NFL teams could reportedly be permitted to sell preseason TV rights and original shows to streamers; DirecTV inks a new distribution agreement for new teams in the MLB Local Media portfolio; and FanDuel TV will be phased out. Plus news on the NHL, Netflix, Clinton Yates and the World Series of Poker.
NFL reportedly could permit teams to sell preseason TV rights, original shows to streamers
NFL owners will review a plan next week that would allow teams to sell television rights for preseason games and original shows to streamers, according to a report by Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal. Fischer wrote that the proposal “is seen as a marginal but intriguing new asset for teams.” Teams could reportedly have the option to obtain rights from the league to expand distribution of those games “beyond their home markets.”
Per Fischer, the potential change comes after the league completed a review of its so-called ‘internet resolution,’ which determines the content teams are allowed to monetize indepedently of the league.
The NFL reduced its preseason inventory from four to three games when it last expanded its regular-season schedule ahead of the 2021 season, and any expansion to an 18-game schedule is expected to further shorten the exhibition schedule.
The league has reportedly been trying to renegotiate its media rights deals ahead of the new season — several years earlier than it can contractually opt out of most agreements after the 2029 campaign — per a report by John Ourand of Puck.
DirecTV inks distribution deal with MLB-produced teams
DirecTV reached a deal Wednesday to carry the nine Major League Baseball teams whose local production and distribution shifted to MLB Local Media in the offseason. Seven of these teams had previously been in the Main Street Sports Group portfolio — including the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays — but the RSN company no longer holds baseball rights amid financial uncertainty and potential liquidation. The Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals departed their respective RSNs after the 2025 season for varying reasons.
ESPN holds the in-market streaming rights for games produced and distributed by MLB. Those regional broadcasts, however, are not expected to be available through ESPN’s service until next season.
DirecTV distributes all RSNs that carry MLB teams, save for NBC Sports Philadelphia, which is the television home of the Philadelphia Phillies. On Friday, DirecTV announced a multiyear distribution agreement with the Atlanta Braves to carry the new BravesVision channel.
The distributor also announced Wednesday that its streaming users can add MLB.TV through the service for $30/month, licensing the platform directly with the league. ESPN, which holds the rights to MLB.TV, will still receive a majority of the subscription revenue despite users signing up through DirecTV.
FanDuel TV to be phased out, will not affect non-racing programs
The FanDuel TV network, originally known as the horse racing-focused channel TVG, is being phased out over the next 20 months with plans to eliminate over 100 jobs by the end of November, according to a report by Ray Paulick of The Paulick Report. Sports Media Watch has confirmed the report, which said that employees learned of the decision during a town hall meeting on Friday. FanDuel CEO Amy Howe reportedly explained that the continuation of FanDuel TV does “not align with the company’s long-term strategy.”
The move will not affect non-racing programs, such as “Up & Adams” and “Run It Back,” and they will continue being part of the company’s “broader sportsbook strategy,” per an interview by Paulick with FanDuel general manager of racing Andrew Moore. Those will continue running on the linear cable network through 2027, SMW has learned, but they also remain available on the FanDuel TV Extra FAST channel, stream live on YouTube and are carried on other networks, including RSNs and league-owned channels like NBA TV.
Paulick reported that FanDuel TV’s workforce will be reduced “by about 60 percent at the end of June, after honoring commitments to Keeneland and Triple Crown coverage.” Moore said that racing coverage will not change during the Triple Crown season and that the decision did not come easily.
“FanDuel conducted a thorough review of the business and the investments needed to support a linear network didn’t align with its long-term strategy,” Moore told Paulick. “FanDuel is directing its investments toward the areas most critical to its long-term roadmap and core businesses. Those principles resulted in making deliberate, difficult decisions to better align the company’s portfolio with where it sees the greatest opportunity.”
Plus: NHL, Netflix, Clinton Yates, World Series of Poker
- The 2026-27 NHL regular season is expected to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 29, eight days earlier than the current season, according to a report by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. But despite the earlier start and expanded 84-game schedule, the league will reportedly play just two additional days — with its 193-day slate compared to 191 this year.
- One day after its first-ever MLB regular-season broadcast, Netflix raised prices across its subscription plans, shifting its monthly ad-supported plan up $1 to $8.99/month. The streamer also raised its standard and premium plans by $2, placing them at $19.99/month and $26.99/month, respectively. This is the second time in 15 months that Netflix has engaged in a price hike, and it comes as the company projects content spend of about $20 billion on the year (+~10% YoY).
- ESPN Radio midday host and longtime commentator Clinton Yates is leaving ESPN Radio and ESPN LA 710 (KSPN), hosting his final show Friday as the company makes changes to its national radio network programming in the window, Sports Media Watch has confirmed. In addition, Yates is no longer going to be working as a senior writer for Andscape and does not have any additional work planned. “We thank Clinton for his contributions, and wish him continued success,” ESPN said in a statement Friday.
- ESPN will televise the Main Event of the World Series of Poker for the first time since 2021 under a new multiyear agreement with the company, it was announced Thursday. The network will present more than 100 hours of Main Event coverage starting in early July through the ESPN App. The ESPN linear networks will televise edited episodes, along with the Final Table over three nights concluding on Wednesday, Aug. 5. It remains unknown which specific networks will televise the tournament, but ESPN does have an MLB game window scheduled for August 3.
