Tigers, Red Wings enter broadcast partnership with MLB

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment has entered a first of its kind partnership with Major League Baseball, which will provide broadcast support to both the Detroit Tigers (beginning with the 2026 MLB season) and the Detroit Red Wings (starting with the 2026-27 NHL season). This partnership creates a new platform where fans throughout the teams’ home television territories, including all of Michigan, can watch games and other content when and where they want.

Maintaining consistency with years past, fans within the Clubs’ home television territory will be able to watch Tigers and Red Wings games through the same options that have been recently available. Information on cable/satellite providers and direct-to-consumer streaming subscriptions will be communicated at a later date.

“Given recent uncertainty throughout the regional sports broadcasting industry, we recognize the importance of providing fans with a consistent, year-round outlet to watch Tigers baseball and Red Wings hockey,” said Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “We have two of the top-rated broadcasts in our respective sports and remain focused on listening to fans about what matters most to them. What we’ve heard includes making sure our games are available throughout the market, providing a reliable streaming product, and producing a broadcast that’s informative and entertaining in all the right ways. This is a great path forward in those areas, allowing us to provide a great experience for fans throughout our local market.”

Aside from games selected to be national broadcasts, Tigers and Red Wings games will air throughout our market – available to everyone through either a cable or satellite package or streaming subscription.

Detroit Tigers

Major League Baseball will now produce and distribute games for the Tigers – leading broadcast production, negotiating distribution agreements, operating a direct-to-consumer streaming product, and more.

Led by Jason Benetti and Dan Dickerson in the play-by-play role, and Andy Dirks and Dan Petry as analysts, Detroit’s on-air broadcast talent is considered one of the best groups in baseball. Each are expected to return for the 2026 campaign.

Detroit’s new partnership with MLB follows a season of remarkable viewership growth in 2025 – including increases of 121% in per-game streamers and 101% in per-game household impressions. Only five U.S.-based teams had higher per-game viewership last season, and only two had a higher average rating.

Detroit Red Wings

Following the 2025-26 NHL season, the Red Wings will make their transition into this partnership. Ilitch Sports + Entertainment will assume broadcast production duties, while MLB assists with production processes.

Red Wings coverage on FanDuel sports network is expected to continue through the end of this season. Additional details regarding the 2026-27 season will be announced when available.

Voted as the top NHL broadcast in back-to-back seasons (2024-25, via The Athletic’s annual fan survey), the iconic duo of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond are expected to continue leading Red Wings telecasts for years to come. Future production planning will take place after the 2025-26 season concludes.