The Tigers will have a new television home this season. So will the Red Wings next season.
Amid uncertainty regarding regional sports networks, the Tigers and Red Wings are splitting with FanDuel Sports Network and partnering with Major League Baseball to "create a new platform where fans throughout the teams’ home television territories, including all of Michigan, can watch games and other content when and where they want," per a press release from Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, the broadcasting arm for both clubs.
Aside from nationally-televised games, Tigers and Red Wings games will air throughout the regional market, available to everyone through either a cable or satellite package or streaming subscription.
Information on cable/satellite providers and direct-to-consumer streaming subscriptions will be communicated at a later date, per the release.
The main play-by-play and color analysts for both teams are expected to remain in their positions moving forward, headlined by Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond for the Red Wings and Jason Benetti, Dan Dickerson, Andy Dirks and Dan Petry for the Tigers.
Major League Baseball will produce and distribute games for the Tigers by leading broadcast production and operating a direct-to-consumer streaming product, among other duties. litch Sports + Entertainment will assume broadcast production duties for the Red Wings, with MLB assisting in certain areas.
Red Wings coverage on FanDuel Sports Network is expected to continue through the end of this season.
"We have two of the top-rated broadcasts in our respective sports and remain focused on listening to fans about what matters most to them," said Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. "What we’ve heard includes making sure our games are available throughout the market, providing a reliable streaming product, and producing a broadcast that’s informative and entertaining in all the right ways.
"This is a great path forward in those areas, allowing us to provide a great experience for fans throughout our local market."