Cavs, 12 others see end of FanDuel Sports Network era

The Cavaliers and 12 other NBA teams are set to air their final local broadcasts on FanDuel Sports Network today. And also, their final broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network… ever.

The change has been coming, but it still feels a little jarring for a lot of people who have followed their favorite team at the local level.

So yes, Sunday marks the final Cavs broadcast on the network, with play-in games shifting to streaming-only on Prime and no local TV coverage for the playoffs.

That applies across the board.

According to Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal, the NBA has informed the 13 teams tied to Main Street Sports Group that they are free to pursue new in-market media rights deals for the 2026-27 season.

That group consists of the Cavaliers, Heat, Thunder, Spurs, Pistons, Clippers, Timberwolves, Magic, Hornets, Hawks, Pacers, Grizzlies and Bucks.

Main Street, formerly Diamond Sports Group, operates FanDuel Sports Network and is expected to cease operations following the regular season.

“We are preparing to wind down our operations upon seasons’ end unless we reach a strategic transaction,” a company spokesperson said a few weeks back.

So now, teams are left looking ahead.

There are no confirmed local broadcast partners for next season. Possibilities include over-the-air networks, streaming services or some combination of both, with companies such as DAZN, Amazon, YouTube TV and ESPN’s app all in the mix.

The NBA is also working toward a centralized streaming platform, though that’s not expected until at least the 2027-28 season.

In the meantime, it’s a scramble.

“We’re throwing a very wide net,” Pacers Sports and Entertainment CEO Mel Raines told Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. “Looking at every possible option to reach as many of our fans as we can next season.”

For fans, it means change is here. For teams, it means uncertainty.

And for a group that includes the Cavs, it marks the end of a familiar broadcast home.