent period for the regional sports network (RSN), which emerged from bankruptcy only to face renewed financial woes.
A spokesperson for Main Street Sports stated: “FanDuel Sports Network has reached agreements with the NBA and NHL to broadcast games and other programming through the end of the 2026 NBA regular season and the end of the first round of the NHL playoffs. We are preparing to wind down our operations upon seasons’ end unless we reach a strategic transaction.”[1] Teams have not received rights fees this year, though reimbursements are expected for some lost payments.[2]
Background on the collapse
Main Street Sports Group traces its roots to Diamond Sports Group, a Sinclair Broadcast subsidiary that amassed nearly $9 billion in debt acquiring 21 regional channels from Fox. Bankruptcy hit in March 2023 amid missed payments and carriage disputes, including a three-month blackout with Comcast.
After 22 months of legal battles, the company rebranded as Main Street Sports Group in early 2025, securing a FanDuel naming deal and an Amazon agreement. Hopes for stability faded quickly. By late 2025, reports surfaced of missed payments to MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals and a failed sale pitch to DAZN.[1]
All nine MLB teams in its portfolio exited before spring training 2026. NBA and NHL deals lingered until now, but financial pressures proved insurmountable. No new investor has emerged, pointing toward liquidation.[3]
The RSN model, once dominant, faces existential threats from cord-cutting and streaming shifts. Main Street’s 29-team portfolio at the year’s start underscores the scale of its downfall.
This isn’t isolated; Bally Sports’ parent (once Diamond) foreshadowed broader RSN instability. Leagues now prioritize direct-to-consumer options.
NBA teams impacted
Thirteen NBA teams lose their local broadcaster:
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Indiana Pacers
- Detroit Pistons
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Orlando Magic
- Milwaukee Bucks
- San Antonio Spurs
- LA Clippers
- Memphis Grizzlies
The Pacers, for instance, must scramble for next season’s broadcasts.Link to ESPN article Teams like the Spurs face immediate uncertainty for 2026-27.[4]
Reimbursements may ease short-term pain, but long-term deals remain urgent. Free agency in local TV could spur innovation, like team-run streams.
Many teams already explore hybrids, blending over-air and digital. This wind-down accelerates that pivot.
NHL teams affected and transitions
Seven NHL teams are cutting ties post-playoffs:
- Minnesota Wild
- Nashville Predators
- Detroit Red Wings
- Los Angeles Kings
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- St. Louis Blues
For the Red Wings, this aligns with the launch of Detroit SportsNet, a new RSN by Ilitch Sports + Entertainment offering stable local coverage and streaming.[From NHL Insight RSS] The Kings and Hurricanes, meanwhile, broadcast on FanDuel through playoffs but eye alternatives.
Blues fans recall similar disruptions from past RSN woes. Predators ownership changes, like Nick Saban’s minority stake, signal broader franchise adaptations.
Playoff implications loom if broadcasts falter, though agreements hold for now. NHL’s centralized streaming could fill gaps.
These teams join MLB counterparts already independent, reshaping regional markets.
Broader implications for sports media
The shutdown highlights RSN fragility. Main Street entered 2026 with high hopes post-bankruptcy but collapsed within a year.Link to Sports Business Journal Leagues like NBA and NHL gain leverage for lucrative streaming pacts, potentially with Amazon or Apple.
Fans face fragmented viewing: some games shift to team apps, others blacked out. Revenue dips short-term but could rise via direct subs.
Historical parallels include MSG Network’s resilience versus smaller RSNs’ falls. MLB’s full exit sets precedent.
Teams reimburse via bankruptcy pools, per reports. No “last-minute miracle” investor appears likely.
Path forward for teams and fans
Freed teams pursue custom solutions. Detroit’s model—direct control via Detroit SportsNet—may inspire others, blending TV and streaming for Tigers/Red Wings.
NBA squads like Clippers eye SoFi Stadium tech integrations. NHL clubs prioritize playoff focus amid uncertainty.
Leagues negotiate league-wide deals, reducing RSN reliance. Amazon’s prior Main Street pact hints at expansions.
Fans benefit long-term from accessible streams, though transition pains persist. Reimbursements mitigate 2026 losses.
Ultimately, this wind-down signals RSN evolution toward digital-first eras. Teams and leagues adapt swiftly, ensuring games reach audiences. What it means: a freer, more competitive local media landscape ahead.[5]
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.