Okay, so I saw the headline earlier: Brewers announce telecast rights deal with FanDuel Sports Network. And my first reaction was, “Huh, alright then. What’s this mean for actually watching the games?” ‘Cause let’s be honest, it feels like every year there’s a new shuffle or a new app I gotta figure out.
So, I figured I’d spend a bit of my morning digging into this, just to see what the actual process is now if I want to catch the Brew Crew. It’s not like I’m some tech wizard, but I like to know where my baseball is gonna be, you know?
My Little Quest for Brewers Game Info
First thing I did was just try and piece together what this FanDuel Sports Network even is. I remembered it used to be Bally Sports Wisconsin. So, okay, name change, got it. That’s where they’re saying the regular, in-market Milwaukee Brewers games will be. FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, or FDSWI they’re calling it. Rolls right off the tongue, not!
Then I started thinking about all the different ways games pop up. My process was basically:
- Confirm the main local channel: Yep, FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin is the big one for most games. They said they’ll televise all regular-season games that aren’t exclusively on a national channel. Plus, they’re keeping the pre and postgame shows, which is good. I like to see the build-up and the wrap-up.
- What about national games? Those are still gonna be on the usual suspects: FOX, FS1, ESPN, TBS, and MLB Network. So, that part of my brain doesn’t need to relearn anything, which is a small victory.
- Any of that streaming stuff? Yeah, they mentioned some games will stream on Apple TV+ and The Roku Channel. More options, which can be good or just more confusing, depending on the day.
- The App Situation: This is where I spent a bit more time. There’s a FanDuel Sports Network app. I found some info saying new customers can get a 30-day free trial. That’s something, I guess. Got to claim it and then use it by May 31, 2025. After that, it’s $19.99 a month. That’s a bit steep if you ask me, but if it’s the only way to get games reliably, what are you gonna do?
Honestly, my “practice” here was just me trying to simulate what I’d do on game day. I didn’t sign up for anything yet, just gathered the intel. Last season, there were a couple of times I was scrambling at the last minute, trying to figure out why the game wasn’t where I thought it would be. It’s super frustrating when you just want to sit down and watch the game, and you end up playing tech support for yourself.
I even had my buddy Mike over for a game last year, and we missed the first two innings ’cause my usual stream wasn’t working and the other option needed some new login I’d forgotten. We were both pretty ticked off. So, this year, I’m trying to be a bit more prepared. Knowing it’s mostly on this FanDuel Sports Network, and there’s an app option (with a trial, importantly), at least gives me a starting point.
It’s just how things are now, I guess. Used to be you just turned on the TV. Now you gotta be a detective. But hey, if this new setup means I can find the Brewers without a massive headache, I’m willing to give it a go. We’ll see how smooth it actually is when the season is in full swing. Hopefully, less “where the heck is the game?!” and more “Let’s go Brewers!”
