BravesVision
 | |
| Type | Regional sports network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Broadcast area | Alabama Georgia Mississippi South Carolina Tennessee western North Carolina |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Atlanta Braves |
| History | |
| Launched | March 27, 2026 |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| List of over-the-air affiliates | |
| DirecTV | 645 |
| U-Verse | 1730 |
| Xfinity | 1254 |
| Streaming media | |
| DirecTV Stream | Internet Protocol television |
| FuboTV | Internet Protocol television |
BravesVision is a part-time regional sports network operated by the Atlanta Braves in partnership with Raycom Sports. Launched during the 2026 season, the channel serves as the broadcaster for Atlanta Braves games not televised exclusively by Major League Baseball's national media partners, succeeding FanDuel Sports Network South amid its financial issues and closedown.
The unit expands upon a working relationship between the Braves and Gray Media which began in the 2025 season; Raycom Sports serves as a production partner for BravesVision alongside team-employed personnel carried over from FDSN, with Gray handling advertising sales, and providing use of a studio at WANF in Atlanta.
Similarly to MLB Local Media, it is distributed via ad-hoc arrangements with television providers within the Braves' regional footprint, while MLB.tv hosts a direct to consumer (DTC) streaming package under the Braves.tv banner. BravesVision will also syndicate a package of games throughout the season to Gray Media stations in the team's market.
History
[edit]Braves on Gray
[edit]Prior to the 2025 season, the Braves announced a broadcast television deal with Gray Media—the current owner of Atlanta's WPCH-TV (the former WTBS, a station which the team has had a longstanding association with)[1]—under which WPCH, sister station WANF, and a regional network of Gray Media stations across the team's broadcast territory (branded as Braves on Gray), would air 10 regular season Braves games in simulcast with FanDuel Sports Network South. The stations would also air a package of 15 spring training games; unlike the regular season package, these games were exclusive to broadcast television and produced in-house via Gray's subsidiary Raycom Sports.[2][3][4]
FanDuel Sports Network closure, BravesVision formation
[edit]In January 2026, Main Street Sports Group's nine remaining regional contracts with MLB teams were terminated due to missed payments, amid financial issues, and declined offers by sports streaming service DAZN to acquire the company. This impacted the Atlanta Braves, whose regional broadcasts were carried by FanDuel Sports Network South.[5][6][7] Pending further developments, FanDuel Sports Network announced that it will likely cease operations entirely following the conclusion of the current NBA and NHL seasons.[8][9] While seven of the impacted teams were expected to move their regional rights to MLB Local Media, the Atlanta Braves were reported to be considering in-house options, including the possibility of establishing their own team-owned regional sports network to replace FanDuel Sports Network.[8][10]
In the meantime, the Braves renewed their contract with Gray Media, which would produce a package of 15 spring training games.[11] Taking advantage of the existing working relationship, the Braves partnered with Gray and Raycom Sports to serve as the main production partner for a new broadcasting operation, which would be known on-air as BravesVision. Gray had recently begun a larger push into professional sports, including establishing a chain of broadcast television RSNs (such as the Peachtree Sports Network), and acquiring rights to the Phoenix Suns[12] and New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA.[4] Raycom Sports executive producer Rob Reichley noted that the company had long-been associated with televised sports in the South (including its past relationships with the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference in college sports),[13][14] but believed that the Braves were the "gold medal" of professional sports properties in the region.[4]
The productions leverage ongoing expansions of Raycom Sports' operations to accommodate professional sports; in comparison to the previous FDSN broadcasts, the BravesVision broadcasts are produced in 1080p and have a larger array of cameras, including additional slow-motion cameras, a shallow depth-of-field camera, and some games incorporating multiple FPV drones and helicopters. For away games, the unit will send its own dedicated camera crew rather then pool with the home team's broadcaster, which the Braves' executive producer Gretchen Kaney noted would allow the team to "tell as many of our own stories as we want", and have "a lot more freedom to be creative and push the envelope". For home games, studio programming is broadcast from an outdoor studio in The Battery outside Truist Park, while studio shows for away games are broadcast from the studio of WANF in Atlanta. As part of the production agreement, Gray also handles advertising sales for BravesVision's broadcasts.[4][15]
Carriage
[edit]Similarly to MLB Local Media, BravesVision is distributed as a part-time channel via partnerships with television providers serving the Braves' home market; MLB Advanced Media distributes the in-market subscription streaming service Braves.tv on MLB.tv.[16][17]
In 2026, the Atlanta Braves signed multi-year agreements with DirecTV, FuboTV, and Xfinity that cover across the Braves’ broadcast territory.[18][19][20] Localized agreements were also signed with Spectrum, Absolute Cable TV, Comporium, Pine Belt Communications, and several others.[21][22]
Over-the-air affiliates
[edit]As part of BravesVision, a package of games will also air in simulcast on broadcast television via the Braves on Gray network, with 25 games planned for the 2026 season.[23]
Personnel
[edit]The Braves' existing broadcast team carried over to BravesVision, including commentators Brandon Gaudin and C.J. Nitkowski. Studio coverage is hosted by Peter Moylan, Nick Green, and Charlie Culberson.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ "How Braves' TV venture can be traced to Ted Turner and TBS". ajc. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ^ "Atlanta Braves partner with Gray Media to simulcast 15 regular season games". Atlanta Braves. December 18, 2024. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "'Braves on Gray' celebrates home team advantage in broadcast design". NewscastStudio. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Inside the Launch of BravesVision: How Braves, Raycom Sports Pulled Off One of the Most Ambitious Efforts in Regional–Sports-Media History". Sports Video Group. April 13, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
- ^ Friend, Tom (December 21, 2025). "Sources: Main Street misses Cardinals payment, will shutter if it cannot sell to DAZN". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ Friend, Tom (January 8, 2026). "Sources: Main Street hints at talks with second bidder". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ Drellich, Evan (January 8, 2026). "All nine MLB teams cancel their contracts with FanDuel Sports Network". The Athletic. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ a b Friend, Tom (February 2, 2026). "All nine MLB teams officially leaving Main Street; NBA and NHL in holding pattern". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ Ourand, John (April 2, 2026). "Main Street Sports will officially wind down this month; NBA teams can seek new TV deals". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
- ^ Gonzalez, Alden (February 2, 2026). "Sources: At least 6 teams to leave Main Street Sports, join MLB". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ "Braves will have new broadcast plan; could Gray Media be new TV partner?". ajc. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
- ^ Sprung, Shlomo (April 28, 2023). "RSN to DTC: Phoenix Suns, Mercury Bringing Games to Local TV for Free". Boardroom. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Michael; Ourand, John (October 5, 2010). "History with ACC secures future for Raycom". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ "Raycom loses Southeastern Conference". Charlotte Business Journal. August 25, 2008.
- ^ Broughton, David (March 31, 2026). "BravesVision's launch features Truist Park's new multicolored LED lighting, drone footage". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
- ^ Crupi, Anthony (February 24, 2026). "Atlanta's BravesVision Grabs Own Media Reins in Wake of RSN Crackup". Sportico.com. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ "Atlanta Braves Announce Launch of Exclusive Braves Television Network: BravesVision". MLB.com (Press release). Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ Stephenson, Creg (March 27, 2026). "DirecTV to carry new BravesVision channel in 2026". Advance Publications. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ^ Bishop, Chad (March 26, 2026). "Braves announce agreement with Xfinity". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ^ "Atlanta Braves and Fubo Reach Multiyear Distribution Agreement for BravesVision" (Press release). Fubo. March 27, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ^ Uwah, Uche (March 26, 2026). "Atlanta Braves and Spectrum teaming up to allow fans to watch BravesVision". Spectrum News. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ^ Smajovits, Harrison (March 27, 2026). "Braves Hammer Out More TV Deals Hours Before Opening Day". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ^ a b "Atlanta Braves, Gray Media to simulcast 25 games on free, local over-the-air TV stations across Southeast". Atlanta News First. March 27, 2026. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
- ^ Ivan (March 18, 2026). "Braves will return broadcast crew for inaugural BravesVision season". Battery Power. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
See also
[edit]- Rangers Sports Network, a similar operation established by the Texas Rangers
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