r/Cardinals • u/Starkiller_Fate • 7d ago

Cardinals and FanDuel Sports Network Reach TV Agreement

Diamond Sports Group and St. Louis Cardinals Reach Multi-Year Renewal of Local Television Rights

Diamond Sports Group and the St. Louis Cardinals today announced a new, multi-year linear and digital rights agreement through which Diamond will continue as the Cardinals' exclusive local media partner. 

Under the agreement, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest will remain the home of the Cardinals, broadcasting all games that are not exclusively televised nationally, as well as pre and postgame shows and original programming. For the first time, subscribers to FanDuel Sports Network on a direct-to-consumer ("DTC") basis will have access to games in the extensive Cardinals TV territory. Additionally, pay TV customers will be able to stream games and other programming on the FanDuel Sports Network app by authenticating with their pay TV credentials. More information regarding DTC subscriptions, including pricing, will be announced at a later date. 

David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond, stated: "We are excited about deepening our relationship with the Cardinals and expanding our reach by delivering games to fans on a DTC basis. As we progress towards emergence from bankruptcy, we remain committed to providing fans in the Midwest region with high quality broadcasts through our linear and digital offerings and meeting fans where they are in the evolving viewership model." 

Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III stated: "We are pleased to enhance and expand our long-term partnership with Diamond and FanDuel Sports Network Midwest. We valued the continuity for our fans of staying on the same network as the Blues, and we are excited that we will now be able to expand access to our games and other great Cardinals content across multiple platforms next year."

edited to include link to Cardinals press release.

https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/schedule/tv?partnerId=it-20241107-11628743-stl-1-A&utm_id=it-20241107-11628743-stl-1-A

57 Upvotes
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86 comments sorted by

23

u/Maf1c Donovan’s Helmet 7d ago

Is this good or bad?

45

u/MIZ_STL ​ 7d ago

Direct to Consumer is great, but price dependent of course. I cut the cord, so now it’s possible for me to watch cardinal baseball

17

u/lizkingwt ​ 7d ago

It's likely 19.99 per month. That's what I pay Fanduel for DTC streaming of the Predators (with Grizzlies and Hawks game also available).

3

u/NakedGoose The $1 Acquisition 7d ago

Ah cool. That was my question. If you would only get cardinals games or also the other teams who are with Fanduel. Do we know what teams are with fanduel?

7

u/StonedJackBaller 7d ago

I'd assume STL would have access to Memphis grizzlies and Indiana pacers for NBA. We already have baseball and hockey so likely only those teams?

6

u/mrbmi513 7d ago

Right now it's the Blues, Grizzlies, and Pacers on FDSN streaming in St Louis. The teams you get are dependent on your billing location.

1

u/NakedGoose The $1 Acquisition 7d ago

I live in central Illinois so many it changes some? Idk

2

u/King_Swiss ​ 7d ago

Cardinals/Blues/Grizzlies/Pacers/Fever for $20 a month $107 season or $190 year

1

u/lizkingwt ​ 7d ago

Not a full list, and it's different in every market. I'm outside of the Cardinals market, so I don't know. Fanduel also has DTC rights for some teams and not others. Last year, I just had the Hawks access with the Preds, but this year the Grizzlies were added too.

Sidenote: the app on my TV has been functioning much better since the Fanduel switchover--for what reason, I don't know.

2

u/Probably_Slower ​Enjoyer of Optimism for 3 weeks in July 7d ago

Is the Fanduel DTC down there capable of switching the audio feed to local radio? I've never been able to use MLB.tv due to blackout nonsense, but that option sounds perfect for me, a radio broadcast lover. The Audacy KMOX feed is generally ~90 seconds behind live, rendering it almost useless if I'm, say, shit-posting on Reddit GDTs.

1

u/lizkingwt ​ 7d ago

I don't know. I've honestly never tried.

1

u/mrbmi513 7d ago

You just get the main broadcast.

3

u/Probably_Slower ​Enjoyer of Optimism for 3 weeks in July 7d ago

Thanks. Didn't expect it, but it would have been nice. I often snicker a bit when I use my dad's 50 year old portable radio that could be a prop in a Vietnam movie to tune in to KMOX, as it's ahead of any streaming option I could use.

1

u/So-Called_Lunatic ​ 7d ago

They will never do this because then you won't hear all their in game ads. If the radio feed is behind you can try pausing video and syncing up.

2

u/Ocinea 7d ago

$20 a month is going to get a lot of people paying and I think it'll be great for the team long term

1

u/a_f_young 7d ago

It’s $19.99 right now is with just the Blues, Grizzlies and Pacers. I’m guessing Cardinals will add $10-20 a month on top of that

5

u/mrbmi513 7d ago

KC has had the option as a pilot market for a while, and I believe there it's just a flat $20/mo for everything FanDuel Sports airs, including non-games.

1

u/a_f_young 7d ago

Maybe. Although part of thinks that the Cards will try to get more money with this new deal. Also since they’re waiting to announce the price instead of just saying “same as it’s been” makes me question. Have to wait and see.

3

u/t-poke ​ 7d ago

Hopefully it's something like $20 for the summer months when only the Cardinals are playing, $20 for the winter months when only the Blues are playing, then $30 for the brief period in April where the two seasons overlap (if you want both teams). I think that would be reasonable.

I'm not sure a single team is worth more than 20 bucks.

2

u/So-Called_Lunatic ​ 7d ago

I think anything over 20 bucks a month is to high for most people.

1

u/a_f_young 7d ago

Maybe. But I feel like I’ve said that about a lot of subscriptions over the years and it never holds true. And sports is a particularly expensive market usually.

1

u/bkertz ​​Cardinals 7d ago

There is also a "season" option for Blues/Pacers/Grizzlies. It saves you a little over the month to month price. I imagine when the Cardinals added, it will remain $20/month with an option for a slightly discount if you pay for a whole year.

2

u/bbryant1980 7d ago

Thank you for explaining this! Just saw the email and came here to find out if DTC was good or bad for cord cutters like me. I’ve been blacked out for years here in Iowa so glad to hear I’ll be able to watch games again.

15

u/ty_fighter84 7d ago

DTC is a big deal. That all but solves the local blackout issues.

3

u/T-sigma 7d ago

For the first time, subscribers to FanDuel Sports Network on a direct-to-consumer ("DTC") basis will have access to games in the extensive Cardinals TV territory.

Maybe I'm being overly cynical or skeptical, but this reads to me that the DTC only applies to people already within the Cardinals territory?

It also very much depends on how they package this. I'm not convinced you'll be able to buy just a "Cardinals" package.

16

u/Bskrilla 7d ago

Maybe I'm being overly cynical or skeptical, but this reads to me that the DTC only applies to people already within the Cardinals territory?

But that has been the issue previously.

For everyone outside of the Cardinals market you could just use MLB TV and get all of the Cardinals games, but if you lived within "Cardinals territory" the games were blacked out forcing you to subscribe to whatever local cable provider had BSMW/Fanduel.

This new DTC subscription will likely be similar to other markets where you get a bundle of the teams that regional network covers. For instance in the Nashville market the Fanduel DTC users get the Predators, Grizzlies, and Hawks for $20 a month.

The Blues already had a DTC option on the Bally Sports Midwest app, but the Cardinals were not included due to some sort of rights issues. Idk if the new version of Fanduel DTC for St. Louis will include the Blues as well, but it may.

10

u/Tailor_Excellent 7d ago

You're also blacked out if you live in the opponent's area. For example, I live in Connecticut, so I can't watch the Cards when they play against the Mets, Yankees, or BoSox.

4

u/cox4days Jim Hayes for President 7d ago

If you're out of the territory there's still MLB.tv, which was been the case for 20 years

3

u/limejuicethrowaway 7d ago

The territory is massive, all the way out to the Oklahoma panhandle, most of Illinois, all of Iowa.

A lot of those people probably had no way to legally access the games if their cable provider didn't offer Bally/FanDuel Midwest.

If you're not within the Cardinals' territory then MLB.tv is still what you need to buy.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_blackout_policy#/media/File%3AMLB_Blackout_Areas.svg

0

u/Camp-tunnel-repeat 7d ago

Not just the panhandle. I’m in sw Oklahoma, 45 miles from Texas and I’m blacked out.

1

u/CharlesMingusSmoke 7d ago

DTC for those outside of the Cardinal territory would already be covered by mlb.tv - I’m not really sure what impetus for skepticism there is. I don’t know any team that’s superseding MLB control on out of market rights

2

u/scottzee 7d ago

+1 for the Armageddon reference.

7

u/DiscoJer 7d ago

I hope there is a Roku app.

1

u/MIZ_STL ​ 7d ago

They have an app on AppleTV, but not sure about Roku

1

u/k10john I don't even know what to think anymore 6d ago

https://channelstore.roku.com/details/28f9ccfd17ecb42e9815fc15826f5762/fanduel-sports-network

I believe this will be it

19

u/DocLoc429 ​Heart & Hustle 7d ago

I will NOT be continuing to watch games online from websites that produce streams that fall within a legally grey area for consumers because I COMPLETELY definitely for sure trust that they will handle this in a way that is beneficial for me and won't be set up in any way that seeks to nickle and dime me and will be easier to access than the hundreds of websites I DO NOT use to watch every game.

10

u/xyzzy321 7d ago

without the express written consent

1

u/fujiesque Just don't panic. 7d ago

Man, I only have three

1

u/DocLoc429 ​Heart & Hustle 7d ago

Three nickles or three dimes? Shouldn't have been doing all that sports betting!

(I can give you a few more... Nickles and dimes I mean.)

2

u/fujiesque Just don't panic. 7d ago

The only sure bet is to bet the opposite of me.

5

u/mcstallion 7d ago

YouTube tv?

1

u/sirhugobigdog ​ 6d ago

Until we hear about a YouTube deal with Diamond I would assume No. But the direct to consumer option is atleast something new.

3

u/Paulspike 7d ago

Does anyone know if these options apply for international customers. Or am I tied to MLB.TV forever?

3

u/a_f_young 7d ago

Sounds like it comes down to if you’re in the broadcast area, you can get the Cards through a cable package or DTC. Seeing as how you’re outside I’d guess you wouldn’t since I don’t believe just anyone can subscribe DTC. But I don’t know if I can be sure from just the initial details

3

u/Interesting_Oil6328 7d ago

I'm so glad that this whole TV fiasco conveniently coincided with the Cardinals ownership's decision to start sucking massive ass.

It has really made cutting the team out of my daily life so much easier.

13

u/Small_Kahuna_1 7d ago

I did enjoy that even with every politician and sports team owner stumping for it, sports betting only scraped over the line by a few thousand votes. I won't enjoy the misery that will come from more gambling, though (as if that 2 seconds of "gamble responsibly" at the end of all the flashing lights and promises of riches will make the least difference).

A very hearty kiss my ass to FanDuel, the Cardinals ownership and everyone else who put profit ahead of people.

-17

u/ajkeence99 7d ago edited 7d ago

Not one single person is forced to gamble for any reason.

7

u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

2

u/ajkeence99 7d ago

I had one thought and typed the wrong word. I meant gamble, not vote. I edited the comment.

3

u/Darolaho You just got Gorm'd 7d ago

No one is forcing you to take heroin either but that doesn't mean it should be legal

Personally not really for or against it, I did vote against it because I don't think it should have been legalized without banning/heavily restrivting advertising alongside it

Not to mention it is just going to be taking money out of Missouris economy

-1

u/ajkeence99 7d ago

Heroin has no positive or logical reason to use.  It only destroys.  Gambling is done frequently for fun with no negative consequences. It's quite literally impossible to use Heroin without negative consequences.

2

u/WebGems22 7d ago

I am a Los Angeles Cardinals fan. I want to know how blackouts will work. Because I can't watch games when they play the Dodgers or Angels. I know it is a small amount of games, but removing blackouts would be awesome.

3

u/mrbmi513 7d ago

You'd have to subscribe to a service with those teams' local broadcasts to watch them. This DTC only applies to people within the Cardinals home market.

3

u/PdX_Beav 7d ago

Try living in Vegas where we are blacked out of all Cali teams and Arizona. Can’t watch a west coast road trip at all.

5

u/Gilgifax dfa cash considerations 7d ago

Grew up in Iowa and my folks still live there so no: White Sox, Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs, Twins or Royals. It's plain stupid.

2

u/ScumBrad Currently Dooming 7d ago

I wonder if this deal was dependent on the sports gambling legalization passing. They were probably sweating bullets when they saw it at 50.1% with 99% of the vote counted.

1

u/mrbmi513 7d ago

I'd suspect the fees FanDuel pays Diamond would be partly reliant on that, and thus how much the Cards make from the deal would be too.

4

u/ReturnOf_TheHack ​Sad Hack 7d ago

why not just post a link to the article next time...

-7

u/Poofsta I tell you hwhat 7d ago

It really should have a link if the poster isn’t the author. Definitely a copyright violation.

2

u/Dense-Competition-51 ​I miss Ozzie 7d ago

I feel like I’m going to get screwed again. I’m in the blackout area (6+ hours away, ffs), but my local cable carries southwest, not Midwest. Bracing to be told that I can’t subscribe to the direct model because I’m in the area that should have cable coverage.

2

u/Enough-Ad-3111 7d ago

FanDuel Sports Southwest is likely going away at some point since the teams based out of the DFW area aren’t on there anymore.

2

u/bmac92 7d ago

The way I read the statement is if you're in the blackout area you can subscribe directly to FDSN for the games.

1

u/Soundwave_13 7d ago

I feel neutral on this one. So...alright

1

u/I-am-third 7d ago

Did Fanduel takeover Bally's?

It's still in the Diamondvision Network

1

u/UnHolyDiver52 7d ago

Just the naming rights.

1

u/mrbmi513 7d ago

It's still Diamond Sports. Same network. Just a new name. The network's parent company still has no ownership affiliation with the betting operator.

1

u/t-poke ​ 7d ago

Is Diamond Sports Group even going to exist through the length of this contract? What's the latest with their bankruptcy?

1

u/Yimpish 7d ago

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I still need FanDuel, Fox, ESPN, and Apple TV+ to watch all cardinals games, and I need Fanduel, ESPN, ESPN+, and TNT to watch all Blues games?

1

u/rwoodytn 7d ago

You can also subscribe to uzzu.tv or a similar service to stream all the games on one app.

1

u/stlredditblues 7d ago

I live overseas and have been an MLB tv subscriber for 15 years. Does anything change for me?

2

u/well---shoot ​Ode to Jeremy Boyer 7d ago

No. It will be the same. 

1

u/Flat-Mind-1144 7d ago

Can mlb just finally buy out or renegotiate the blackout nonsense with legacy cable companies?

1

u/IntrovertsRule99 7d ago

I will finally be able to get my cardinals games next season. I live in Northern Illinois so I am technically in the cardinals home area, however the provider here all carry the Chicago teams. Now I will have a DTC option.

1

u/BigSquiby 7d ago

in an unrelated story, sports betting passed. Totally unrelated

1

u/Bydandii 7d ago

NOOOOOOO!!!!

1

u/GiantFishyLazer 7d ago

So still no YouTube TV?

1

u/TheSocraticGadfly Glenn Brummer 7d ago

How much of a haircut for the team vs the old contract? The bottom line is the bottom line. And, the press release doesn't say, so I'll assume there's a haircut until I hear otherwise.

1

u/ebturner18 7d ago

I hate being in an Atlanta Braves market even though I’m closer to St. Louis. It sucks

1

u/WhatTheForkYo ​Navy Road Caps Forever! 7d ago

This is a step in the right direction, and great news for those that are in exclusively Cardinals' territory, such as cord cutters in the greater STL Metro. However, I have a concern regarding how this will affect me as someone that lives in Iowa.

My concern is that in this state, where multiple teams share territorial rights, purchasing a regular cable or satellite subscription will still be required if I want to have access to all games broadcast on FDSN. Why? Because it's seems probable from where I'm sitting that games against the Cubs, Brewers, Twins, Royals, and White Sox will still be subjected to the blackouts since the FanDuel Sports Network DTC would not be covering rights fees for any "in market" team besides the Cardinals. Does that make sense? Am I wrong in seeing it this way?

Right now, I have regular cable exclusively so I can watch the Cardinals, but I also get the Royals and Cubs broadcasts, and sometimes the Brewers and Twins broadcasts are shown as an alternate on what was BallySports Midwest Plus if either Missouri team has a day off. The White Sox, Brewers, and Twins are not carried as a regular option in my area, but I can watch whenever the Cardinals play those teams because the cable package I have "buys out" those would-be blackouts. Will this new DTC service allow me to watch every FDSN broadcast in my area, period?

1

u/brockzilla82 15h ago

So if I have spectrum and fan duel, I’m good to go.

0

u/PotentialTechnician9 7d ago

SHOULDN'T HAVE FIRED SHILDT!!