Brewers in payroll limbo after 2026 TV deal falls through

How fans watch Milwaukee Brewers baseball is once again up in the air, which subsequently impacts the organization's spending money as TV deals through Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) bring in more revenue than teams who have their games produced by Major League Baseball.

RSNs such as FOX Sports, Bally Sports, and most recently FanDuel are how fans of the Brewers have watched the vast majority of games over the last several years, with Sinclair Broadcast Group being involved with FOX Sports, Diamond Sports Group with Bally Sports, and Main Street Sports Group with FanDuel -- Main Street is the post-bankruptcy rebrand of Diamond Sports.

Per an ESPN publication, recent reports from Sports Business Journal have indicated that Main Street Sports Group is in financial trouble and will end at the end of the current NBA and NHL seasons. This timing overlaps slightly into the start of MLB's regular season, but ESPN also revealed that all nine MLB teams affiliated with Main Street Sports Group, which includes the Brewers, have terminated their contracts for the 2026 season, despite previously agreeing to terms in November.

Milwaukee Brewers in payroll limbo after 2026 TV deal with Main Street Sports Group falls through

With the Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, and Washington Nationals terminating their contracts with Main Street Sports Group, the threat of losing 20% to 30% of their revenue from their TV deals is real. This could impact spending over the remainder of the offseason unless a new deal is struck.

If a new deal with Main Street Sports Group, or a new ownership group should a sale occur, is not reached, MLB is positioned to broadcast games directly to fans. While that would ensure continued access for viewers, the absence of cable-related revenue would represent a significant financial loss for the organization.

Until Milwaukee has clarity on what its TV deal will look like, it’s difficult to envision the club spending anything significant in free agency -- which was already in question given the current state of the Brewers' payroll. TV revenue plays a critical role in payroll planning, and without knowing how much income will be coming in or when, it makes sense for the Brewers to proceed cautiously.