Baseball season is back, and the Tigers are gearing up for their opener this Thursday in San Diego. With the new season comes a shift in how fans will catch the games on TV, as the Tigers transition to Detroit SportsNet under the MLB Media umbrella. This move comes as FanDuel Sports Network Detroit's parent company faces closure.
Fans can expect the Tigers' games to be available both on streaming via MLB.TV and on traditional cable. Ben Fidelman, a Tigers vice president, recently assured fans on social media that Detroit SportsNet should be accessible through the same cable providers that previously carried FanDuel.
"If you watched Tigers or Red Wings games with your cable package last year, you likely won't need to change anything," Fidelman shared on X (formerly Twitter). He promised a detailed list of providers and channel numbers soon, although it might be as close as the morning of Opening Day.
For those who have cut the cord, streaming is available through MLB.com, offering in-market fans access to all locally aired games at $19.99 per month or $189.99 annually. Eventually, this subscription will cover both Tigers and Red Wings games, though for now, separate fees apply.
Detroit SportsNet is set to broadcast over 140 Tigers games this season. National broadcasts will also feature the Tigers at least 16 times, starting with "Sunday Night Baseball" on April 5 against the Cardinals. Importantly, there will be no local blackouts for Tigers games on Detroit SportsNet, though national games on networks like ESPN and NBC won't be included in the subscription.
The Tigers' season opener is at 4:10 PM Thursday in San Diego, with their home opener against the Cardinals at 1:10 PM on April 3 at Comerica Park. While the TV deal is still being finalized, Fidelman reassures fans there's no cause for concern.
"Distribution deals often finalize at the last minute," Fidelman noted. "It's not ideal, but we're on track, just like other MLB teams moving away from FanDuel."
Fans can look forward to familiar voices, as the broadcast team remains unchanged. Jason Benetti returns for his third season as the lead play-by-play announcer for the Tigers, covering over 120 games. He'll be absent on Sundays, taking on a new role with "Sunday Night Baseball."