Big Changes Coming For Minnesota Twins Fans Watching Games At Home

The drama between Minnesota sports fans and Diamond Sports Group, who owns and operates Bally Sports North, reached a breaking point this year.

The parent company of Bally Sports North, home of the Minnesota Twins, Timberwolves, and Wild, has been dealing with financial difficulties over the last couple of years. These difficulties have strained the contract agreements with these teams, creating a scenario where many fans think it is just a matter of time before each of these teams finds new TV homes.

The growing popularity of streaming content and cord-cutting is blamed for the money issues facing Bally's parent company Diamond Sports, and has been one of the friction points in agreements with Bally and the teams carried on the cable and satellite channel.

After a summer where many Minnesota Twins fans found themselves unable to watch their favorite team due to a contract dispute between Diamond Sports and Comcast, news of a change has arrived from the Twins for fans.

What changes are ahead?

The Twins shared via social media an announcement from Major League Baseball about a change not only for Minnesota, but also for a handful of other teams around the league who had previously been in deals with Diamond Sports' Bally network.

In the release, MLB announced that the league will be taking over the production and distribution of TV broadcasts for the Minnesota Twins as well as the Guardians and Brewers starting next year.

When the 2025 season rolls around, fans will be able to get an in-market direct-to-consumer streaming option for games for a monthly fee through Twins.TV, which is a team-specific branding of the league's MLB.TV streaming platform.

What is in-market? The graphic shared on social media highlights the Twins "home market", where streaming will be available:

In addition to the streaming option, the league will develop new distribution deals with cable and satellite TV carriers for the upcoming season.

Whether the new deal with traditional cable and satellite providers is simply a reworked contract with Bally or if it means there will be a new home for the Twins remains to be announced. Those details are likely to be announced during the offseason this winter, but the option for cord-cutters to get games directly without any cable or satellite ties or blackout concerns is a game-changer for many fans.

How much will the streaming option cost?

Pricing has yet to be announced, but there is speculation the new offering will be similar to that offered to some team fanbases during the 2024 season.

The league's announcement explained that the new Twins, Brewers, and Guardians TV situation will be similar to that of what the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Rockies offered in 2024.

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As FOX 9 points out, the Padres streaming option was $19.99 per month or $99.99 for the full season for just Padres games. This is different than the full MLB.TV subscription, which is designed to give fans access to all out-of-market games around the league.

Speaking of game-changers, check out these new broadcast features

While we don't know where the games will be on the cable/satellite guide, we do know what things the league wants to bring to game broadcasts.

The league says local games will offer elements and features usually only associated with national broadcasts. Things like an Ump Cam, live look-ins to the MLB Replay Operations Center, Wire Cam, on-field locations for pregame and postgame shows, and more access for things like in-game interviews with players are all elements fans can expect to see in 2025 Twins TV broadcasts.