Honestly, trying to find where to watch the Redbirds lately feels like you need a law degree from WashU and a subscription to every streaming service under the sun. It's a mess. One minute you're dialed into Bally Sports, then it's FanDuel Sports Network, and then suddenly the news breaks that the team is walking away from their contract entirely.
If you’re confused about st louis cardinals tv and how to actually see the first pitch this season, you aren't alone.
The old world of regional sports networks (RSNs) is basically on life support. We’ve moved past the "cable or nothing" era, but the "everything is on one app" era isn't quite here yet. It’s a weird, awkward middle ground.
The FanDuel Breakup: What Really Happened
Here is the deal. On January 7, 2026, the Cardinals officially terminated their broadcast agreement with Main Street Sports Group. That's the parent company of FanDuel Sports Network. Why? Because the network missed a payment in December 2025. When someone stops paying the bills, you stop giving them the product. Simple as that.
The Cardinals weren't the only ones to bail. They joined eight other teams—including the Braves, Brewers, and Reds—who decided they’d had enough of the financial instability.
💡 You might also like: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
For years, Diamond Sports Group (the predecessor to Main Street) was the middleman. They took your cable fees and paid the team. But that model is broken. People are cutting the cord faster than ever, and the math just doesn't work anymore. By terminating the deal, the Cardinals basically took back their own rights so they could figure out a better way to get games to you without worrying about a network going bankrupt in the middle of a road trip.
How You’ll Actually Watch in 2026
You might be panicking thinking there will be a blackout. Don't. Commissioner Rob Manfred and Cardinals VP Anuk Karunaratne have been very clear: the games will be on.
Major League Baseball is ready to step in. They’ve already done this for the Padres, Diamondbacks, and Rockies. If the Cardinals don't sign a cut-rate deal to go back to FanDuel, MLB will produce the games themselves.
- The Streaming Option: Expect a "Cardinals+ " style service through MLB.TV. You’d pay a monthly fee (likely around $20) to stream every local game with no blackouts.
- The Cable Option: Even if MLB takes over, they usually strike deals with local providers like Charter Spectrum and DirecTV. You'd still find the games on a specific channel, just maybe under a different name.
- The Hybrid Move: The Cardinals are currently taking their local TV ad sales "in-house." This is huge. It means they want to sell the commercials themselves, pairing stadium ads with TV ads. It’s a signal that they want more control over the whole experience.
The Price of Watching the Birds
Let’s talk money. It’s getting expensive to be a fan. If you go the streaming route, you're looking at about $120–$150 for the season just for the local games. If you want the national games on ESPN, Fox, or the new Netflix package (which is picking up the 2026 World Baseball Classic and special events), that's even more.
📖 Related: South Carolina women's basketball schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
It’s a fragmented landscape. It sucks.
But there is a silver lining. For the first time in forever, the "blackout" might finally die. If MLB produces the games, they want you to watch. They aren't incentivized to block you out just because you live in a certain zip code.
Why This Matters for the Roster
You might wonder why st louis cardinals tv drama matters for what happens on the field. It’s the revenue, man. The TV deal used to be a guaranteed bucket of cash. With that bucket shrinking—the team took a roughly 25% haircut on TV revenue last year—the front office is tightening the belt.
We've already seen the trades. Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado. The "retool" or "rebuild" or whatever they're calling it this week is partially driven by this TV uncertainty. They need a leaner payroll because they can't bank on a massive check from a cable network anymore.
👉 See also: Scores of the NBA games tonight: Why the London Game changed everything
Watching Checklist for Opening Day
- Check your current provider: If you have Spectrum or DirecTV, keep an eye on your channel guide. The "FanDuel" name might disappear, but a replacement channel usually pops up in the same spot.
- Look for the MLB.TV Local Pro: Once the season gets closer, MLB will announce the specific streaming package for St. Louis fans. This is your best bet if you don't have cable.
- Don't forget the National Games: NBC is back in the mix for 2026, and Netflix is starting to dip its toes into live baseball. You'll need more than one password to see all 162.
The era of just turning on Channel 37 and seeing the game for "free" with your cable package is ending. It requires a bit more effort now, but at least the options are finally starting to favor the fans who actually want to stream the game on their phone or iPad without a two-year contract.
The most important thing to remember is that the games aren't going away. The distribution is just changing hands. Stay tuned for the official "MLB Media" announcement, which usually drops right before Spring Training begins in Jupiter.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check your email for notifications from your TV provider regarding "Regional Sports Fee" changes.
- Monitor the official Cardinals website in February for the "Direct-to-Consumer" (DTC) streaming signup link.
- Audit your current streaming subscriptions (Peacock, Netflix, ESPN+) to ensure you have coverage for national broadcasts scheduled for the 2026 season.