The Texas Rangers are set to offer fans the opportunity to stream their regional game broadcasts directly, marking a significant move to enhance viewing options following several seasons marked by access difficulties.
On Wednesday, the MLB franchise disclosed that it has entered into a multiyear partnership with A Parent Media Co. Inc. (APMC) to provide streaming for Rangers regional games via the Victory+ service starting this year. This streaming platform is the same service that recently took over the regional broadcasts for the NHL’s Dallas Stars. While Stars games and supplementary content can be accessed for free, fans wishing to view Rangers games will have to pay a fee of $100 for the entire season.
Neil Leibman, the Chief Operating Officer and president of business operations for the Rangers, expressed positive sentiments regarding this collaboration, stating, “The Rangers’ partnership with Victory+ as our direct-to-consumer provider is a tremendous first step as the club continues to finalize our television offerings for 2025 game broadcasts.” He further praised Victory+ for its dependability as a streaming service for professional sports teams, anticipating that Rangers fans will appreciate the platform’s convenience and straightforwardness.
Although the team has not disclosed the specifics of additional viewing options, it is anticipated that these could include traditional cable services and potentially some over-the-air broadcasts. The Rangers have a vast broadcast territory that encompasses over 16 million households across five states, and details about these upcoming options are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Both the Rangers and the Dallas Stars previously aired their games on Bally Sports Southwest, which is part of the financially distressed Diamond Sports Group currently undergoing bankruptcy reorganization. Last summer, the Stars and Diamond Sports mutually decided to terminate their existing rights agreement, while the Rangers’ contract with the group expired at the conclusion of last season.
In light of the difficulties surrounding Bally Sports Southwest’s availability with various cable companies and popular streaming platforms, fans of the Rangers, Stars, and the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks faced challenges in watching games during significant periods of success for these teams. The Rangers emerged as World Series champions in 2023, while the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals the previous summer, and the Stars made it to the NHL Western Conference finals.
APMC, which also provides broadcasting services for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, recently reported that early metrics for the Victory+ service and live games have indicated viewership rates three to four times higher than expected, along with more than half a million downloads. This season, the Mavericks commenced a multiyear local broadcast rights agreement with TEGNA, which extends its reach to approximately 10 million viewers across more than 3.1 million households in Texas.
