Detroit, MI – The Detroit Tigers have officially stepped into a new chapter.
On Monday, the club launched Detroit SportsNet, a year-round television and streaming home for both the Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings. The move marks a major shift in how fans across the region will watch their teams moving forward.
While much of the on-air talent remains the same, the platform is entirely new.
Familiar Voices, New Home
Tigers broadcasts will continue to feature play-by-play announcers Jason Benetti and Dan Dickerson, alongside analysts Andy Dirks and Dan Petry. What changes is where fans will find the games.
Tigers games will stream through the MLB App on web, mobile, and connected TV platforms. But this is not a streaming-only product.
Detroit SportsNet will also be available on many cable and satellite providers throughout Michigan. Specific providers and channel numbers will be announced closer to Tigers Opening Day, and the network is expected to appear near other sports programming in television lineups.
In other words, fans will still have flexibility — traditional TV or direct streaming.
A select number of Spring Training games will stream in-market for free, including two games produced directly by the Tigers and select simulcasts of opposing broadcasts.
Free Trial Through April 1
Fans can subscribe to Detroit SportsNet through March 22 and receive a free trial through April 1.
That trial includes the first five regular season games, including Opening Day on March 26 in San Diego.
Beginning April 1, pricing will be:
- $19.99 per month
- $189.99 per year
The annual plan will include Red Wings broadcasts beginning with the 2026-27 NHL season.
A Historic Shift
This move represents more than a platform change. It’s a structural shift in Detroit sports broadcasting.
The Tigers’ broadcast history dates back to 1927 with their first radio broadcast and 1947 with their first televised games. The team has had a pay-TV home since ON-TV in 1981.
However, this marks the first time the Tigers have brought broadcast production in-house through Major League Baseball.
The MLB App will now serve as the central hub for Tigers games, along with highlights, stats, and league-wide content.
Why the Change?
Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, addressed the move in a press release:
“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. 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.”
The reference to “recent uncertainty” reflects the instability across regional sports networks nationwide, where bankruptcies and contract disputes have disrupted coverage in multiple markets.
Detroit is choosing to get ahead of that problem.
What It Means for Fans
This is a direct-to-consumer model built for streaming first, with traditional providers expected to follow.
For fans who have cut the cord, the MLB App becomes the primary access point. For traditional TV viewers, distribution deals will determine how quickly the network becomes widely available through cable and satellite packages.
Either way, Detroit sports are consolidating under one banner.
The Tigers and Red Wings now share a year-round broadcast home.
The Detroit Tigers have also launched an official FAQ which is available by clicking here.
- NMD Staff
Staff@NewMediaDetroit.com