{{Short description|American regional sports network}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox television channel | name = FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | logo = FanDuel_Sports_Network_Ohio_logo.svg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | alt = | caption = | type = Regional sports network | country = United States | area = Ohio<br>Indiana<br>Kentucky<br>Northwest Pennsylvania<br>West Virginia<br>Southwest New York<br>Nationwide (via satellite) | network = FanDuel Sports Network | headquarters = Cleveland, Ohio | language = English | picture_format = 720p (HDTV)<br>480i (SDTV) | owner = Main Street Sports Group | parent = | key_people = | sister_channels = | founded = | founder = | launch_date = {{Start date|1989|02|09}} | replaced = | closed_date = {{End date|2026|05}} | replaced_by = | former_names = SportsChannel Ohio (1989–1998)<br>Fox Sports Ohio (1998–1999, 2008–2021)<br>Fox Sports Net Ohio (1999–2004)<br>FSN Ohio (2004–2008)<br>Bally Sports Ohio (2021–2024) | online_serv_1 = FanDuel Sports Network app | online_chan_1 = {{URL|http://www.fanduelsportsnetwork.com/|www.fanduelsportsnetwork.com/ }}<br>{{small|(U.S. cable internet subscribers only; requires login from participating providers to stream content; some events may not be available due to league rights restrictions)}} | online_serv_2 = DirecTV Stream | online_chan_2 = Internet Protocol television | online_serv_3 = FuboTV | online_chan_3 = Internet Protocol television | availability_note = | website = {{URL|https://www.fanduelsportsnetwork.com/}} | webcast = }} '''FanDuel Sports Network Ohio''' (formerly '''Bally Sports Ohio''') was an American regional sports network owned by Main Street Sports Group (formerly Diamond Sports Group) as part of the FanDuel Sports Network chain.
The channel broadcast regional coverage of sports events in the state of Ohio, with a focus on professional sports teams based in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus.
FanDuel Sports Network Ohio was available on cable providers (plus U-Verse and DirecTV) throughout Ohio, as well as parts of Indiana, Kentucky, northwestern Pennsylvania, eastern Tennessee, border communities of West Virginia, and extreme southwestern New York; it was also available nationwide on satellite via DirecTV.
==History== thumb|left|200px|Former logo The channel originally launched on February 9, 1989, as SportsChannel Ohio. It launched as an affiliate of SportsChannel, a slate of regional sports networks operated as a joint venture between Cablevision and NBC (the owner of WKYC until 1990). SportsChannel Ohio initially held the broadcast games from the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Indians. The channel also aired select Cincinnati Reds games produced by SportsChannel Cincinnati, Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball and football games, and Ohio State Buckeyes sporting events (with the exception of football and basketball).<ref>{{cite web|title=Warner Cable May Drop SportsChannel|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-9147045/warner-cable-may-drop.html|via=AccessMyLibrary}}</ref>
In 1997, News Corporation and Liberty Media purchased a 40% interest in Cablevision's sports properties including the SportsChannel America networks (as well as Madison Square Garden and its NBA and NHL team tenants, the New York Knicks and New York Rangers) in a deal worth $850 million, forming the venture National Sports Partners to run the owned-and-operated regional networks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fox putting together national Sports Net // Changes ahead for SportsChannel|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4383098.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924194306/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4383098.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|publisher=Sun-Times Media Group|date=June 24, 1997|access-date=April 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=National net keys regional deal. (Fox Sports, Liberty Media Corp. challenge ESPN with stake in SportsChannel)|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19555907.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910170418/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19555907.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 10, 2015|author=John M. Higgins|author-link=John M. Higgins|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=Reed Business Information|date=June 30, 1997|access-date=April 7, 2015}}</ref> As part of a gradual rebranding of the SportsChannel networks that began that month, SportsChannel Ohio was rebranded as Fox Sports Ohio in January 1998.
The channel was then rebranded as Fox Sports Net Ohio in 2000, as part of a collective brand modification of the FSN networks under the "Fox Sports Net" banner; subsequently in 2004, the channel shortened its name to FSN Ohio, through the networks' de-emphasis of the brand.
In February 2005, News Corporation (which spun off most of its entertainment properties into 21st Century Fox in July 2013) acquired Cablevision's ownership stakes in Fox Sports Ohio and Fox Sports Florida, following an asset trade in which Fox sold its interest in Madison Square Garden, the Knicks and the Rangers, to Cablevision, in exchange for acquiring sole ownership of the two networks. The channel reverted to the Fox Sports Ohio moniker in 2008
On December 14, 2017, as part of a merger between both companies, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to acquire all 22 regional Fox Sports networks from 21st Century Fox, including Fox Sports Ohio, sister network SportsTime Ohio, and Fox's 50% stake in the network's Cincinnati sub-feed. However, on June 27, 2018, the Justice Department ordered their divestment under antitrust grounds, citing Disney's ownership of ESPN.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney can buy Fox if it sells 22 regional sports networks, Justice Dept. says|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/media/2018/06/27/doj-approves-disney-fox-merger-sale-22-regional-sports-networks/738440002/|website=USA Today|date=June 28, 2018}}</ref> On May 3, 2019, it was announced that Diamond Sports Group (a partnership between Sinclair Broadcast Group and Allen Media Group) would acquire the channels as part of an agreement with Disney.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmeri |first1=Christopher |last2=Sakoui |first2=Anousha |date=May 2, 2019 |title=Sinclair to Buy Fox Sports Networks From Disney, WSJ Reports |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-02/sinclair-to-acquire-fox-sports-networks-from-disney-wsj-reports |access-date=May 2, 2019 |work=Bloomberg |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=May 3, 2019 |title=Sinclair Clinches Disney-Regional Sports Networks Deal, Byron Allen Joins as Partner |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/sinclair-disney-regional-sports-network-deal-1203204685/ |access-date=May 5, 2019 |website=Variety |language=en}}</ref>
The sale was completed on August 23, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Morona |first1=Joey |last2=clevel |last3=.com |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Sinclair's purchase of Fox Sports Ohio and SportsTime Ohio is a done deal |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/08/sinclairs-purchase-of-fox-sports-ohio-and-sportstime-ohio-is-a-done-deal.html |access-date=August 23, 2019 |website=cleveland.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The network continued to operate under the Fox Sports name until March 31, 2021, when it was rebranded '''Bally Sports Ohio''' as part of a sponsorship deal between Diamond and casino operator Bally's Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balderston |first=Michael |date=2021-01-27 |title=Sinclair, Bally Reveal Bally Sports Rebrand for RSNs |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/sinclair-bally-reveal-bally-sports-rebrand |access-date=2021-01-28 |website=TVTechnology |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-19 |title=Farewell, Fox Sports West. Hello, Bally Sports |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-11-18/fox-sports-west-bally-sports-prime-ticket |access-date=2021-01-28 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dachman |first=Jason |date=March 30, 2021 |title=How Sinclair Pulled Off the Gargantuan Bally Sports Networks Rebrand Amid the Pandemic |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/03/30/how-sinclair-pulled-off-the-gargantuan-bally-sports-networks-rebrand-amid-the-pandemic/ |access-date=30 March 2021 |work=Sports Video Group |language=en}}</ref>
thumb|right|150px|2010s logo as Fox Sports Ohio thumb|Bally Sports Ohio logo
On March 14, 2023, Diamond Sports filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bouma|first1=Luke|title=Bally Sports Just Declared Bankruptcy – The Death of RSNs?|url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/bally-sports-just-declared-bankruptcy-the-death-of-rsns/ |access-date=March 14, 2023 |work=Cord Cutters News |date=March 14, 2023}}</ref> On October 21, 2024, the channel was rebranded as '''FanDuel Sports Network Ohio''' as part of a new agreement between Diamond and FanDuel Group.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2024-10-18 |title=FanDuel Takes Over Naming Rights to Diamond Sports RSNs |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/fanduel-naming-rights-diamond-sports-rsn-1236182511/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-18 |title=Diamond Sports branded as FanDuel in new deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41871214/diamond-sports-groups-channels-branded-part-fanduel-sports-network-deal |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Tony |title=Bally Sports Detroit set to become FanDuel Sports Network; what you need to know |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/2024/10/16/bally-sports-detroit-set-to-become-fanduel-sports-network-what-you-need-to-know/75707857007/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Randles |first=Jonathan |date=2024-10-16 |title=Diamond Seeks Approval to Rebrand From Bally Sports to FanDuel |url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/2024/10/16/diamond-seeks-approval-to-rebrand-from-bally-sports-to-fanduel/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=BNN Bloomberg |language=en}}</ref>
In December 2025, Main Street Sports Group began to miss rights fee payments to sports teams featured on their networks; the company was attempting to sell itself to British sports streaming company DAZN and would prepare to cease operations if it could not complete the transaction before the end of January 2026.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend|first=Tom|title=Sources: Main Street misses Cardinals payment, will shutter if it cannot sell to DAZN|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/12/21/sources-main-street-misses-cardinals-payment-will-shutter-if-it-cannot-sell-to-dazn/|access-date=December 21, 2025|work=Sports Business Journal|date=December 21, 2025}}</ref> Puck News reported that as a result of the failed rights payments and cancelled sale to DAZN, Main Street Sports Group intended to wind down operations in spring 2026 following the conclusion of the 2025–26 NHL and NBA seasons.<ref name="shutdown-2026">{{cite news |last1=Ourand |first1=John |title=Requiem for an R.S.N. Dream |url=https://puck.news/inside-the-slow-motion-collapse-of-main-street-sports/ |access-date=7 February 2026 |work=Puck |date=3 February 2026}}</ref> The Cincinnati Reds were one of the nine MLB teams that terminated their contract with Main Street in January 2026; on February 2, the Cincinnati Reds announced that MLB Local Media would assume production and distribution of their local telecasts beginning with their 2026 season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend|first=Tom|title=All nine MLB teams officially leaving Main Street; NBA and NHL in holding pattern|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/02/02/sources-all-nine-mlb-teams-officially-leaving-main-street-nba-and-nhl-in-holding-pattern/|access-date=February 2, 2026|work=Sports Business Journal|date=February 2, 2026}}</ref>
Altafiber stopped carrying FanDuel Sports Network Ohio's Cincinnati subfeed on April 30, having already created a channel for MLB Local Media's Cincinnati Reds games.<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Updates and Negotiations|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260423224728/https://info.altafiber.com/tv-updates|access-date=April 23, 2026|work=Altafiber|date=April 20, 2026}}</ref>
==Feeds== The network operated regional feeds for the Cleveland and Cincinnati markets, both branded as FanDuel Sports Network Ohio (but with the latter feed disambiguated in some electronic program guides and online television listings services as '''FanDuel Sports Network Cincinnati'''), which broadcast different events depending on the market. This arrangement occasionally caused event conflicts in the Columbus market, which is located between Cincinnati and Cleveland. In the event of conflicting events between the two regional feeds (typically between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Blue Jackets and Cleveland Cavaliers, TV providers in Central Ohio usually carried the other game on an alternate channel.
==Programming== FanDuel Sports Network Ohio held the exclusive regional pay television rights to the MLB's Cincinnati Reds (1989-2025), NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers (1990-26), and the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets (2000-26). The channel also carried a select number of college basketball games involving the University of Dayton and Northern Kentucky University.<ref>{{cite web |title=NKU Athletics extends partnership with Bally Sports Ohio; Six basketball games to air in 2022-23 |url=https://nkunorse.com/news/2022/11/3/mens-basketball-nku-athletics-extends-partnership-with-bally-sports-ohio-six-basketball-games-to-air-in-2022-23.aspx |website=Northern Kentucky University |date=November 3, 2022 |access-date=November 27, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-22 |title=Men's Basketball Announces Non-Conference Television Schedule |url=https://daytonflyers.com/news/2023/11/22/mens-basketball-announces-non-conference-television-scheduleud-will-have-a-four-more-games-on-spectrum-news-1-two-on-ballys-sports-ohioud-will-have-a-four-more-games-on-spectrum-news-1-two-on-ballys-sports-ohio.aspx |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=University of Dayton Athletics |language=en}}</ref> The network formerly held the local rights to college basketball games featuring Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati through the 2019–20 season.
The channel formerly broadcast Cleveland Indians games from the network's launch as SportsChannel Ohio, until Fox Sports Ohio lost the rights as a result of the team starting eventual sister network SportsTime Ohio in March 2006. Despite this move, Reds games continued to be blacked out in most of Northeast Ohio, the designated market area of the now-Guardians. When Reds games aired in the rest of Ohio, the Cleveland feed aired generic national Fox Sports Networks programming unless a local Cleveland event was scheduled. Although they came under common ownership following Fox's purchase of the latter in 2012, Bally Sports Ohio did not share broadcast rights to any sporting events with Bally Sports Great Lakes and vice versa (unlike arrangements that exist between Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast, and Fox Sports Florida and Fox Sports Sun), with both networks maintaining their own respective team television contracts. From 2019 to 2021, Columbus Crew games were split between Fox Sports Ohio and SportsTime Ohio, although those telecasts were blacked out in the Cincinnati area due to the presence of FC Cincinnati.
On October 19, 2016, Fox Sports and the Reds announced an extension of their broadcast agreement to the end of the 2032 season. The deal included the Reds taking an equity stake in the Cincinnati sub-feed of Fox Sports Ohio.<ref name="cenqredsequity">{{cite news|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2016/10/19/reds-fox-sports-ohio-extend-partnership-through-2032/92418972/|title=Reds, Fox Sports Ohio extend partnership through 2032|last=Buchanan|first=Zach|date=October 19, 2016|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref><ref name="cenqredsequity2">{{cite news |last=Buchanan |first=Zach |date=October 19, 2016 |title=Reds, Fox Sports Ohio extend partnership through 2032 |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2016/10/19/reds-fox-sports-ohio-extend-partnership-through-2032/92418972/ |access-date=October 20, 2016 |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer}}</ref> In November 2024, amid the Diamond Sports bankruptcy, the Reds agreed to exit the contract and would sign with MLB Local Media for the 2025 season. On January 13, 2025, the team announced that it had instead renewed with Main Street Sports Group, and would remain on FDSN Ohio for the 2025 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-14 |title=MLB to take over Reds broadcasts in 2025 |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/11/14/cincinnati-reds-mlb-broadcasts |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Reds reach deal to stay with Main Street Sports for TV broadcasts |url=https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/reds-fanduel-announce-telecast-rights-agreement-for-2025 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> On February 2, 2026, the Reds terminated their broadcast agreement with Main Street Sports Group, and announced that MLB Local Media would produce and distribute Reds games starting in the upcoming 2026 MLB season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reds games will be produced, distributed by MLB in 2026 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-games-mlb-distribution-2026 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>
FanDuel Sports Network Ohio was also the broadcaster for the AHL's Cleveland Monsters until 2024 when the Monsters signed a new deal with Gray Television.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cleveland Monsters Announce First Rock Entertainment Sports Network Game Telecast And Return Of Monsters OT Studio Show |url=https://www.clevelandmonsters.com/news/detail/cleveland-monsters-announce-first-rock-entertainment-sports-network-game-telecast-and-return-of-monsters-ot-studio-show |website=clevelandmonsters.com |publisher=Cleveland Monsters |access-date=November 16, 2024}}</ref>
==Notable on-air staff== ===Former staff=== ====Cincinnati Reds==== * John Sadak - play-by-play * Chris Welsh – primary color commentary/fill in co-host ''Reds Live'' * Jeff Brantley – color commentary (select games) * Barry Larkin – color commentary (home games) * Jim Day – sideline reporter/Alternative play by play * Brian Giesenschlag – co-host ''Reds Live'' * Sam LeCure – co-host ''Reds Live''/Cincinnati Reds color commentary (select games) * Annie Sabo – Fill in co-host ''Reds Live''
====Cleveland Cavaliers==== * John Michael – play-by-play * Austin Carr – color commentator * Brad Daugherty – color commentator * Serena Winters – sideline reporter * Cayleigh Griffin – pregame/halftime/postgame host * Daniel Gibson – pregame/halftime/postgame host
====Columbus Blue Jackets==== * Steve Mears – play-by-play * Jody Shelley – color commentary * Dave Maetzold - in-game/locker room reporter * Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre - pregame/intermission/postgame (''Blue Jackets Live'') co-host * Brian Giesenschlag – pregame/intermission/postgame (''Blue Jackets Live'') co-host
====College sports==== * John Cooper – analyst for ''Game Time with Ryan Day'' * Jim Lachey – analyst for ''Game Time with Ryan Day'' * Chris "Beanie" Wells – analyst for ''Game Time with Ryan Day''
====Columbus Crew==== * Neil SBilly Joel – play-by-play<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/club/broadcast/neil-sbilly-joel | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718060856/https://www.columbuscrew.com/club/broadcast/neil-sika | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 18, 2021 | title=Neil Sika | Columbus Crew }}</ref> * Jordan Angeli – color commentary<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/club/broadcast/jordan-angeli/ | title=Jordan Angeli | Columbus Crew | access-date=July 18, 2021 | archive-date=July 19, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719223356/https://www.columbuscrew.com/club/broadcast/jordan-angeli | url-status=dead }}</ref> * Brett Hiltbrand – sideline reporter/pregame/halftime/postgame host (''Crew Live'')<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/club/broadcast/brett-hiltbrand | title=Brett Hiltbrand | Columbus Crew | access-date=July 18, 2021 | archive-date=July 18, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718060854/https://www.columbuscrew.com/club/broadcast/brett-hiltbrand | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Official website|https://www.fanduelsportsnetwork.com/}} {{Bally Sports}} {{Navboxes|list1= {{SBGI}} {{Cincinnati Reds}} {{Cleveland Cavaliers}} {{Columbus Blue Jackets}} {{Lake Erie Monsters}} {{SportsChannel America}} {{U.S. regional sports networks}} }}
Category:SportsChannel Category:Fox Sports Networks Category:Bally Sports Category:FanDuel Sports Network Category:Television channels and stations established in 1989 Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2026 Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023 Category:1989 establishments in Ohio Category:2026 disestablishments in Ohio