The regional sports network (RSN) era in Detroit is officially coming to a close - and for Tigers fans, that might be the best news of the offseason.
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment (IS+E) announced that starting in 2026, the Detroit Tigers will no longer be tied to FanDuel Sports Network. Instead, Major League Baseball will take over full control of the team’s local game broadcasts - from production to distribution. The NHL’s Detroit Red Wings are set to follow suit in the 2026-27 season, as part of what IS+E is calling a “first-of-its-kind partnership.”
Why this matters: The RSN model is broken - and Detroit’s felt it
FanDuel Sports Network, operated by Main Street Sports Group, has been on shaky ground for a while now. Missed payments, contracts falling apart, and NBA teams jumping ship were all signs of a system in decline. The Tigers, along with the rest of the MLB teams still under that umbrella, are now officially out.
That puts Detroit among 14 MLB clubs whose local media rights are now managed directly by MLB. The league is stepping in to stabilize the broadcast situation - and for fans, that means more consistency, more access, and a lot less confusion.
So, how can you watch the Tigers in 2026?
Let’s break it down.
If you’ve got cable or satellite:
You’re still covered.
IS+E says Tigers games will remain available through traditional providers like Comcast/Xfinity, DirecTV, and other major carriers. While exact channel placement and pricing haven’t been finalized, the expectation is that the viewing experience will remain largely the same - just with MLB handling the distribution instead of FanDuel.
If you’ve cut the cord:
Here’s where things start to get interesting.
MLB plans to offer a direct-to-consumer streaming option for Tigers games starting in 2026. That means fans will be able to subscribe to a standalone streaming package - likely without the dreaded local blackout restrictions - and watch games on smart TVs, phones, tablets, and other devices.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but if MLB follows the model used in other markets, fans can expect something in the ballpark of $15-$20 per month, with seasonal bundle options. Compared to the patchwork of apps, logins, and blackout headaches fans have dealt with in recent years, this could be the cleanest and most fan-friendly solution Detroit has seen in a long time.
Will the broadcast crew change?
Nope - and that’s another win for fans.
TV play-by-play man Jason Benetti, radio voice Dan Dickerson, and analysts Andy Dirks and Dan Petry are all expected to stay on board. That kind of continuity matters.
Benetti’s sharp, energetic style and Dickerson’s steady, familiar presence have become staples for Tigers fans. Keeping those voices in the booth helps maintain the connection between the team and its fanbase, even as the broadcast infrastructure shifts behind the scenes.
What does this mean for the future of Tigers broadcasts?
This move pulls Detroit out of the collapsing RSN model and into MLB’s centralized media strategy - a growing trend across the league. It’s a shift toward stability, digital flexibility, and a more consistent product for fans. Instead of relying on third-party networks that may or may not make their payments on time, the Tigers will now be part of a league-run system designed to meet modern viewing habits.
The only lingering question? **Price.
**
We don’t yet know how much the new streaming subscription will cost.
Will it be bundled with Red Wings games? Will it offer value compared to MLB.TV?
Time will tell. But the promise of a single, year-round subscription suggests IS+E and MLB are listening to fans who are tired of juggling five different platforms just to follow their teams.
Bottom line:
The Tigers are getting a new TV home in 2026 - and this time, it’s built on a foundation that looks a whole lot sturdier than what came before.