Rays join MLB. TV and that is good news for the fans
Tampa Bay Rays pinch hiter Nick Fortes rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
The Rays join a growing group of clubs shifting their local media rights to MLB. The Padres, Guardians, Mariners, Twins, Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Nationals already operate under MLB’s in‑house model. This good news for Rays fans as there will be more ways what the games.
Tampa Bay moved to MLB.TV after leaving Main Street Sports on Jan. 9, along with the Braves, Reds, Tigers, Royals, Angels, Brewers, Cardinals, and Marlins. The exits followed missed payments by Main Street, which operated under the FanDuel Sports Network brand. FanDuel served only as a title sponsor and had no role in Main Street’s business operations.
Main Street Sports Collapses After Failed DAZN Sale
Main Street collapsed after a proposed sale to DAZN fell apart, leading the company to inform its NBA and NHL partners it would shut down after the season. The failed deal accelerated the exodus of MLB teams and forced leagues to prepare emergency broadcast plans.
MLB.TV to Distribute Rays Games Across Multiple Platforms
MLB.TV, now owned by ESPN, plans to distribute Rays games through local broadcast stations, cable systems, DirecTV, Dish, YouTube TV, Hulu Live, and Fubo. The league also plans a direct‑to‑consumer service, likely branded “Rays TV,” with a monthly price expected near $20.
MLB.TV will produce all Rays broadcasts. Dewayne Staats, Brian Anderson, and Todd Kalas will return to the booth, and coverage will include pregame and postgame shows along with additional Rays programming.
League sources told the Sports Talk Florida that MLB.TV expects to air some spring training games. The Rays open the season March 26 against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game at Tropicana Field since Hurricane Milton damaged the stadium roof.
Broadcast Partners Under Consideration
Scripps, Nexstar, and WTOG are leading candidates for over‑the‑air coverage.
Scripps airs Lightning games on channel 66.
Nexstar owns WFLA and WTTA.
WTOG has carried baseball since the 1970s and recently aired a 15‑game Rays package.
MLB.TV doesn’t limit the number of broadcast games. The Padres and Diamondbacks currently air between 10 and 40 games locally, but expect more of a “game of the week” setup rather than the full 162-game schedule.
Streaming Access Through ESPN App
Rays fans will soon be able to purchase streaming access through the ESPN app. ESPN announced earlier this year that it holds exclusive in‑market streaming rights for several MLB clubs, including the Padres, Guardians, Mariners, Twins, Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Nationals. In 2026, fans will stream games through both the ESPN app and MLB.TV.
MLB Eyes Full Local Rights Control by 2028
MLB plans for all teams to control their local rights through MLB.TV by 2028, when the next national contract is due. The league aims to base future deals on market size and ratings—metrics regional networks struggled to guarantee.
Fans of the Yankees and Red Sox will see no changes. YES Network and NESN remain unaffected. Regional deals for the Cubs, White Sox, Mets, Phillies, Astros, Giants, Dodgers, Athletics, Orioles, and Pirates also continue without disruption.
A New Era for Rays Fans
A new era of Rays baseball on television is approaching. Stay tuned.
