Royals’ Broadcast Future in Flux as FanDuel Sports Kansas City Faces Uncertainty
The Kansas City Royals’ broadcast plans for 2026 were seemingly locked in when the team announced in November that games would once again air on FanDuel Sports Kansas City. But with Opening Day just a few months away - March 27 in Atlanta - there’s a growing cloud of uncertainty over who will actually carry Royals games next season.
Here’s the situation: Main Street Sports Group, the parent company of FanDuel Sports Kansas City, is in a precarious financial position. According to reports, the company could dissolve early next year if it can’t finalize a pending deal - a move that would send ripple effects across the sports broadcasting landscape.
There is still a potential lifeline. Streaming giant DAZN is reportedly in talks to make a significant cash investment in Main Street Sports.
If that deal goes through, it could stabilize the company and keep regional broadcasts - including the Royals’ - on track. But if the deal falls apart, Main Street Sports is expected to wind down operations by the end of the current NBA and NHL regular seasons (April 12 and April 15, respectively).
A spokesperson for Main Street confirmed that the company is in “discussions with certain team partners around the timing of their rights payments,” while also working with strategic partners to strengthen its long-term financial footing. Though the Royals declined to comment, they are one of the teams involved in those discussions.
One red flag: Main Street Sports reportedly missed a December payment to the St. Louis Cardinals.
That’s a troubling sign, especially with the company holding the local broadcast rights to 30 franchises across MLB, the NBA, and the NHL. If the company folds, those rights would revert back to the teams - a seismic shift that could accelerate the move toward national streaming platforms.
So far, there’s no indication that Main Street has missed any payments to the Royals. But the potential collapse of FanDuel Sports Kansas City would leave a major void in the team’s broadcast plans.
If that happens, Major League Baseball is expected to step in. The league has already taken over production and distribution of local broadcasts for the Brewers, Twins, Reds, and Guardians. The same model could apply to the Royals, with games likely shifting to MLB’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform - available via subscription.
That’s still a big “if,” but it’s a real possibility. And for Royals fans used to tuning in on FanDuel Sports Kansas City, the next few months could bring big changes in how - and where - they watch their team.
For now, everything hinges on whether Main Street Sports and DAZN can get a deal done. If they don’t, the Royals - and potentially dozens of other teams - could be looking at an entirely new broadcast reality heading into 2026.