West Michigan Bars Prepare for Tigers TV Shakeup

New MLB partnership means Detroit fans will need to navigate multiple streaming services to watch games.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Ilitch Sports and Entertainment has announced a new partnership with Major League Baseball to air Detroit Tigers and Red Wings games, as the current partner Main Stream Sports and FanDuel Sports Network continue to struggle financially. This means Detroit fans will need to access games through a dedicated MLB TV website, as well as national broadcasts on TBS, FS1, FOX, Peacock, Apple TV, and TNT. Local bars like The Mitten in Grand Rapids are working to ensure they can still air the games for customers, but the changes are frustrating for fans who will have to navigate multiple streaming services.

Why it matters

The shift in TV rights for the Tigers games is part of a broader trend of sports leagues and teams moving towards direct-to-consumer streaming models, which can be confusing and inconvenient for fans who are used to accessing games through a single cable or satellite provider. This change impacts not just individual fans, but also local businesses like bars and restaurants that rely on showing games to attract customers.

The details

Under the new MLB partnership, Detroit will have a dedicated MLB TV website to stream games, similar to what other teams have already implemented. Specific pricing details for the Detroit package have not been announced, but other MLB streaming packages cost around $100 for a full season. Detroit will also have 12 national TV games on TBS, FS1, and FOX, plus 4 Peacock exclusives, and an unknown number of games on Apple TV and TNT. Local broadcast details have not yet been revealed.

  • Ilitch Sports and Entertainment announced the new MLB partnership this week.
  • The Tigers reported to spring training in Lakeland on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
  • The Tigers will open their season on the road against the San Diego Padres on March 26, 2026.
  • Opening Day at Comerica Park is set for April 3, 2026.

The players

Ilitch Sports and Entertainment

The parent company that owns the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings, and has announced a new partnership with MLB to air the teams' games.

Main Stream Sports

The current partner that has been struggling financially and will no longer be airing Tigers and Red Wings games.

FanDuel Sports Network

The current outlet that has been struggling financially and will no longer be airing Tigers and Red Wings games.

Max Trierweiler

The co-owner of The Mitten, a Grand Rapids brewery that will need to find a way to continue airing Tigers games for its customers.

The Mitten

A Grand Rapids brewery that currently airs Tigers games using DirectTV, and is working to ensure it can continue providing access to games for its customers.

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What they’re saying

“We have DirectTV here at the Mitten and I spoke with our rep and said that we will be able to air them. I'm just not 100% certain how yet.”

— Max Trierweiler, Co-owner, The Mitten

“It is annoying to have to go from one stream to another to watch the Tigers as a fan. I wish I could go to one source or two, instead of six.”

— Max Trierweiler, Co-owner, The Mitten

What’s next

Details on locally broadcast Tigers games have not yet been announced, so bars and restaurants like The Mitten are still working to determine how they will be able to air the games for their customers once the new MLB partnership takes effect.

The takeaway

The shift in TV rights for the Detroit Tigers is part of a broader industry trend towards direct-to-consumer streaming models, which can create confusion and inconvenience for fans who are used to accessing games through a single provider. This change impacts not just individual fans, but also local businesses that rely on showing games to attract customers, requiring them to navigate multiple streaming services to continue providing that access.