MLB Taking Over Braves (and 8 Others) Broadcasts: No More Blackouts in 2026

Major League Baseball is officially taking over the broadcast rights for the Atlanta Braves and eight other teams, ending their relationship with FanDuel Sports Network. After a long and winding bankruptcy process for Diamond Sports Group, the two sides have agreed to part ways, which means the RSN model as we know it is effectively over for nearly a third of the league.

Along with the Braves, the eight other teams included in this move are the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays.

For those of us who follow the Braves or those other 8 teams, this is a massive shift. The Braves' territory is famously huge, covering five full states and parts of others, which has historically led to some of the most frustrating blackout restrictions in professional sports. For years, if you didn't have a specific cable package or a high-priced streaming bundle, you were simply out of luck.

Last season, I subscribed to FanDuel Sports Network specifically to watch the Braves. While the corporate side of that business was a mess, the actual service for the fan was fine. It provided a way to watch the games live for around $20 a month, which is a far cry from the $90 or more you might pay for a full "Live TV" streaming service.

The good news in this transition is that MLB has promised to continue offering a direct-to-consumer option. This means we will likely be able to watch the Braves live through the MLB app with no blackouts in the local territory. According to reports from The Athletic and WSB-TV, the league is stepping in because FanDuel missed payments and lost the contract. While the specific pricing and app details for 2026 will be announced later, the baseline remains the same: we can watch our team live without being forced back into an expensive cable-style contract.

It is a relief to know that as one chapter of sports broadcasting closes, the league is stepping in to make sure the games stay accessible. Being a fan shouldn't require a $1,000-a-year commitment to a bundle of channels you don't watch.

I have been a Braves fan since they moved to Atlanta, and it has been wonderful watching the games again. I am looking forward to watching more next season. My Streaming Life is much simpler when I can just pay for the team I want to see and actually watch the game.