{"id":482931,"date":"2026-02-18T11:51:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/482931\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T11:51:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:51:08","slug":"mssg-signals-april-fanduel-sports-network-shutdown-as-dazn-eyes-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/482931\/","title":{"rendered":"MSSG signals April FanDuel Sports Network shutdown as DAZN eyes rights"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

The NBA\u2019s Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder are two current FanDuel Sports Network teams with uncertain local broadcast futures. (William Purnell\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Main Street Sports Group (MSSG), the regional sports network (RSN) operator behind the FanDuel Sports Network brand, has signaled its intent to wind down operations at the end of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL) regular seasons in April.<\/p>\n

The RSN operator has filed briefs in the states of Minnesota and Missouri notifying those local governments of the company\u2019s intention to shutter its offices in Minneapolis and St. Louis, respectively, and to lay off around 20 members of staff at each, by April 14.<\/p>\n

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These notifications are legally required to take place 60 days before any mass layoffs or office closures, and indicate that the beleaguered brand, which has\u00a0been running out of road for years, has finally met its end.<\/p>\n

In a statement, MSSG chief executive David Preschlak said: \u201cFanDuel Sports Network is continuing to broadcast NBA and NHL games as we engage in discussions with our partners about our go-forward plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile final decisions have not been made, we have issued WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notices to employees, as required by law, regarding potential workforce impacts in the coming months. Any and all aspects of the WARN notices can be revoked at any time. We remain committed to transparency and fair treatment of our employees.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite leaving the door open, any MSSG operations beyond April 2026 are extremely unlikely, although the broadcaster\u2019s current NBA (13) and NHL (six) partners may be bracing for the possibility that the service shuts its doors before April 14, an event that would cause a local broadcast blackout.<\/p>\n

Formerly known as Diamond Sports Group, MSSG was rebranded to its current moniker in early 2025 after the company emerged from protracted bankruptcy proceedings, which it\u00a0had been battling since March 2023.<\/p>\n

With that rebrand and accompanying financial restructure, MSSG managed to reduce its pre-petition debt of $9 billion down to $200 million, and immediately set out to find a buyer for the business.<\/p>\n

A buyer, however, was not forthcoming.<\/p>\n

The closest MSSG seemingly got was negotiations with global over-the-top service DAZN which took place earlier in 2026, but amounted ultimately to nothing.<\/p>\n

DAZN was only interested in MSSG if it managed to retain the majority of its local sports rightsholdings, but the departure of all of its Major League Baseball contracts at the beginning of February effectively put an end to any potential takeover, leaving MSSG to instead begin to wind up its operations, closing out the current 2025-26 NHL and NBA campaigns before shutting up shop.<\/p>\n

That is not to say DAZN\u2019s ambitions for the regional US sports broadcast market are reduced, however.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the UK-based streamer is reportedly eyeing up the acquisition of broadcast rights for MSSG\u2019s remaining sports rights for 2026-27 and beyond.<\/p>\n

The 13 NBA teams are: the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, and the San Antonio Spurs.<\/p>\n

The six NHL teams, many of which share local markets with the NBA sides, are: the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, LA Kings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues.<\/p>\n

If DAZN could pick up local rights to these teams, then it would\u00a0serve as a bridge to push into the US market for the business \u2013 DAZN has\u00a0struggled for brand equity in the US outside of the combat sports business in the past.<\/p>\n

DAZN already serves as the global operator (outside of the US) for the NHL TV broadcast service, and holds NBA rights in a number of markets, illustrating its familiarity with both competitions (although the leagues will not be involved in negotiations).<\/p>\n

There will be competition, though, with the NBA seeking to centralize media rights as soon as next season, meaning DAZN faces stern opposition.<\/p>\n

Bidding for the NHL rights may be less hectic, but major players such as Prime Video will doubtless be interested in the six available franchises, which include the 2019 Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.<\/p>\n

One surprise player, meanwhile, could\u00a0be Major League Baseball, which picked up the production rights to the NHL\u2019s Detroit Red Wings recently after that team announced its MSSG departure.<\/p>\n

What remains is that the increasingly obsolete local broadcast market\u00a0will now finalize its demise under the weight of cable TV cord-cutting (and subsequent carriage fee decline) \u00a0and the increasing national broadcast demand from major leagues looking to drive revenue amid soaring media rights values.<\/p>\n

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