In a major shift for the local sports landscape, the Miami Marlins and Miami Heat are preparing for the likely shuttering of their regional sports networks in the coming months. What this really means is a seismic change in how fans will access their favorite teams' games going forward.
Marlins Cut Ties With Financially Strapped RSN
The Marlins have terminated their contract with Main Street Sports Group, the owner of FanDuel Sports Florida, after the network failed to make a scheduled rights fee payment on January 1st. According to the Miami Herald, the Marlins fully expect their games to air on a different platform next season as Main Street Sports Group's regional sports networks are on the verge of collapse.
NBA's Heat Also Bracing for Changes
The Heat has also been impacted by Main Street Sports Group's financial troubles, with the network reportedly missing payments to some or all of its 13 NBA team partners. Sports Media Watch reports that the Heat is declining to comment publicly on the matter, in line with a league directive.
The Bigger Picture: A Shifting Sports Media Landscape
The potential shuttering of the FanDuel Sports Florida and Sun networks is part of a broader shakeup in the regional sports network (RSN) business. The Washington Post reports that MLB's new deal with ESPN will see the network take over distribution of MLB.TV, the league's out-of-market streaming service. This integration of league-controlled streaming with a major media partner is a sign of things to come as the traditional RSN model continues to crumble.
What this really means is that fans will likely have to navigate a more fragmented sports viewing experience, with teams potentially striking individual deals for in-market streaming or relying more on national packages like what ESPN and the NBA are creating. The Marlins, for example, are said to be exploring options like moving their games to a local broadcast station or the league's own MLB Media package. It's a complex and rapidly evolving situation, but one that could ultimately give fans more choice - if they're willing to juggle multiple subscriptions.
As the recent analysis on this site highlighted, sports leagues and media companies are grappling with how to adapt their distribution models to the streaming era. The Marlins and Heat situation is just the latest example of these tectonic shifts, with more changes surely on the horizon.