Cincinnati Reds Considering New Streaming Option for 2026 Season

Teams across multiple Major League franchises are in talks with Victory+ as a potential solution for media rights deals.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:39am

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The Cincinnati Reds are one of nine teams that have terminated their contracts with FanDuel Sports Network, as Main Street Sports Network, formerly Diamond Sports Group and Bally Sports, has been bought and battled bankruptcy over the last 12 months. Teams are in "emergency talks" with a new suitor, Victory+, a direct-to-consumer streaming service, as a potential short-term solution with the possibility of a long-term partnership.

Why it matters

The Reds' media rights deal has yet to be resolved, and with Main Street Sports facing an impending shutdown due to bankruptcy, teams are in desperation mode to sort out TV deals for 2026 and beyond. The Victory+ streaming service is being pitched as a solution that can provide a minimum guarantee and revenue sharing, but teams may have to accept a cut in payment revenue in the short term.

The details

Victory+ is a direct-to-consumer streaming service that is free to access, with the content locked behind a paywall. This would end blackouts for local viewers, but is just another service fans will have to pay for to watch their favorite team. The Rangers' price was $100 for the 2025 season, with it being projected to cost $140 for 2026. The Victory+ parent company's president, Neil Gruninger, wants to take on as many teams as possible, and expects to meet and exceed the previous media rights deals over time.

  • The Reds announced they are terminating their contract with Diamond Sports earlier this month.
  • Main Street Sports Network, formerly Diamond Sports Group and Bally Sports, has been bought and battled bankruptcy over the last 12 months or more.

The players

Victory+

A direct-to-consumer streaming service that is being pitched as a potential short-term solution with the possibility of a long-term partnership for teams' media rights deals.

Neil Gruninger

The president of the Victory+ parent company, who wants to take on as many teams as possible and expects to meet and exceed the previous media rights deals over time.

Main Street Sports Network

Formerly known as Diamond Sports Group and Bally Sports, this company has been bought and battled bankruptcy over the last 12 months or more.

Tom Friend

A reporter for Sports Business Journal who first reported the news about teams' talks with Victory+.

Evan Drellich

A reporter for The Athletic who reported that the Reds are one of nine teams that terminated their contracts with FanDuel Sports Network.

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What they’re saying

“I think they can over time. We're here to give them a minimum guarantee that de-risks it. But teams need to be empowered to help work with us.... I think we can go beyond that (old rights fee) number as we scale and bring additional content on (like YouTubers), and have additional ways of generating revenue that's beyond even just advertising and sponsorships.”

— Neil Gruninger, President of the Victory+ parent company

What’s next

The season is right around the corner, so expect to hear more news in the near term as teams and all major sports organizations are scrambling to get deals in place.

The takeaway

The Reds' media rights deal is in flux, and the team is considering a new streaming option in Victory+ as a potential short-term solution, but teams may have to accept a cut in payment revenue in the short term as they navigate the changing landscape of sports media rights.