Almost Half Of NBA Teams Are Dealing With Major Behind-The-Scenes Broadcast Issues, But The League Has A Solution

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The NBA season is still in its early stages, with the All-Star Break not until February, and this could be fortunate. Currently, almost half of the league’s teams are dealing with potential problems with how their games are broadcast. These issues stem from Main Street Sports Group, a broadcasting partner, and could significantly impact viewership for nearly half the NBA teams when the 2026 TV schedule is finalized. The league is aware of the situation and is working to address it.

Okay, good news first: don’t worry about nationally televised games – those are still happening, so we’ll still get to watch Inside The NBA and hear Michael Jordan’s takes. But here’s the thing: I just read that a lot of local NBA teams could lose their TV network. Apparently, Main Street, the company that owns the network carrying FanDuel Sports Network, is in serious financial trouble and might go under. That means a ton of games in both the Eastern and Western Conferences could become unavailable, which is a real bummer for fans like me.

FanDuel Sports Network Is In Jeopardy Of Shuttering Mid-NBA Season

Main Street Sports Group has until the end of January to reach an agreement with DAZN to sell the network. If they do, Main Street will still be able to broadcast the sports teams they currently cover.

If the current agreement fails, Main Street Sports Group would lose the rights to broadcast professional sports, and those rights would return to the individual teams. This would impact NBA fans, as 13 teams would no longer be available on Main Street Sports Group after this season, provided the company makes a scheduled payment of $180 million. Currently, FanDuel Sports handles the broadcasting and streaming for:

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Oklahoma Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • San Antonio Spurs

Currently, Main Street Sports’ agreement with DAZN isn’t final. They also haven’t made a recent payment to the St. Louis Cardinals, and there’s a risk they might miss payments to NBA teams as well. If they do, the NBA would give Main Street Sports some time to catch up, but if they still fail to pay, the affected teams could leave and join FanDuel Sports Network.

What Has The NBA Proposed If Main Street Sports Group Fail To Reach A DAZN Deal And Get Shut Down?

Now that the NBA Cup is over – and with all the typical unexpected moments the NBA season brings – the last thing fans want to hear is that they might not be able to watch their team finish the season. Luckily, the league has a solution to ensure fans can still enjoy the games.

More On The NBA

I’m hoping ESPN will revamp the NBA schedule presentation, and the network president’s recent statements are very encouraging.

If FanDuel Sports Network closes, the NBA has a plan to ensure fans can still watch all thirteen affected teams. They will offer coverage through NBA League Pass or the official NBA app, and will also work with local TV stations to broadcast games over the air.

Looking ahead to 2026, many sports teams will likely start looking for new broadcast partners. As streaming services like Netflix, Peacock, and Apple TV increasingly show live sports, it’s interesting to consider them as potential new homes for these teams. While there’s no current indication they’re interested, it makes you wonder who might bid for the streaming rights when teams in leagues like MLB, NHL, and NBA potentially need new broadcasting deals.

As a Pacers fan still excited about last season’s NBA Finals, I’m really curious to see how this new development plays out and where I’ll be watching the team next year. While this season has had its ups and downs, we can always look forward to the next one and hope for a playoff run!

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2025-12-22 01:09