Main Street Sports Group will officially cease operations following the first round of the NHL playoffs, according to information obtained by SBJ. Sources indicate that Main Street’s 13 NBA teams were informed in a league call on Wednesday that they are likely to receive reimbursement for some of this year’s lost rights fees.
This situation signals significant changes in the local television industry. The NBA has notified the Hawks, Hornets, Cavaliers, Pistons, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves, Thunder, Magic, and Spurs that they may start negotiating new in-market deals for the 2026-27 season, creating an environment ripe for new agreements.
For traditional linear broadcasting, where rights fees are expected to be under $10 million annually, many teams are likely to transition to local over-the-air channels or their own networks, similar to the Cavaliers’ Rock Entertainment Sports Network. Regarding streaming options, the NBA is encouraging teams to explore one-year agreements or packages that include an exit clause, in case a national streaming platform isn’t introduced until the 2027-28 season. However, there’s speculation that several teams may pursue a streaming-only model as soon as next season with services like DAZN, Victory+, ViewLift, or Kiswe, marking a first for the NBA.
While the eventual dissolution of Main Street was widely anticipated, the company’s lenders officially finalized the decision, with the NBA concluding on April 12 and the NHL concluding after seven teams (Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Red Wings, Kings, Wild, Predators, and Blues) finish their first playoff round. The NHL’s opening round is expected to commence on April 18, with all series likely concluding by the end of April or early May.
In a statement to SBJ, a spokesperson for Main Street Sports Group noted, “FanDuel Sports Network has agreements to air games and programming until the end of the 2026 NBA regular season and the first round of the NHL playoffs. We are preparing to wind down operations unless a strategic transaction occurs. We’re grateful for the relationships we maintain with our team and league partners, as well as local fans.”
Main Street has been negotiating to sell its platform to DAZN and has expressed hopes of finalizing a deal, knowing that it has valuable long-term distribution contracts with DirecTV, Charter, and Comcast. Nonetheless, NBA teams were informed that Main Street will definitely dissolve in April. DAZN has been reaching out to individual teams separately to gain their digital rights and position itself for a potential national streaming service.
Many NBA franchises have refrained from securing local TV deals while awaiting a potential investment in Main Street. However, they find themselves in a tight spot as Main Street has not made any rights payments in 2026. Teams were recently informed that once they sign an agreement for dissolution with the league and Main Street, they should expect to receive a rebate based on a specific formula that accounts for both the NBA/NHL teams and Main Street’s creditors; estimates suggest teams might recover up to 60% of their lost TV revenue.
