MLB to produce, distribute local Brewers games in 2025

MILWAUKEE -- So long, Bally Sports Wisconsin. Hello “Brewers TV.”

MLB will produce and distribute local television broadcasts for the Brewers next season, the league announced Tuesday while unveiling similar plans for the Guardians and Twins. It adds to a growing list of markets moving away from the regional sports network model and toward a new system that will give fans more options for watching games in 2025.

It is not MLB’s first foray into producing and airing local telecasts. Last season, MLB negotiated cable and satellite distribution agreements and made direct-to-consumer streaming options available for the D-backs, Padres and Rockies.

"We think this is a long-term play. We think this is the future of local media in Major League Baseball,” Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger said. “We’re very fortunate that MLB had the infrastructure, the expertise, the talent, the know-how and the local component already in place. We feel like we’re joining a very high-quality operation and we’re privileged that it exists, because this option is not available in other leagues.”

Here’s what Brewers fans need to know about the change:

Where will I get the games?
If you currently get Brewers games from a cable or satellite provider, you’ll still get Brewers games from the same provider in 2025, Schlesinger said. For fans who do not have a cable or satellite service in Milwaukee’s home television territory, you’ll now be able to get them by subscribing to MLB’s streaming service – with no blackouts.

"Obviously, we're hoping to grow the audience and grow the reach, but if you have a cable or satellite, you will have the Brewers on cable and satellite next year,” Schlesinger said. “If you want a streaming product, we're going to have a tremendously high-energy, high-technology streaming service, a subscription-based product for our fans. …

"From the fan perspective, it's great because you're going to have total access and no blackouts. You'll be able to get the Brewers games that you want.”

How much will the streaming service cost?
Last season, in-market fans -- for the Brewers, that includes the entire state of Wisconsin and slices of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula -- could subscribe to Padres.TV, Rockies.TV or Dbacks.TV for $19.99 per month or $99.99 for the season and get the games with no blackout restrictions. Or, they could bundle the local package with MLB.TV and get games all over the league for $39.99 per month, or $199.99 for the season. Prices for 2025 will be set at a later date.

What will happen to my favorite broadcasters?
"Everybody's coming back,” Schlesinger said, talking specifically about the primary broadcasters who were already club employees, including play-by-play men Brian Anderson and Jeff Levering, analyst Bill Schroeder and reporter Sophia Minnaert. Former Brewers players Vinny Rottino and Tim Dillard also receive their paychecks from the club when they serve as analysts for road games.

"What I want people to see next year is the familiar, high quality of our on-air talent,” Schlesinger said. “That's part of the program for sure.”

What about Bally Sports Wisconsin talent and staff, and what about the pre- and postgame shows?
It takes dozens of camera operators and other men and women behind the scenes to put on a live broadcast, and Schlesinger was hopeful that most of them would continue to help MLB bring Brewers games to fans. As for pre- and postgame programming, it’s to be determined, but there will be some form of those elements, Schlesinger said. Whether that continues to be a full 40-minute show before a game, or a shortened version, is TBD.

"Some of those folks are not Brewers employees, but obviously they have been part of the Brewers family,” Schlesinger said. “So, we'll figure out specifics on staffing pre- and post, but familiarity with our team and our product and our broadcast is important, and I think we have some really quality people who do the pre- and the post, so certainly those are under consideration.”

Will the telecasts look different?
Yes -- and in a good way, as Schlesinger sees it.

"MLB used in 2024 some interesting elements, whether it's umpire cameras or drone cameras, they are really, really advanced,” Schlesinger said. “It's a big part of our equation that the broadcast production is top rate, so I think the fans are going to see an enhanced product next year. The key camera angles that are 90 percent of the broadcast, people will still see that. … The technology -- the sky's the limit as we start thinking about what else can be out there.”

Will the cable channel have 24/7 Brewers content?
Not initially. First, the league and Brewers will focus on televising games. But eventually, there is the option for expanded programming, Schlesinger said.

Will this impact player payroll?
Schlesinger, general manager Matt Arnold and owner Mark Attanasio have not had any discussions yet about 2025 payroll, said Schlesinger, who made the case that TV revenue is “part of a larger ecosystem” of the business of baseball.

"We're all navigating through some choppy waters when it comes to the … migration from traditional cable and satellite to streaming,” he said. “I think if you look at most local teams in all sports, there's certainly some step back financially from that. But from our perspective, we look at this long term. Can we grow our audience? Absolutely. Can we create a great product that's going to be enticing and interesting to our fans? For sure. Can we message things in a different way with owning and controlling our broadcast? For sure.

"So, long term, we’re very bullish on the implications for our brand and fan engagement and revenue. Short term, probably some choppy waters, but our horizons are five, 10, 15 years away.”