There may be a new way to watch the Cincinnati Reds next year after DISH, Sling, Hulu and YouTube TV dropped Fox Sports Ohio as a channel in a contract dispute.
Sinclair CEO and president Chris Ripley told financial analysts in a conference call last month that Fox Sports Ohio and the other 20 regional sports networks that Sinclair owns are expected to become available to purchase as a standalone app. It would be like paying for Netflix or ESPN+.
"I do think we'll be living in a hybrid world for many years to come where direct-to-consumer and traditional pay-TV bundles will co-exist for the foreseeable future and that's the path we're going to be moving towards in the future," Ripley said on the call, according to the Streamable.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the direct-to-consumer offering may not be ready at the beginning of the 2021 MLB season – the Reds' Opening Day is April 1 vs. the Cardinals – and the price of the standalone option is unknown. It's unclear if it would include all games.
It's a significant development because there was no true substitute for local Reds fans if a TV provider didn't carry Fox Sports Ohio. The MLB.TV subscription has a blackout for local games.
Fox Sports Ohio will soon be rebranded after Sinclair entered a partnership with the casino operator Bally's and the network will carry a Bally Sports name. The partnership is expected to integrate live betting and other gambling-related content through their future app.
"We have a pretty aggressive plan," Ripley said on the call, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It will happen next year."
Along with the Reds, Fox Sports Ohio carries the Columbus Blue Jackets.