FanDuel Sports Networks, owned by Main Street Sports Group, has reportedly failed to make January media rights payments to its 13 NBA teams. The affected franchises include the Hawks, Hornets, Cavaliers, Pistons, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves, Thunder, Magic, and Spurs. This development follows a similar missed payment to MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and raises questions about the network's future.
The issue came to light through a report by Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal on Monday, January 5, 2026. In response, the NBA teams that did not receive their payments plan to issue a default notice to Main Street Sports Group. This initiates a 15-day cure period, during which the company could potentially rectify the situation to prevent a contract breach.
This incident adds to ongoing instability surrounding FanDuel Sports Networks. Last month, the Wall Street Journal detailed formal negotiations for Main Street to sell to London-based streaming service DAZN. However, if the deal falls through, Sports Business Journal indicates that operations could cease at the end of the current NBA and NHL seasons.
The NBA is bracing for potential disruptions. In a worst-case scenario where Main Street shuts down mid-season, the league stands ready to assume production and distribution of local broadcasts for the 13 teams. Regarding the DAZN sale, it would maintain broadcast continuity for viewers but involves teams accepting reduced rights fees compared to existing agreements. Reports suggest that if more than 10 of Main Street's 29 teams across MLB, NBA, and NHL choose alternative paths, DAZN would abandon the acquisition.
During a recent NBA call with its teams, DAZN's proposed investment was dismissed, according to sources. Furthermore, the NBA teams' contracts include protections making them primary creditors in the event of Main Street's collapse, ensuring they recover fees ahead of other obligations. As a result, many teams may prefer allowing the network to fold rather than proceeding with a less favorable DAZN arrangement.
Should shuttering occur, the 29 teams would consider options like over-the-air and streaming hybrids, affiliations with other regional networks, or integration into league-managed media.
