FanDuel Sports Network Ohio
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn Ohio-focused regional sports television network serving professional and selected collegiate teams in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
FanDuel Sports Network Ohio is an American regional sports network serving Ohio and neighboring areas. The channel is part of the FanDuel Sports Network chain and is owned by Main Street Sports Group, the successor organization to Diamond Sports Group. Its programming has traditionally centered on live local coverage of professional teams in the Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus markets, supported by studio programs, pregame and postgame coverage, analysis, and selected college sports. The service began broadcasting on February 9, 1989, as SportsChannel Ohio. At launch, it carried regional coverage of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians, along with selected Cincinnati Reds games produced through SportsChannel Cincinnati, Notre Dame athletics, and Ohio State sports other than football and basketball. Its history reflects the consolidation and repeated rebranding of the United States regional sports network sector. It became Fox Sports Ohio in January 1998 after the SportsChannel properties were brought into the Fox regional sports portfolio, adopted the Fox Sports Net Ohio name in 2000, and was shortened to FSN Ohio in 2004. The Fox Sports Ohio name returned in 2008. Ownership changed again during the proposed 21st Century Fox sale to The Walt Disney Company. Because Disney already owned ESPN, United States antitrust authorities required the regional Fox sports channels to be divested. Diamond Sports Group acquired the network in 2019, and the channel continued under the Fox Sports identity until March 31, 2021, when it became Bally Sports Ohio under a commercial naming agreement with Bally's Corporation. Following Diamond Sports Group's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in March 2023, the channel was renamed FanDuel Sports Network Ohio on October 21, 2024, under an agreement with FanDuel Group. The network has operated separate Cleveland and Cincinnati-oriented feeds, both using the FanDuel Sports Network Ohio identity. The Cincinnati feed may be identified in listings as FanDuel Sports Network Cincinnati. Separate feeds allow the service to carry different local events, although conflicts can arise in Central Ohio, particularly when Cleveland Cavaliers and Columbus Blue Jackets games overlap. Providers have sometimes used alternate channels to show the other event. Historically, the network's principal rights portfolio included Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball games, Cleveland Cavaliers National Basketball Association games, and Columbus Blue Jackets National Hockey League games. It also carried selected University of Dayton and Northern Kentucky University basketball, while earlier collegiate agreements included Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati. The channel previously carried Cleveland Indians games, but those rights moved to SportsTime Ohio in 2006. Coverage of the Columbus Crew was divided between Fox Sports Ohio and SportsTime Ohio from 2019 through 2021. The network also carried Cleveland Monsters American Hockey League games until the club moved its local broadcasts to Gray Television in 2024. The channel's long-term future became uncertain during Main Street Sports Group's financial and rights-payment difficulties. Reports described missed rights-fee payments, an unsuccessful proposed sale to DAZN, and a planned wind-down of the network group after the 2025–26 National Hockey League and National Basketball Association seasons. The Cincinnati Reds ended their agreement with Main Street Sports Group in February 2026 and announced that MLB Local Media would produce and distribute their games beginning with the 2026 season. FanDuel Sports Network Ohio was consequently slated to cease operations sometime in 2026, although the exact shutdown date is not specified in the available reference material.
History
FanDuel Sports Network Ohio originated as SportsChannel Ohio on February 9, 1989. It was established as part of the SportsChannel regional network system associated with Cablevision and NBC. The channel's initial role was to provide local and regional sports coverage that national networks could not offer. Its early programming included Cleveland Cavaliers basketball and Cleveland Indians baseball, as well as selected Cincinnati Reds games produced by SportsChannel Cincinnati. It also carried Notre Dame football and basketball and selected Ohio State sports, excluding the university's football and basketball broadcasts. The channel entered the Fox regional sports system during the late 1990s. In 1997, News Corporation and Liberty Media acquired an interest in Cablevision's sports assets and established National Sports Partners to operate regional sports networks. SportsChannel Ohio was renamed Fox Sports Ohio in January 1998. It became Fox Sports Net Ohio in 2000 as the Fox regional networks adopted a common national brand, then used the shorter FSN Ohio name in 2004. The Fox Sports Ohio name was restored in 2008. In February 2005, News Corporation obtained sole ownership of Fox Sports Ohio and Fox Sports Florida through an asset exchange with Cablevision. The network later became part of the assets involved in 21st Century Fox's proposed sale to The Walt Disney Company. Announced in 2017, the transaction included Fox Sports Ohio and other regional sports networks. In 2018, the Justice Department required the regional networks to be divested because Disney's ownership of ESPN raised antitrust concerns. Diamond Sports Group, formed through a partnership involving Sinclair Broadcast Group and Allen Media Group, was selected to acquire the channels. The transaction closed on August 23, 2019. The channel operated under the Fox Sports identity until March 31, 2021, when it was renamed Bally Sports Ohio through a naming-rights agreement between Diamond and Bally's Corporation. The network continued to serve the Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus markets through cable and satellite distribution. Its coverage area also extended into parts of neighboring states, and DirecTV made the service available nationally by satellite. Regional Cleveland and Cincinnati feeds allowed the network to show different games according to local rights and market priorities. Central Ohio, situated between the two main markets, could experience scheduling conflicts involving Cavaliers, Blue Jackets, or Reds programming; providers sometimes used alternate channels to present the displaced event. The network's rights portfolio changed over time. It carried Cleveland Indians games until the team launched SportsTime Ohio and moved its local rights there in 2006. It retained Cincinnati Reds coverage, Cleveland Cavaliers games, and Columbus Blue Jackets games as core professional properties. The network also broadcast selected college basketball involving Dayton and Northern Kentucky, while rights to Xavier and Cincinnati basketball were held through the 2019–20 season. Columbus Crew broadcasts were divided between Fox Sports Ohio and SportsTime Ohio from 2019 to 2021. Cleveland Monsters games remained part of the service's programming until the club signed with Gray Television in 2024. Diamond Sports Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 14, 2023. During the subsequent restructuring period, the channel changed its identity again, becoming FanDuel Sports Network Ohio on October 21, 2024. The new name reflected a commercial arrangement with FanDuel Group, while ownership remained associated with the regional sports network business later known as Main Street Sports Group. The network's future deteriorated amid reported rights-fee payment problems in late 2025 and early 2026. Main Street Sports Group was reported to be pursuing a sale to DAZN while preparing for a possible shutdown if the transaction failed. The proposed sale was not completed, and the company was reported to be planning a wind-down after the 2025–26 NBA and NHL seasons. The Cincinnati Reds ended their relationship with Main Street Sports Group in February 2026, moving production and distribution of their games to MLB Local Media for the 2026 season. The available reference material states that FanDuel Sports Network Ohio was slated to shut down sometime in 2026, but does not establish a final closure date.
- 2026
Cincinnati Reds move away from Main Street Sports Group
[1]The Reds terminate their agreement with Main Street Sports Group and designate MLB Local Media to produce and distribute their 2026 local broadcasts.
- 2024
Renamed FanDuel Sports Network Ohio
[1]The Bally Sports Ohio brand is replaced by the FanDuel Sports Network Ohio identity.
- 2023
Diamond Sports Group enters Chapter 11
[1]The network's owner files for bankruptcy protection amid financial pressure across the regional sports network sector.
- 2021
Renamed Bally Sports Ohio
[1]The network changes its on-air identity under a naming-rights agreement with Bally's Corporation.
- 2019
Acquired by Diamond Sports Group
[1]Diamond Sports Group completes the acquisition of the regional Fox sports channels after their divestiture from the Disney transaction.
- 2006
Cleveland Indians rights move to SportsTime Ohio
[1]The network loses its Cleveland Indians broadcasts after the team establishes SportsTime Ohio as its local rights outlet.
- 2000
Adopts Fox Sports Net Ohio name
[1]The channel joins the wider Fox Sports Net naming system.
- 1998
Rebranded as Fox Sports Ohio
[1]SportsChannel Ohio adopts the Fox Sports Ohio identity during the consolidation of Fox's regional sports properties.
- 1989
Launch as SportsChannel Ohio
[1]The network begins broadcasting on February 9 as a SportsChannel affiliate, initially emphasizing Cleveland professional sports and selected regional college coverage.
Products and positioning
A regional sports broadcaster focused on exclusive or near-exclusive local television coverage, analysis, and supporting studio programming for professional teams in Ohio.
television programming · 1989
Regional professional sports broadcasts
The network's principal offering is live regional coverage of professional teams serving Ohio markets. Its historical portfolio has included Cincinnati Reds baseball, Cleveland Cavaliers basketball, and Columbus Blue Jackets hockey. Rights and availability vary by season, market, and distribution agreement, with local blackouts and separate Cleveland and Cincinnati feeds used to manage territorial rights.
sports analysis
Team-focused studio programming
Alongside games, the channel has produced pregame, halftime, intermission, and postgame programs, including Reds Live and Blue Jackets Live. These programs combine hosts, former players, analysts, and reporters and provide local previews, interviews, reaction, and post-event analysis.
college sports broadcasting · 1989
Selected collegiate sports
The network has carried selected college events involving Ohio and nearby institutions. Documented programming includes basketball involving the University of Dayton and Northern Kentucky University, as well as earlier agreements involving Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.
distribution service
Cleveland and Cincinnati regional feeds
FanDuel Sports Network Ohio has operated separate Cleveland and Cincinnati-oriented feeds under the same principal brand. The feeds carry different events according to local rights. The Cincinnati service may appear in electronic listings as FanDuel Sports Network Cincinnati, while Central Ohio providers may use alternate channels during overlapping games.
Brand decisions
2026
Planned wind-down of operationsStrategyBackground
Main Street Sports Group reportedly missed rights-fee payments, could not complete a proposed sale to DAZN, and faced pressure to reduce or terminate operations.
Action taken
The company was reported to be preparing a wind-down after the 2025–26 NBA and NHL seasons, with the network slated to shut down sometime in 2026.
Aftermath
The Cincinnati Reds moved their 2026 local production and distribution to MLB Local Media. The exact final closure date for FanDuel Sports Network Ohio is not specified.
2024
Adoption of FanDuel Sports Network identityStrategyBackground
Diamond's regional sports network business was operating under financial pressure after its Chapter 11 filing.
Action taken
The channel was renamed FanDuel Sports Network Ohio on October 21, 2024, under an agreement involving FanDuel Group.
Aftermath
The rebrand placed the channel within the FanDuel Sports Network chain while its local rights portfolio continued to face renegotiation.
2021
Adoption of Bally Sports namingStrategyBackground
Diamond Sports Group entered a commercial naming arrangement with Bally's Corporation.
Action taken
Fox Sports Ohio was renamed Bally Sports Ohio on March 31, 2021.
Aftermath
The Bally Sports identity remained in use until the network adopted the FanDuel Sports Network name in 2024.
2019
Divestiture and acquisition by Diamond Sports GroupM&ABackground
The proposed Disney acquisition of Fox's regional sports networks faced antitrust concerns because Disney already owned ESPN.
Action taken
The Ohio network was divested and acquired by Diamond Sports Group in a transaction completed on August 23, 2019.
Aftermath
The network remained a regional sports service but later became part of Diamond's bankruptcy and restructuring process.
1998
Move from SportsChannel to Fox Sports brandingStrategyBackground
The owners were consolidating regional sports properties under a common Fox identity.
Action taken
SportsChannel Ohio was renamed Fox Sports Ohio, beginning the channel's long association with the Fox regional sports network portfolio.
Aftermath
The service subsequently used Fox Sports Net Ohio, FSN Ohio, and later Fox Sports Ohio branding before another ownership-related rebrand.
Recent events
- 2026
Cincinnati Reds end Main Street Sports Group agreement[1]
Leadership change · Other
The Reds terminated their agreement with Main Street Sports Group and announced that MLB Local Media would produce and distribute their local telecasts for the 2026 season.
- 2024
Bally Sports Ohio becomes FanDuel Sports Network Ohio[1]
Other
The channel adopted its current FanDuel Sports Network Ohio identity under a new commercial arrangement involving FanDuel Group.
- 2024
Cleveland Monsters move local television coverage to Gray Television[1]
Other
The Cleveland Monsters ended their relationship with the network and entered a new local broadcast arrangement with Gray Television.
- 2023
Diamond Sports Group files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
The network's then-owner entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, increasing uncertainty around regional sports rights, distribution, and future operations.
- 2021
Fox Sports Ohio is renamed Bally Sports Ohio[1]
Other
The channel adopted the Bally Sports Ohio name as part of Diamond's sponsorship agreement with Bally's Corporation.
- 2019
Diamond Sports Group completes acquisition[1]
M&A
Diamond Sports Group acquired the regional Fox sports channels from Disney-related ownership, including the Ohio network.
- 2018
Disney acquisition plan triggers required regional-network divestiture[1]
Regulation · M&A
The United States Justice Department required the Fox regional sports networks to be divested from the proposed Disney transaction because of Disney's ownership of ESPN.
- 1998
SportsChannel Ohio becomes Fox Sports Ohio[1]
Other
The channel was rebranded as Fox Sports Ohio during the broader conversion of SportsChannel regional networks into the Fox sports portfolio.
- 1989
SportsChannel Ohio launches[1]
Other
The network began operations as SportsChannel Ohio, carrying regional coverage of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians and selected other sports.
Sources1 sources
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