Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, the parent company of MLB’s Tigers and the NHL’s Red Wings, has become the latest entity to form a new regional sports network amid the ongoing decline of Main Street Sports Group.
Closely following last week’s unveiling of BravesVision by the Braves, Ilitch has created Detroit SportsNet, which will be the local home of both franchises that it owns. The company is working on securing a series of carriage agreements for cable, satellite, and over-the-air television, while streaming of live games will be available through several online and connected TV platforms, including the MLB app in the case of the Tigers.
The move marks an additional step by Ilitch after the Tigers were one of nine MLB clubs to cut ties last month with Main Street Sports, the parent company of the FanDuel Sports Network. Beyond the Red Wings, many of the other 19 combined NHL and NBA teams currently signed with Main Street Sports are expected to make similar moves, but not until after their seasons end this spring.
“Given recent uncertainty throughout the regional sports broadcasting industry, we recognize the importance of providing fans with a consistent, year-round outlet to watch Tigers baseball and Red Wings hockey,” said Ilitch president and CEO Ryan Gustafson.
The Ilitch move also somewhat resembles one made last year by MLB’s Rangers to create the Rangers Sports Network.
MLB Media, the league’s in-house vehicle to produce and distribute local games, will still be handling those core backend functions for Ilitch, similar to what it is now doing for 14 other clubs around the league. MLB’s involvement will also extend to the production and distribution of Red Wings games.
The creation of the Detroit SportsNet branding and structure, however, is in part designed to provide a clear sense that the two teams have a new local TV home.
Direct-to-consumer subscriptions to Detroit SportsNet have been priced at $19.99 per month, or $189.99 per year, similar in cost to many other RSN streaming packages.
