The St. Louis Cardinals have officially announced their 2026 local broadcast plan, marking a major shift in how fans will watch their games this season. After years of uncertainty around regional sports networks, the Cardinals — along with several other clubs — have agreed to let Major League Baseball (MLB) take over production and distribution of their locally televised games. (Redbird Rants)
This move comes amid the ongoing collapse of Main Street Sports Group, the company that operates the FanDuel Sports Network regional channels which had previously held the rights to air Cardinals games. Main Street’s financial instability and missed payments to teams, including the Cardinals, led at least nine MLB clubs to terminate their agreements with the network late last year. In response, MLB offered to step in and produce broadcasts to ensure fans still have reliable access to local games. (AP News)
Under the new arrangement, MLB will serve as the official broadcaster for Cardinals games that are not covered by national networks such as FOX, ESPN, Peacock or other national broadcast partners. That means all remaining regional telecasts — typically the vast majority of regular-season matchups — will be produced by MLB and made available across multiple platforms. (Viva El Birdos)
One of the centerpiece elements of the plan is the launch of Cardinals.TV, an in-market streaming service that fans can subscribe to directly through MLB’s digital platforms. Beginning February 10, 2026, local viewers will be able to purchase access to Cardinals.TV for approximately $99.99 for the full season or $19.99 per month. This service will stream all local Cardinals broadcasts with no regional blackout restrictions for subscribers within the team’s designated market. (Viva El Birdos)
In addition to streaming, the Cardinals will continue to explore partnerships with traditional television outlets that can carry selected games on cable, satellite and over-the-air channels in the St. Louis region. While specific channel listings and broadcast personnel are still being finalized, the goal is to maintain a variety of ways for fans to watch — whether on TV or online — under the MLB-produced model. (Viva El Birdos)
The Cardinals aren’t alone in this transition. MLB has announced that six other teams — the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays — have also asked the league to produce their local broadcasts after exiting deals with Main Street Sports. In total, MLB is expected to manage local telecasts for at least 13 clubs in 2026, joining teams that had already made similar moves in recent seasons. (AP News)
Commissioner Rob Manfred has emphasized that MLB’s involvement is intended to provide stability for fans and teams alike. With the regional sports network landscape facing continued upheaval, MLB’s production ensures that all games will be available — either through streaming, cable or traditional broadcast partners — without midseason disruptions. (Reuters)
For Cardinals supporters, this shift represents both a new way of accessing games and an opportunity to see local telecasts presented more directly through the league’s media infrastructure. As spring training approaches, details on how to subscribe to Cardinals.TV and where specific games will air are expected to be finalized and widely shared. (Redbird Rants)
Leave a Reply