FanDuel Sports Network Midwest
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA regional sports network serving the Midwestern United States, with a strong focus on professional teams from the St. Louis area.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
FanDuel Sports Network Midwest is an American regional sports network serving parts of the Midwest, particularly eastern and central Missouri, western and southern Illinois, Nebraska, and Iowa. The channel is most closely associated with professional sports coverage from the St. Louis market, although its programming footprint and rights relationships extend across neighboring states. It is distributed through cable systems in its regional territory and has also been available nationally through DirecTV satellite service. The network began broadcasting in November 1989 as Prime Sports Network Midwest, an affiliate of the Prime Network. Launched by TCI and Bill Daniels, the channel was initially based in Indianapolis and carried a limited package of Indiana Pacers home games. Its coverage expanded westward during the 1990s as cable distribution grew. Following the sale of the Prime Network to News Corporation and the creation of Fox Sports Net, the channel adopted the Fox Sports Midwest name on November 1, 1996. It subsequently used Fox Sports Net Midwest and FSN Midwest variants before returning to the Fox Sports Midwest identity. During the Fox era, the network developed a broad portfolio of professional, college, and syndicated sports programming. It obtained regional rights to Indiana Pacers games and in 2006 created Fox Sports Indiana as a separate service primarily for Pacers and Indiana Fever coverage. It also acquired a long-term package for Kansas City Royals games, leading to the creation of Fox Sports Kansas City in 2008 to reduce scheduling conflicts with St. Louis Cardinals broadcasts. The St. Louis Cardinals became one of the network's most important properties after a 2010 agreement granted Fox Sports Midwest exclusive regional cable rights beginning with the 2011 season. A later agreement announced in 2015 covered 15 seasons beginning in 2018 and included a reported equity interest for the Cardinals. The channel changed ownership context several times. Fox Sports Networks were sold by The Walt Disney Company to Sinclair Broadcast Group and Entertainment Studios through Diamond Holdings in 2019 after antitrust regulators required Disney to divest the regional networks. Sinclair later entered a naming-rights agreement with Bally's Corporation, and Fox Sports Midwest became Bally Sports Midwest on March 31, 2021. Diamond Sports Group, the operating company for the Bally regional sports networks, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2023. In October 2024, Diamond announced a sponsorship and branding agreement with FanDuel Group. The Midwest service was renamed FanDuel Sports Network Midwest on October 21, 2024, as part of the broader conversion of the Bally Sports network portfolio to FanDuel Sports Network branding. The agreement gave FanDuel an option to acquire a minority stake of up to 5% after Diamond's emergence from bankruptcy. The network continues to center its programming on regional professional sports, including St. Louis Blues hockey and college athletics, while using alternate and overflow feeds to manage simultaneous events. The St. Louis Cardinals announced that they would leave the network after the 2025 season and distribute games through Cardinals.TV beginning in 2026.
History
FanDuel Sports Network Midwest originated in November 1989 as Prime Sports Network Midwest, a regional affiliate of the Prime Network launched by TCI and Bill Daniels. The service was initially based in Indianapolis and carried 25 Indiana Pacers home games. Although its first distribution was concentrated in Indiana, the network expanded westward through cable systems during the 1990s, establishing the regional footprint that later connected it with Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, and Iowa. After Liberty Media sold the Prime Network to News Corporation, the channel joined the newly created Fox Sports Net system. It became Fox Sports Midwest on November 1, 1996, adopted the Fox Sports Net Midwest name in 1999, and shortened that name to FSN Midwest in 2004 as the group reduced use of the longer Fox Sports Net branding. The network's programming gradually broadened beyond its original Pacers package to include professional teams, college athletics, and syndicated conference content. In 2006, Fox Sports Midwest obtained exclusive regional cable rights to Indiana Pacers games. To provide a dedicated outlet for Pacers and Indiana Fever coverage, Fox Sports Indiana launched on November 1, 2006. The parent service also expanded its relationship with the Kansas City Royals. In 2007 it signed an exclusive long-term agreement with the club after the Royals ended their regional syndication service. Because Kansas City Royals games could conflict with St. Louis Cardinals programming, the Kansas City subfeed was separated into Fox Sports Kansas City in 2008. St. Louis became the network's central market during the following decade. In July 2010, Fox Sports Midwest reached an agreement giving it exclusive regional cable rights to St. Louis Cardinals games beginning with the 2011 season, ending the team's local broadcasts on KSDK. A further agreement announced in July 2015 began in 2018 and extended through the 2032 season. The reported arrangement guaranteed the Cardinals more than $1 billion and provided the club with a 30% equity interest in the network. The ownership history changed during the restructuring of the Fox entertainment assets. In December 2017, Disney announced plans to acquire Fox Sports Networks as part of its wider transaction for 21st Century Fox. The U.S. Justice Department required the regional networks to be divested because Disney already owned ESPN. Sinclair Broadcast Group and Entertainment Studios, through Diamond Holdings, acquired the network group from Disney for $10.6 billion in a transaction that closed on August 22, 2019. Sinclair subsequently secured Bally's Corporation as a naming-rights partner. The Fox Sports Midwest channel was renamed Bally Sports Midwest on March 31, 2021, together with the broader rebranding of the regional Fox Sports services. Diamond Sports Group operated the Bally regional network portfolio but filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 14, 2023, creating uncertainty around its rights contracts, distribution agreements, and long-term corporate structure. In October 2024, Diamond disclosed a new sponsorship arrangement with FanDuel Group and announced that the Bally regional networks would be rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network. FanDuel Sports Network Midwest adopted its current name on October 21, 2024. The arrangement included FanDuel's option to acquire up to a 5% minority interest after Diamond exited bankruptcy. The network's current programming includes St. Louis Blues NHL games, Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball, Saint Louis Billikens basketball, and other regional or neighboring-network sports content. It also operates an Extra overflow feed to handle scheduling conflicts. The Cardinals' relationship with the network later changed. In February 2026, the team announced that it would leave FanDuel Sports Network Midwest after the 2025 season and launch Cardinals.TV, with Major League Baseball producing future games. This decision marks a significant change in the network's historic St. Louis programming identity, although the service remains a regional sports broadcaster centered on live events and team-focused coverage.
- 2026
Cardinals announce departure
[1]The St. Louis Cardinals announced plans to distribute future games through Cardinals.TV after the 2025 season.
- 2024
Rebrand to FanDuel Sports Network Midwest
[1]The channel adopted FanDuel Sports Network branding on October 21 under a new sponsorship agreement.
- 2023
Diamond Sports Group files for bankruptcy
[1]The network's operating company entered Chapter 11 restructuring.
- 2021
Rebrand to Bally Sports Midwest
[1]The channel adopted Bally Sports branding on March 31.
- 2019
Fox Sports Networks sold to Sinclair and Entertainment Studios
[1]The regional network group was sold by Disney after antitrust-driven divestiture requirements.
- 2015
Long-term Cardinals agreement
[1]A rights agreement beginning in 2018 was announced to run for 15 seasons through 2032 and included a reported Cardinals equity stake.
- 2011
Fox Sports Midwest Plus launches
[1]The network introduced an overflow service, later known as FanDuel Sports Network Midwest Extra.
- 2010
Cardinals rights agreement announced
[1]Fox Sports Midwest secured exclusive regional cable rights to St. Louis Cardinals games beginning with the 2011 season.
- 2008
Kansas City feed becomes a separate network
[1]The Kansas City Royals subfeed was separated into Fox Sports Kansas City to reduce conflicts with Cardinals coverage.
- 2006
Fox Sports Indiana launches
[1]A separate regional service was created for Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever programming.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
A regional sports television service positioned around live professional and collegiate sports for Midwestern viewers, with particular emphasis on St. Louis-area teams and locally relevant studio coverage.
Regional sports television network · 1989
FanDuel Sports Network Midwest
The primary regional channel provides live and recorded sports programming across parts of Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, and Iowa. Its programming has historically emphasized St. Louis professional teams, with additional coverage from neighboring FanDuel Sports Network services and college sports properties.
Overflow sports channel · 2011
FanDuel Sports Network Midwest Extra
Originally launched as Fox Sports Midwest Plus in October 2011, the Extra service carries games and events that cannot fit on the primary channel because of overlapping schedules. It also supports simulcasts and selected programming from neighboring regional sports networks.
Brand decisions
2026
End Cardinals network relationshipStrategyBackground
The Cardinals announced a change in their local media distribution model after the 2025 season.
Action taken
The team announced plans to leave FanDuel Sports Network Midwest and launch Cardinals.TV, with MLB producing future games.
Aftermath
The network loses one of its historically most prominent programming properties beginning with the 2026 season.
2024
Adopt FanDuel Sports Network brandingStrategyBackground
Diamond Sports Group was restructuring under Chapter 11 and sought a new commercial identity and sponsorship relationship for its regional networks.
Action taken
Diamond entered a sponsorship agreement with FanDuel Group and renamed the channel FanDuel Sports Network Midwest.
Aftermath
The network replaced the Bally Sports identity while remaining part of the regional FanDuel Sports Network portfolio.
2015
Extend Cardinals partnership through 2032StrategyBackground
The network and Cardinals sought a long-term continuation of their regional television relationship.
Action taken
They agreed to a 15-season arrangement beginning in 2018, with the Cardinals receiving a reported equity stake.
Aftermath
The agreement was intended to secure Cardinals programming for the network through the 2032 season, although the club later announced an earlier departure after 2025.
Reported Cardinals guarantee and equity interest. More than $1 billion guaranteed; 30% network equity stake reported (2018–2032 agreement)
2010
Secure exclusive Cardinals regional rightsStrategyBackground
The St. Louis Cardinals had previously aired local games on NBC affiliate KSDK.
Action taken
Fox Sports Midwest signed an agreement for exclusive regional cable broadcasts beginning with the 2011 season.
Aftermath
Cardinals coverage became a central component of the network's St. Louis identity.
2008
Separate the Kansas City subfeedStrategyBackground
Royals broadcasts created potential conflicts with St. Louis Cardinals games on the main network.
Action taken
The Kansas City feed was converted into Fox Sports Kansas City.
Aftermath
Royals and Cardinals coverage could be scheduled more independently.
2006
Create a dedicated Indiana sports networkStrategyBackground
Exclusive Pacers rights created a need for a dedicated outlet for Indiana professional basketball and Indiana Fever programming.
Action taken
Fox Sports Midwest spun off Fox Sports Indiana, which launched at the start of the 2006–07 regular season.
Aftermath
Indiana-focused programming was separated from the broader Midwest service.
Recent events
- 2026
St. Louis Cardinals announce departure from FanDuel Sports Network Midwest[1]
Leadership change
The St. Louis Cardinals announced that they would leave the network after the 2025 season and use Cardinals.TV for future game distribution, with MLB producing the broadcasts.
- 2024
Bally Sports Midwest rebrands as FanDuel Sports Network Midwest[1]
M&A · Other
Diamond Sports Group announced a naming-rights and sponsorship arrangement with FanDuel Group, under which the regional network adopted the FanDuel Sports Network Midwest name.
- 2023
Diamond Sports Group files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
Diamond Sports Group, the operator associated with the regional sports network portfolio, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, placing the network's ownership and sports-rights business under restructuring pressure.
- 2021
Fox Sports Midwest becomes Bally Sports Midwest[1]
Other
The channel adopted the Bally Sports Midwest identity as part of the conversion of Fox Sports Networks to Bally Sports branding.
Sources1 sources
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