In a shocking flip of occasions, the Cincinnati Reds introduced this afternoon that they’ve reached an settlement to maintain their video games on FanDuel Sports activities Ohio (previously Bally Sports activities Ohio) for the 2025 season. The 2 sides couldn’t come to a renegotiated deal following the 2024 season and the membership introduced that they’d permit Main League Baseball to supply and distribute their video games for 2025.
So what does this imply for you, the fan? It adjustments issues a bit of bit, however not an entire lot in comparison with what was anticipated with a cope with Main League Baseball. The video games that aren’t the unique nationwide broadcasts (sport of the week on FOX, Sunday Evening Baseball on ESPN, Apple TV sport of the week, or the ROKU Sunday sport of the week) will all be accessible by FanDuel Sports activities Ohio.
Followers can get that station by their native cable or satellite tv for pc supplier. Or if they will’t, which is an issue that many have run into during the last half-decade as suppliers have dropped the station from their lineup, they will subscribe on to FanDuel Sports activities to look at the video games by way of streaming – even within the Cincinnati Reds market.
The pricing for that choice shouldn’t be but accessible. The Reds and FanDuel Sports activities mentioned within the press launch that extra info concerning DTC (direct to client) subscriptions, together with pricing, will likely be introduced forward of the upcoming 2025 season.
When the earlier cope with Main League Baseball was introduced it sounded as if the pre and post-game exhibits for video games was going to be loads completely different than what we had been accustomed to. Mark Sheldon of Reds.com’s additional reporting on at the moment’s introduced deal quote’s Reds COO & CFO Doug Healy saying they “began to have conversations with our on-air expertise. Now that we’ve made the choice to proceed with FanDuel, we’re actively lining up our 2025 roster with a view to maintain that continuity to our followers.”
The brand new deal is an enchancment from a financial perspective from what was beforehand supplied by FanDuel Sports activities Ohio after the final deal was terminated. The small print about how a lot they’re getting shouldn’t be talked about. It’s additionally value noting as to attempt to keep away from confusion – this assertion is about an enchancment over what was supplied monetarily within the negotiations after 2024 and never an enchancment over what was being paid beforehand by Bally Sports activities Ohio to the Reds per 12 months on their final tv contract.
You possibly can learn your entire press launch from the Reds beneath:
The Cincinnati Reds at the moment introduced a brand new linear and digital rights settlement with Most important Road Sports activities, proprietor of FanDuel Sports activities Community (previously Bally Sports activities), to supply and distribute Reds sport telecasts in 2025.
“Our prime precedence is to verify Reds video games are accessible to our followers,” mentioned Doug Healy, Reds Chief Working Officer and Chief Monetary Officer. “The choice to stick with FanDuel Sports activities Community gives continuity for our followers to look at Reds video games as in earlier seasons, and now with a direct-to-consumer streaming product accessible by the FanDuel Sports activities Community app.”
Per the settlement, FanDuel Sports activities Community will stay the house of the Reds in 2025, broadcasting all in-market video games that aren’t completely televised nationally, in addition to 30-minute pre and postgame exhibits. As well as, the settlement contains rights to distribute programming direct-to-consumer (DTC) in-market. Followers will now be capable of stream video games on the FanDuel Sports activities Community app by authenticating with their pay TV credentials or buying a DTC subscription. Extra info concerning DTC subscriptions, together with pricing, will likely be introduced forward of the upcoming 2025 season.
“We’re desirous to proceed our partnership with the Reds and stay up for collaborating with them to raise the fan expertise,” mentioned David DeVoe, COO and CFO, Most important Road Sports activities. “With our best-in-class partnerships, cutting-edge know-how and extremely expert manufacturing staff, we stay dedicated to delivering top quality viewing choices to native followers. We’re assured that our current agreements and reimagined enterprise mannequin place us to greatest serve our companions. We’re appreciative of the help from each Main League Baseball and the Reds.”
The Reds beforehand introduced an association with Main League Baseball to supply and distribute their native video games for the 2025 season. The rights settlement with FanDuel Sports activities Community will exchange that association.
“Main League Baseball has been an unimaginable useful resource for all of the Golf equipment navigating the complexities of the quickly altering media panorama,” mentioned Phil Castellini, Reds President and CEO. “The Reds are extraordinarily grateful to Commissioner Manfred and Main League Baseball for his or her continued help and collaboration.”
