Milwaukee Brewers fans will have to look elsewhere next year when they want to watch their favorite team on the small screen.
Major League Baseball announced Tuesday they will now “produce and distribute” games for the Brewers during the 2025 season.
“The new arrangement will give fans more options to watch their favorite teams on television or to stream digitally,” a statement from the Brewers said.
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MLB will also produce games for the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins. Those teams join the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres as other clubs that have similar arrangements with the MLB.
“We are really excited about this,” said Tyler Barnes, a spokesperson for the Brewers. “We think this is a really positive development for Brewers fans, regardless of where you live.”
Previously, Brewers games were broadcast on Bally Sports, which is owned by Diamond Sports Group. Last week, it was announced that Diamond Sports Group would likely end partnerships with several MLB teams due to a bankruptcy restructuring, according to a report from Reuters.
Barnes said there will be multiple options available for fans to watch games, including cable and streaming options. The statement also said a “direct-to-consumer streaming option” will be available to fans.
Television broadcasters for the team — who include Brian Anderson, Bill Schroeder, Sophia Minnaert, Vinny Rottino and Tim Dillard — are team employees. Barnes said those broadcasters will be back next season.
There are still several unknowns, however, including what the pre-game or post-game shows will look like.
“We are still learning, still planning,” Barnes said. “What we want to make sure is that we prioritize the most important thing, and that’s the game broadcast.”
The changeup comes as less people are watching baseball. Last year’s World Series was the least watched World Series on record.
Meanwhile, the Brewers play in the smallest television market in the nation, according to Forbes.
“With the media landscape continuing to evolve, Major League Baseball is committed to serving our fans by ensuring they can see their favorite Clubs, removing blackouts where we can, and ultimately growing the reach of our games,” said Noah Garden, the deputy commissioner of business and media for MLB.
The statement said fans can look forward to new broadcast features like the Ump Cam, new camera positions and “increased access like in-game interviews with players.” The Ump Cam is a feature where a camera is attached to an umpire, providing a new view of the game.
“In addition to expanding reach, Major League Baseball is utilizing resources to provide fans with an outstanding production that features new technology, improved picture quality, and better access to the game and players,” said Billy Chambers, the executive vice president of local media for the MLB.
Bally Sports will continue to broadcast games for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Minnesota Wild.
“We’re looking forward to another season partnering with Bally Sports North for our local TV broadcast in 2024-25,” a spokesperson for the Wild wrote in an email.
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