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RSN

A (RSN) is a or channel dedicated to broadcasting live professional sports events, such as (MLB), (NBA), and National Hockey League (NHL) games, along with pre- and post-game analysis, to audiences within a defined local or regional market. These networks typically secure exclusive from local teams, enabling them to deliver content tailored to fans in specific geographic areas, often exempting regional viewers from national blackouts. RSNs play a crucial role in sports media by generating substantial revenue through carriage fees paid by providers and advertising, while providing teams with a primary platform for local exposure. The origins of RSNs trace back to the late 1970s, with SportsChannel New York launching in 1979 as one of the first modern examples, initially focusing on multiple -area teams before expanding into a regional model. By the , the format proliferated across major U.S. markets, often under affiliations like Prime Network or Net, which established RSNs in cities such as , , and to capitalize on growing cable subscriptions and sports popularity. Prominent examples include regional affiliates (e.g., for the San Francisco Giants and ) and FanDuel Sports Networks (covering teams like the Tigers and ). In recent years, RSNs have faced significant challenges, including the decline of traditional cable viewership due to and the rise of streaming services, leading to financial instability for operators like (now Main Street Sports Group), which filed for in 2023 amid $8.8 billion in debt but emerged in January 2025 with reduced debt and rebranded its networks as FanDuel Sports Network. As of 2025, many RSNs have transitioned toward hybrid models, integrating with platforms like and Fubo to maintain access, though carriage disputes with providers such as have resulted in blackouts for millions of subscribers in key markets. In 2025, several MLB teams including the Guardians, Brewers, Twins, and shifted to league-produced direct broadcasts, while RSNs began offering in-market streaming via Peacock. Leagues including MLB, NBA, and NHL are exploring streaming options to bypass traditional RSNs, potentially reshaping local broadcasting by 2030. Despite these disruptions, RSNs remain vital for preserving local team loyalty.

Overview

Definition and Scope

A (RSN) is a or channel that broadcasts sports programming tailored to a specific local or regional market, primarily in the United States and . These networks focus on delivering live game coverage, pre- and post-game analysis, and related content for teams within their designated territories, distinguishing them from broader entertainment or news channels. The scope of RSNs is generally limited to professional sports leagues such as (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL), with occasional inclusion of college athletics or events. Unlike national sports networks like or , which handle league-wide broadcasts, playoffs, and marquee events, RSNs exclude nationwide programming and prioritize rights to regular-season games not selected for national airing. This focus ensures in-depth coverage of local franchises, including highlights, interviews, and community-oriented segments that foster regional fan loyalty. Geographically, RSNs operate within boundaries defined by team territories or media markets, often spanning multiple states or provinces to align with fan bases. For instance, the , which covers the New York Yankees, serves the encompassing , , parts of , and northeastern Pennsylvania. In Canada, similar regional feeds from networks like provide localized NHL and MLB coverage tied to specific provinces or cities. This territorial approach allows RSNs to secure exclusive broadcast rights that reflect the geographic footprint of professional teams.

Typical Programming and Distribution

Regional sports networks (RSNs) primarily focus on live broadcasts of professional and events within their designated geographic territories, often securing exclusive rights through partnerships with local teams and leagues. These broadcasts are supplemented by pre-game and post-game analysis shows, where hosts and analysts discuss strategies, player performances, and game outcomes. Player interviews and coaches' breakdowns provide in-depth insights, while highlight recaps condense key moments for viewers who may have missed the live action. Occasionally, RSNs incorporate non-sports content such as team news updates or lifestyle segments featuring athletes' off-field activities to engage fans beyond game days. Distribution of RSN programming occurs mainly through carriage agreements with and providers, ensuring availability to subscribers in the network's home market. To protect ticket sales and local attendance, blackouts restrict access to games outside designated territories, with national broadcasts on channels like sometimes overriding local RSN rights. Some RSNs integrate with over-the-air affiliates for broader reach in select markets, though this is less common than cable/satellite delivery. Viewer access to RSNs is typically subscription-based, bundled into premium sports tiers offered by providers like or , which often include an additional regional sports fee of $10 to $25 or more per month, depending on the provider and market. These tiers position RSNs as high-value add-ons for sports enthusiasts, separate from basic cable packages. RSN production relies on in-house studios for studio-based shows and analysis, equipped with advanced facilities to deliver polished content. Mobile production units enable on-site coverage at arenas and stadiums, capturing live events with high-quality video and audio setups. Partnerships with teams grant exclusive rights to footage and access, allowing RSNs like those under Sports Network to create tailored programming.

History

Origins in the 1960s–1970s

The origins of regional sports networks (RSNs) trace back to the late , when the Network (MSG) launched on October 15, 1969, as the first pay-TV sports channel in the United States, debuting with a NHL game against the and initially covering 125 events including NBA games. In December 1979, SportsChannel New York launched, providing coverage of multiple New York-area teams and marking another early expansion of the RSN model. This pioneering effort was distributed via Cable Television to approximately 13,000 households, enabled by a ruling just days earlier that permitted cable transmission without local government regulation. By 1976, the model expanded with the launch of (Philadelphia Regional In-Home Sports and Movies) in as a premium cable service, a between Spectacor and Fox that covered games from the NBA's , NHL's , and MLB's Philadelphia Phillies, alongside movies. These early RSNs emerged amid the expansion of cable television into suburban areas, driven by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deregulations in the early 1970s that lifted restrictions on cable imports of distant signals and promoted the medium's commercial growth. Professional sports teams sought supplementary revenue beyond ticket sales, as broadcasting local games via cable allowed them to monetize content through subscription fees without competing directly with national over-the-air broadcasts. Technological advances, including improved coaxial cable infrastructure and early experiments with satellite uplinks for distribution (as seen with HBO's 1975 satellite debut influencing broader pay-TV models), facilitated targeted delivery to regional audiences. Key developments in the included experiments with scrambled signals to prevent unauthorized free access, a necessity for premium services like , which broadcast via encrypted over-the-air signals in addition to cable to enforce paywalls and protect content exclusivity. Early RSNs prioritized NBA and NHL coverage over MLB due to the latter's stronger national broadcast appeal through major networks, leaving more local rights available for and teams to leverage regionally. Despite these innovations, the era's RSNs faced significant limitations, including sparse event coverage limited to home games and select events, high subscription costs (around $12 monthly for ), and restricted reach, as cable penetrated only about 8-12% of U.S. households by the mid-1970s before broader adoption in the .

Growth and Consolidation in the 1980s–2000s

The deregulation of the industry in the 1980s, particularly through the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, removed restrictions on subscriber rates and signal importation, enabling cable operators to offer exclusive local sports programming and spurring the launch of new regional sports networks (RSNs). This shift allowed RSNs to secure territorial rights for professional teams, fostering growth by protecting content from over-the-air broadcasters and distant imports. A key example was the launch of Prime Ticket in October 1985, co-owned by cable pioneer and Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. , which focused on NBA, NHL, and MLB games in , reaching an initial subscriber base of about 680,000 households. In the , the RSN sector experienced a boom driven by consolidation and national distribution models, with the formation of Net in November 1996 through a partnership between and Liberty Media's Prime Network, aggregating 18 regional feeds to cover major league teams across multiple markets. This network expanded access to live games, often bundling them with emerging services. Complementing this were superstations like in and in , which uplinked local team broadcasts—such as Chicago Cubs and games—nationally via , reaching tens of millions of households and broadening fan bases beyond traditional markets during the decade. The 2000s marked a period of consolidation among major media conglomerates, exemplified by 's acquisitions that strengthened its RSN portfolio. In July 2000, Comcast purchased Viacom's stakes in Home Team Sports (serving the Washington/Baltimore area) and the Midwest Sports Channel (covering and ), adding over 7 million subscribers and integrating these into the (CSN) brand to leverage synergies with owned teams like the and Flyers. This move contributed to the eventual rebranding of CSN networks as following Comcast's 2011 acquisition of , though the foundational expansions occurred earlier in the decade. Team-owned RSNs also proliferated, with the launching on March 19, 2002, as a by the New York Yankees and New Jersey Nets (now ), providing exclusive coverage of Yankees games and quickly becoming one of the most valuable RSNs with rights fees exceeding $100 million annually by mid-decade. Key trends during this era included rising carriage fees, which evolved from approximately $40,000–$50,000 per game in the early to significantly higher rates by the as RSNs negotiated with distributors for premium placement on expanded basic tiers. pioneered bundling RSN access with and digital phone services starting in the early , enhancing subscriber retention amid growing competition from providers. By the mid-, RSNs widely transitioned to high-definition () broadcasting to meet viewer demand for enhanced picture quality, with networks like CSN introducing HD feeds around 2004 and most major RSNs following suit by 2007 to capitalize on advancing cable infrastructure.

Operations in the United States

Major RSN Groups and Ownership

The landscape of regional sports networks (RSNs) in the United States is dominated by a handful of major corporate groups, each controlling portfolios of channels that broadcast local games for (MLB), (NBA), and National Hockey League (NHL) teams. These groups have evolved through mergers, acquisitions, and financial restructurings, reflecting broader industry shifts toward consolidation and alternative models. FanDuel Sports Network, formerly known as Bally Sports, represents the largest RSN portfolio in the country, serving as the local broadcast home for numerous professional teams following its rebranding in October 2024. Owned and operated by Main Street Sports Group—a reorganized entity stemming from Diamond Sports Group's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in March 2023—the network holds rights to nine MLB teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, and Kansas City Royals, as well as 13 NBA teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers, and seven NHL franchises like the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets. This extensive coverage spans multiple regional feeds across the Midwest, South, and West, with recent contract renewals ensuring continuity for key markets into 2026. NBC Sports Regional Networks, fully owned by Comcast through its NBCUniversal subsidiary, operate eight regional channels focused primarily on MLB and NHL content, alongside select NBA and WNBA broadcasts. These include NBC Sports Boston (covering the Boston Celtics and Bruins), NBC Sports Philadelphia (Philadelphia Phillies and Flyers), NBC Sports Bay Area (San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors), and NBC Sports Chicago (Chicago Blackhawks), among others, delivering localized programming to over 20 million households. Ownership has seen targeted divestitures to enhance focus, such as the 2022 sale of NBC Sports Washington to Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which operates the network for the Washington Capitals and Wizards. In early 2025, Comcast integrated these RSNs into its Peacock streaming service, expanding direct-to-consumer access while retaining corporate control. Other significant players include , owned by , which provides dedicated coverage for Los Angeles teams, including all NBA games, MLB contests, and matches. As a cable operator-owned entity, it emphasizes integrated distribution within Charter's ecosystem. Legacy independents like MSG Networks, controlled by Sphere Entertainment Co. under Executive Chairman James Dolan, maintain a focused portfolio centered on New York teams, broadcasting NBA games and NHL contests across its regional channels. MSG operates autonomously from larger conglomerates, prioritizing team-centric programming. Ownership structures in the RSN sector have trended away from traditional cable giants toward involvement and increased co-ownership, driven by financial pressures and the need for agile content distribution. Main Street Sports Group's acquisition of Diamond's assets exemplifies 's role in stabilizing distressed portfolios post-bankruptcy. Meanwhile, co-ownership has become prevalent, with franchises like the Seattle Mariners fully owning their RSN since 2023 and others holding majority stakes, allowing greater control over media rights and revenue in an era of streaming transitions. This evolution underscores a fragmentation where approximately 40% of RSNs involve equity as of 2025, fostering models that blend corporate oversight with franchise interests.

Key Challenges and Recent Declines

The rise of has profoundly impacted U.S. regional sports networks (RSNs), with pay-TV subscribers declining from approximately 105 million in 2010 to 68.7 million in 2025, leading to substantial revenue losses for RSNs that rely heavily on fees. RSNs, which often account for a significant portion of programming costs—up to 40% when including broader sports content—have been particularly vulnerable, as they command high per-subscriber fees that become unsustainable amid shrinking subscriber bases. Local MLB viewership on RSNs saw a marginal increase of 2% in 2025 compared to 2024, aided by streaming options. Financial distress has culminated in high-profile bankruptcies and closures. Diamond Sports Group, operator of the Bally Sports networks, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2023 amid mounting debt from rights fees and cord-cutting pressures, eventually emerging in January 2025 as Main Street Sports Group with its debt reduced from nearly $9 billion to $200 million and its channels rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network. Similarly, Warner Bros. Discovery announced in August 2023 that it would shut down its AT&T SportsNet channels by the end of the year, affecting coverage for teams like the Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Colorado Rockies due to unprofitable operations. In a further example, the Seattle Mariners decided in September 2025 to terminate Root Sports Northwest after the 2025 season, citing the network's financial challenges, and shift broadcasts to MLB-managed distribution. Frequent carriage fee negotiations have exacerbated instability, often resulting in blackouts that disrupt fan access. A notable instance occurred in 2024 when Diamond Sports Group's RSNs went dark on systems starting May 1 due to expired contracts and disputes over escalating fees, affecting 15 markets and lasting nearly three months until a renewal agreement was reached in late July. These disputes highlight the tension between RSN operators seeking higher payments to offset losses and distributors pushing back against rate hikes that contribute to overall bill increases. As of 2025, is actively negotiating expanded direct-to-consumer rights deals, including partnerships with streamers like for out-of-market and select in-market games, which further diminishes reliance on traditional RSNs by enabling broader digital distribution without carriage intermediaries. This trend, exemplified by MLB assuming broadcast control for teams like the Mariners, signals a structural shift away from the RSN model amid ongoing financial pressures; however, the extended their agreement with Sports Network for 2026 following MLB-managed broadcasts in 2025.

Operations in Canada

Primary Networks and Coverage

Sportsnet, owned by , operates as one of 's primary regional sports networks with four distinct regional feeds: , Pacific, East, and . These feeds provide localized coverage of major , particularly focusing on National Hockey League (NHL) teams such as the via the feed, the through the Pacific feed, and the and on the feed. Additionally, holds regional broadcasting rights for Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays across its feeds, ensuring comprehensive game telecasts tailored to regional audiences. TSN and its French-language counterpart , both under , form the other dominant RSN duo in , utilizing five English-language feeds (TSN1 through TSN5) and corresponding French pods for targeted regional programming. TSN delivers regional NHL coverage for the on TSN5, the on TSN3, and the on TSN2, while provides French-language broadcasts for the Canadiens and extends to other key events. , owned by , offers additional French-language regional coverage, including select games and national NHL broadcasts. Beyond , these networks hold exclusive rights to the Canadian Football League (CFL), airing all regular-season and playoff games, as well as select soccer competitions including (MLS) matches. Canadian RSNs like and TSN/RDS primarily serve through linear television distribution, supplemented by app-based streaming services such as Sportsnet+ and the TSN app, which allow authenticated access to regional content for subscribers. However, territorial restrictions enforce regional blackouts outside designated broadcast areas to protect local rights agreements, with national overflow games available Canada-wide on shared national channels. These networks concentrate coverage on major urban markets, including Toronto—home to the Maple Leafs and Blue Jays—and Montreal, where the Canadiens draw significant viewership, with RDS emphasizing French-language programming to cater to Quebec's predominantly bilingual audience.

Unique Aspects of Canadian RSNs

Canadian regional sports networks (RSNs) operate under a distinct regulatory framework shaped by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which emphasizes Canadian content requirements and consumer affordability. Unlike in the United States, where RSN carriage fees have escalated dramatically leading to blackouts and service disruptions, CRTC policies impose limits on wholesale fees and promote bundled basic cable packages capped at affordable rates, such as the longstanding $25 monthly maximum for entry-level services to prevent excessive hikes. Additionally, simultaneous substitution—a CRTC-mandated practice—allows Canadian broadcasters to replace U.S. signals with domestic equivalents during simultaneous airings of the same programming, safeguarding exclusive rights for events like NHL games and protecting RSN revenue from cross-border competition. These measures foster a more stable environment for Canadian RSNs compared to the fragmented U.S. market. League integrations in Canadian RSNs reflect the country's sporting priorities, with particularly strong ties to the National Hockey League (NHL) and (CFL). All seven Canadian NHL teams hold regional broadcasting rights with either or the TSN/RDS duopoly, enabling comprehensive coverage that underscores hockey's cultural dominance and generates higher viewership and revenue in than in the U.S. The , as a homegrown league, receives exclusive national coverage primarily through TSN, often outperforming (MLB) playoffs in TV ratings during overlapping seasons, which highlights its prominence in Canadian sports media. In contrast, MLB emphasis is largely confined to the Toronto Blue Jays via , with minimal regional focus on other cross-border teams due to limited audience interest outside major markets. Cultural elements further distinguish Canadian RSNs, particularly through bilingual programming tailored to linguistic diversity. Réseau des sports (RDS), Canada's leading French-language sports network, delivers extensive coverage for Quebec and Francophone audiences, including dedicated feeds for games and other events, ensuring accessibility in a market where English-dominant U.S. RSNs would otherwise prevail. Broadcasts often incorporate advanced analytics, reflecting Canada's expertise in the sport, alongside occasional coverage of sports like through partnerships with community events, aligning with national reconciliation efforts. In 2025, Canadian RSNs have expanded amid rising , with + enhancing streaming access to NHL and MLB content through a renewed 12-year, $11 billion CAD national deal with the NHL, though adoption remains slower than in the U.S. due to regulatory bundling requirements and consumer resistance to price increases—such as the 30% hike to $324.99 annually for premium plans, sparking widespread backlash. This measured transition prioritizes hybrid cable-streaming models over full over-the-top () pivots, maintaining the duopoly's stability in a market where linear TV still commands significant viewership for live sports.

Business Model and Economics

Revenue Sources and Carriage Fees

Regional sports networks (RSNs) primarily generate revenue through carriage fees paid by multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs), such as and providers, to carry their channels. These fees, negotiated as part of affiliation agreements, averaged between $4 and $7 per subscriber per month in 2025, representing 70–90% of an RSN's total income. The structure of these fees is typically determined by the size of the team's market and the network's viewership potential, with larger markets commanding higher rates. For instance, the , which broadcasts New York Yankees games, charges over $5 per subscriber per month, with recent agreements ranging from $7 to $11. In contrast, RSNs in smaller markets often negotiate fees around $3 per subscriber per month to reflect lower subscriber bases and advertising potential. Beyond fees, RSNs derive supplementary income from , including local spots aired during live game broadcasts, which capture regional audience engagement. Sponsorship deals with brands, such as companies targeting sports viewers, further contribute to streams. Retransmission consent fees, often bundled with agreements, provide additional payments for the right to distribute content. Conceptually, an RSN's can be approximated as the product of its subscriber count and the per-subscriber fee, plus and sponsorship sales, underscoring the reliance on distribution scale.

Impact of Technological Shifts

The rise of and virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) such as has significantly eroded the subscriber base for regional sports networks (RSNs), with U.S. cable TV households declining from 84.8 million in 2019 to 68.7 million in 2024, representing a roughly 19% drop driven primarily by consumers shifting to streaming alternatives. This trend has been particularly acute for RSNs, which rely heavily on linear pay-TV distribution; for instance, , operator of the networks (rebranded as Sports Network in 2024), reported a 10% subscriber decline in 2022 alone, exacerbating revenue shortfalls amid ongoing . vMVPDs like have partially offset losses by carrying some RSNs, but selective carriage and frequent blackouts limit their reach, contributing to an industry-wide contraction where pay-TV providers lost over 5 million subscribers in 2023. In response, RSN operators and teams have pursued (DTC) experiments, including team-specific apps and bundles, though these face barriers from high production costs and persistent restrictions. For example, MLB.TV offers out-of-market streaming but enforces local s to protect RSN rights, frustrating fans and limiting adoption despite partnerships like the 2025 MLB-NBC Sports deal enabling DTC access for three teams' in-market games. Services like Fubo Sports bundle select RSNs with add-ons, but elevated pricing—often exceeding $80 monthly—has constrained widespread uptake, with only partial coverage for major markets and ongoing disputes over carriage fees hindering scalability. By 2025, economic pressures including inflation and slow growth have intensified RSN losses, with rights fee inflation outpacing subscriber revenue and forcing hybrid models where RSNs supply content to national streamers like or Peacock for broader distribution. These hybrids aim to stabilize finances by leveraging national platforms' scale, but they have not stemmed the tide of declining linear viewership, as evidenced by continued pay-TV penetration falling to 34.4% of U.S. households in 2024. Broader repercussions include ballooning debt from long-term rights deals, with operators like the (formerly /), which emerged from bankruptcy in 2025 with debt reduced to $200 million amid , leading to over a dozen RSN closures or team departures since 2020, such as the shutdown of in 2024 and multiple affiliates entering bankruptcy proceedings. This financial strain has prompted industry-wide , underscoring the vulnerability of the traditional RSN model to technological disruption.

Future Developments

Transition to Streaming and OTT

Regional sports networks (RSNs) have increasingly pivoted to over-the-top () platforms to combat and reach younger audiences, with direct-to-consumer () streaming services emerging as a core strategy. In 2024, , operator of the FanDuel Sports Network (formerly ), relaunched its RSNs under the FanDuel brand, introducing a DTC that provides in-market access to live NBA, NHL, and MLB games for $19.99 per month, including and highlights. This service marks a significant shift toward streaming-first delivery, allowing fans to watch local team games without traditional subscriptions, though out-of-market access remains limited to separate packages or services like . Similarly, team-specific apps, such as those from the Boston Red Sox's , have integrated RSN feeds to offer full-season OTT streaming, enabling direct fan engagement through mobile and connected TV devices. Key partnerships have accelerated this transition by embedding RSN content into major streaming ecosystems. Sports Network secured a multi-year deal with in November 2024, making its 31-state coverage available as a $19.99 monthly add-on channel for Prime subscribers, thus expanding reach to cord-cutters already within the Amazon ecosystem. while has collaborated on MLB's , a national package that complements local RSN rights by providing out-of-market alternatives. Regarding the NBA, the league's 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement paves the way for reduced reliance on RSNs, with plans for a national DTC streaming service potentially launching by 2027-28 to consolidate local rights and bypass traditional regional models. Despite these advances, challenges persist in fully realizing OTT potential. Geo-fencing enforces strict blackouts to protect local broadcast exclusivity, often requiring VPNs for circumvention and frustrating users seeking seamless access. Low adoption rates stem from fragmented rights, particularly in MLB where over 30 team-specific agreements across providers like , , and team-owned create a of apps and pricing, deterring casual viewers. By , progress is evident, driven by increased local streaming viewership in MLB. Pilots for ad-supported free tiers, such as FanDuel's planned 24/7 FAST channel in 2026, aim to broaden accessibility by offering select live games and highlights without subscription fees, signaling a model blending premium with free ad-revenue streams.

Regulatory and Industry Changes

The (FCC) has implemented measures to address consumer concerns over hidden fees associated with regional sports networks (RSNs), particularly through its 2024 adoption of "all-in" pricing rules for multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs). These rules require providers to include all recurring charges, such as regional sports fees, in the advertised monthly price, aiming to reduce surprise billing and promote transparency in sports programming costs. Effective December 19, 2024, the regulations apply to cable operators and direct broadcast satellite providers, with the FCC emphasizing that sports tiers contribute significantly to inflated bills for viewers uninterested in local team coverage. In carriage disputes, the FCC has exerted to prevent RSNs from being shifted to tiers without justification, as seen in ongoing negotiations involving networks like and , where regulators have pushed for affordable access to mitigate blackouts and higher costs. While no formal unbundling of sports tiers has been mandated as of 2025, these interventions signal potential future reforms to decouple RSN fees from basic packages, reflecting broader efforts to adapt and retransmission consent rules to the declining RSN model. Major League Baseball (MLB) has advanced toward centralized control of local media rights, producing and distributing games for teams like the , Milwaukee Brewers, and starting in 2025, with Commissioner projecting league oversight of all 30 teams' rights by 2028. This shift empowers teams through , reducing reliance on fragmented RSN deals and enabling streamlined streaming integration. Similarly, the National Hockey League (NHL) has embraced hybrid national-regional models, exemplified by the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2025 partnership with and ViewLift, which combines over-the-air broadcasts with direct-to-consumer streaming via team apps to broaden access beyond traditional RSNs. Industry consolidation faces heightened antitrust scrutiny amid RSN instability, with exploring mergers for its broadcast assets in 2025 to navigate declining linear viewership, though no major RSN acquisitions have proceeded due to regulatory concerns over . The rise of sports leagues as proprietors further reshapes ownership dynamics, as MLB has taken minority stakes in production companies like Jomboy Media to control and directly. Internationally, influences remain limited, with no specific EU probes into U.S. carriage practices as of 2025, though broader competition policies in global , such as the European Commission's review of Liberty Media's acquisition of , underscore parallels in addressing monopolistic bundling. In August 2025, Apple elected not to renew its MLB after the 2025 season, potentially opening opportunities for new streaming partners.

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