Pound for Pound: Deliverance

Published 10:30 am Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Don’t let this week’s column title scare you off, though I couldn’t really blame you if it did.

My church pastor used the word “deliverance” in a sermon a few weeks ago. Automatically banjos twanged and squealing pigs sang in my head, despite the fact that I only ever saw the 1972 Burt Reynolds movie one time over 15 years ago. Once is enough. If you haven’t seen it, just know that it sticks with you.

No, we’re talking about a different kind of deliverance. Atlanta Braves fans, who for years have been limited in their TV-viewing options for their favorite MLB franchise, have been given a way out of that purgatory.

New carrier FanDuel Sports Network – a job that belonged to Bally Sports and Fox Sports before that – announced recently that there will be a standalone streaming option for Braves games this season. No cable login required.

Many viewers still have the traditional cable options. The most common ones in these parts that carry FanDuel Sports are Charter Spectrum and DIRECTV. No change necessary for y’all. The Braves should be easily accessible most nights.

The ones who needed help were those who cut the cord and began streaming. You know, back when it was more cost effective to do so, before the streaming platforms inevitably upped their prices so much to where it’s now basically equal whether you stream or keep the cord.

My household has been streaming live TV since either 2017 or ‘18, mostly through Hulu. We swapped to YoutubeTV for a time and had the Braves there for a short while before Youtube’s deal with Bally Sports expired. We went back to Hulu because we liked it more anyway, but still couldn’t get the majority of Atlanta’s ballgames.

There used to be a back door where you could ‘borrow’ someone’s cable login information and sign in to an app to watch games live. That door slammed shut last season as Bally sought to stop folks from doing that.

So out in the cold I sat throughout 2024. Braves-less.

Now a new day has dawned. FanDuel has taken over the broadcast rights and created at least a somewhat more fan-friendly experience for today’s viewing market. The company announced Friday a direct-to-consumer option for watching the Atlanta ball club. Basically, fans can pay $19.99 per month to access games live through the FanDuel Sports Network app. Additionally, there are full season options at $105.99 for the regular season or $122.99 to include the recently-begun spring training period. There’s also an annual pass subscription on the table for $189.99, giving year-round access to all FanDuel Sports Network content.

To me, the $19.99 price tag is a little steep on top of a regular TV bill. Only way that comes down though is if the direct-to-consumer app option underperforms in sales. What does make me happy is that the option is finally there. No more being stuck in the land of banjos and squealing pigs.