Royals Aim to Solidify 2026 Broadcast Plans Before Spring Training

Team president says decision on broadcast partner will come soon, with MLB-produced option as backup

Jan. 31, 2026 at 6:23pm

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The Kansas City Royals are working to finalize their television broadcast plans for the 2026 season, with team president Cullen Maxey saying a decision will be made before Spring Training begins. The Royals had originally signed a one-year contract with the struggling FanDuel Sports Network, but have since terminated that deal and are now considering either sticking with FanDuel if they can prove financial stability or pivoting to MLB-produced broadcasts as a backup option.

Why it matters

The Royals' broadcast future has been uncertain since they ended their contract with FanDuel Sports Network, which has faced financial challenges. Securing a stable broadcast partner is crucial for the team to maintain consistent viewership and revenue. The decision could also impact how fans access Royals games, with the MLB-produced option potentially offering a direct-to-consumer streaming option.

The details

The Royals had originally signed a one-year contract with FanDuel Sports Network for the 2026 season, but that deal was terminated due to FanDuel's financial instability. The team is now weighing whether to stick with FanDuel if they can prove financial stability or pivot to MLB-produced broadcasts, which Maxey says would likely not disrupt the broadcast team or fan viewing experience.

  • The Royals' lease at the Truman Sports Complex in Jackson County ends following the 2030 season.
  • The deadline to put a stadium funding measure on an April ballot in Clay County has passed, but negotiations in North Kansas City are still open.
  • The team plans to announce a decision on a new ballpark location 'sooner rather than later.'

The players

Cullen Maxey

President of business operations for the Kansas City Royals.

John Sherman

CEO and chairman of the Kansas City Royals.

Main Street Sports Group

The company that operates the FanDuel Sports Network, which had a one-year contract with the Royals for the 2026 season.

Major League Baseball

The professional baseball league that could potentially take over production of Royals broadcasts if the team's deal with FanDuel falls through.

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What they’re saying

“There's some instability of the FanDuel Sports Network, so they're seeking out a merger partner to help them create a little bit more financial stability. Our plan with them is to stick with our partners as long as they can convince us that there will not be a risk of interruption during our season of bringing games to our fans. That's the most important thing.”

— Cullen Maxey, President of business operations (mlb.com)

“Over the years, Major League Baseball has developed an experienced team to help teams locally launch and basically run in conjunction with them their own sports network. [In Arizona,] not only were there no disruptions to the fan viewing experience, no disruptions to anybody employed by the network – that was important to us as well – and that's why we're confident MLB is the answer if we need to go in another direction.”

— Cullen Maxey, President of business operations (mlb.com)

“Just like in any business, you have to be willing to adapt and be flexible to achieve that ultimate goal that we talked about. But I think if you have your druthers, I would love to see us in the heart of the city and cultural part of the city, where we can enhance some other things already going on and make it better. That's probably a soft spot, but I also have to be open to other ideas to make sure we accomplish that goal.”

— John Sherman, CEO and chairman (mlb.com)

What’s next

The Royals plan to announce a decision on a new ballpark location 'sooner rather than later', with negotiations still ongoing in North Kansas City even after the deadline to put a stadium funding measure on an April ballot in Clay County has passed.

The takeaway

The Royals are facing uncertainty around their television broadcast future, but are working to solidify a plan before the start of the 2026 season. The team is weighing whether to stick with their current partner FanDuel Sports Network or pivot to MLB-produced broadcasts, which could offer a more stable and fan-friendly viewing experience.