View source for FanDuel Sports Network Sun

{{Short description|American regional sports network}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = FanDuel Sports Network Sun
| logo = FanDuel Sports Network Sun logo.svg
| logo_size = 
| logo_alt = 
| logo_caption = 
| image = 
| image_size = 
| image_alt = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| type = [[Regional sports network]]
| country = United States
| area = {{ubl|[[Florida]]|Nationwide (via satellite)}}
| network = [[FanDuel Sports Network]]
| headquarters = [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]
| language = English
| languages = 
| picture_format = {{ubl|[[720p]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])|[[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])}}
| timeshift_service = 
| owner = [[Main Street Sports Group]]
| parent = 
| key_people = 
| sister_channels = [[FanDuel Sports Network Florida]]
| founded = 
| founder = 
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1988|03|04|p=y}}
| replaced = 
| closed_date = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} -->
| replaced_by = 
| former_names = {{ubl|Sunshine Network (1988–2005) | Sun Sports (2005–2015) | Fox Sports Sun (2015–2021) | Bally Sports Sun (2021–2024)}}
| online_serv_1 = [[FanDuel Sports Network app]]
| online_chan_1 = {{URL|https://www.fanduelsportsnetwork.com/mvpd/login }}<br />(U.S. cable internet subscribers only; requires login from participating providers to stream content; some events may not be available due to league rights restrictions)
| online_serv_2 = [[DirecTV Stream]]
| online_chan_2 = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol television]]
| online_serv_3 = [[FuboTV]]
| online_chan_3 = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol television]]
| availability_note = <br />(Some events may air on overflow feed FanDuel Sports Network Extra due to event conflicts)
| website = {{URL|https://www.fanduelsportsnetwork.com/}}
}}

'''FanDuel Sports Network Sun''' is an American [[regional sports network]] owned by [[Main Street Sports Group]] (formerly Diamond Sports Group) and operated as an affiliate of [[FanDuel Sports Network]]. The channel broadcasts local coverage of professional, collegiate and sporting events in the state of [[Florida]], with a focus on professional sports teams based in [[Miami]], [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] and [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]. FanDuel Sports Network Sun and sister regional sports network [[FanDuel Sports Network Florida]] are headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with studios located in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Dachman |title=How Sinclair Pulled Off the Gargantuan Bally Sports Networks Rebrand Amid the Pandemic |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/03/30/how-sinclair-pulled-off-the-gargantuan-bally-sports-networks-rebrand-amid-the-pandemic/ |access-date=30 March 2021 |work=Sports Video Group |date=March 30, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

FanDuel Sports Network is available on [[cable television|cable]] providers throughout Florida; it is also available nationwide on [[direct broadcast satellite|satellite]] via [[DirecTV]].

==History==
[[File:Sunshine Network logo.png|thumb|left|135px|Original logo as Sunshine Network, used from 1988 to 2002.]]
The channel launched on March 4, 1988, as '''Sunshine Network''', originally serving as an affiliate of [[Prime Sports|Prime Network]]. The network was formed as a joint-venture of 11 cable companies and [[Home Sports Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Cable sports showdown in Florida |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1988/BC-1988-02-15.pdf |access-date=5 April 2021 |work=Broadcasting |date=February 15, 1988}}</ref> Later that year, Sunshine would obtain rights to broadcast the [[Orlando Magic]] in their inaugural [[1989-90 Orlando Magic season|season]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Barry |last2=Marx |first2=Bill |title=Sunshine Brightens Magic on TV |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1988-08-23-0060270032-story.html |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=OrlandoSentinel.com |date=August 23, 1988}}</ref> In 1992, the network would also secure rights to another new team, the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]. In its early years, the network also aired some [[Public affairs program|public affairs]] programming in addition to sports.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Strother  |first1=Susan G. |title=Sunshine Network a Bright Spot  |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1993-02-15-9301090834-story.html |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=The Orlando Sentinel |date=February 15, 1993}}</ref>

Because Florida did not have a [[Major League Baseball]] team at the time, the network featured games from multiple teams including [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Rangers]], [[Houston Astros|Astros]], [[Detroit Tigers|Tigers]], [[Baltimore Orioles|Orioles]], and [[Minnesota Twins|Twins]], along with college sports from [[University of Central Florida|UCF]], [[Florida State]], [[Stetson University|Stetson]] and [[Jacksonville University|Jacksonville]] Universities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marx |first1=Bill |title=Sunshine Network's Debut Turns Off Some Viewers |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1988-03-11-0020330075-story.html |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=March 11, 1988}}</ref> In 1993, Sunshine gained rights to the [[Miami Marlins|Florida Marlins]] [[expansion team]]. In 1997, half of the 70 game schedule was moved to rival [[SportsChannel Florida]] (which at the time was owned by Marlins' owner [[Wayne Huizenga]]). The following season, the entire schedule was moved to SportsChannel.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byrd |first1=Alan |title=Sunshine loses half of Marlins games to rival |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/1996/12/02/story2.html |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Orlando Business Journal |date=Dec 2, 1996}}</ref>

In 1996, [[News Corporation]], which formed a [[Fox Sports (United States)|sports division]] for the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] in 1994 with the acquisition of the television rights to the [[National Football Conference]] of the [[National Football League]], entered into a [[joint venture]] with [[Tele-Communications Inc.|TCI]] spinoff [[Liberty Media]] and rebranded that company's Prime Network affiliates under the "Fox Sports Net" banner.<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberty Sports regionals will become Fox Sports net|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18535905.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145828/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18535905.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|author=R. Thomas Umstead|periodical=[[Multichannel News]]|publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]]|date=July 8, 1996|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref> Sunshine Network was the only [[Fox Sports Networks|Fox Sports Net]] owned-and-operated charter outlet that did not rebrand under that name when it and the other Prime outlets relaunched as Fox Sports Net on November 1, 1996.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fox Sports Net Debuts on Nov. 1|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23361533.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924191036/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23361533.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[The Columbian]]|publisher=Columbian Publishing Company|date=September 13, 1996|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref> Liberty Media (which at this point owned 49% of the network) proposed Fox Sports Sunshine as a new name for the network, but ultimately the rest of the owners did not approve it.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byrd |first1=Alan |title=Sunshine Network gets Foxy |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/1996/09/23/story3.html |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=www.bizjournals.com |date=September 23, 1996}}</ref> In early 2000, Fox Sports Net programming moved from Sunshine to the newly rebranded [[Bally Sports Florida|Fox Sports Net Florida]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cunningham |first1=Dave |title=Sportschannel Joins Fox Sports |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2000-01-07-0001070109-story.html |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=The Orlando Sentinel |date=January 7, 2000}}</ref>

[[File:Sun Sports logo.png|thumb|left|135px|Sun Sports logo, used from 2004 to 2012.]]
[[File:Sun Sports logo 2012.png|thumb|left|135px|Fox Sports Sun logo, used from 2015 to 2021.]]

Sunshine Network changed its name to '''Sun Sports''' on January 18, 2005, in order to reflect its sports-focused programming. Sun Sports and Fox Sports Florida were [[Corporate spin-off|spun off]] with the rest of the Fox Sports Networks and most of News Corporation's other U.S. entertainment properties into [[21st Century Fox]] in July 2013.  On October 4, 2015, Sun Sports changed its name to '''Fox Sports Sun''' ('''FSSUN''').<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=FoxSportsFL |number=647202072471990272 |date=September 24, 2015 |title=New Twitter handle, officially begins our soft launch & transition to new network name. Effective Oct. 4, Sun Sports becomes Fox Sports Sun!}}</ref>


[[File:Bally_Sports_Sun.svg|thumb|right|200px|Former logo as Bally Sports Sun, used from 2021 to 2024.]]
On December 14, 2017, as part of a merger between both companies, [[The Walt Disney Company]] announced plans to acquire all 22 regional Fox Sports Networks from [[21st Century Fox]], including Fox Sports Sun and sister network Fox Sports Florida. However, on June 27, 2018, the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] ordered their divestment under antitrust grounds, citing Disney's ownership of [[ESPN]]. On May 3, 2019, [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] and [[Entertainment Studios]] (through their joint venture, [[Diamond Sports Group|Diamond Holdings]]) bought [[Fox Sports Networks]] from [[The Walt Disney Company]] for $10.6 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/sinclair-disney-regional-sports-network-deal-1203204685/|title=Sinclair Clinches Disney-Regional Sports Networks Deal, Byron Allen Joins as Partner|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|website=Variety|date=3 May 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-05-05}}</ref> The deal closed on August 22, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-08-23/sinclair-completes-acquisition-of-regional-sports-networks-from-Disney|title=Sinclair completes acquisition of regional sports networks from Disney| publisher=Bloomberg |date=22 August 2019 |access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref> On November 17, 2020, Sinclair announced an agreement with casino operator [[Bally's Corporation]] to serve as a new [[naming rights]] partner for the FSN channels. Sinclair announced the new Bally Sports branding for the channels on January 27, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Novy-Williams|first=Eben|date=2020-11-19|title=Bally's Buys Sinclair RSN Naming Rights As Part of Sports Betting Push|url=https://www.sportico.com/business/sports-betting/2020/ballys-sinclair-naming-rights-1234616912/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Sportico.com|language=en-US}}</ref>  On March 31, 2021, coinciding with the [[2021 Major League Baseball season]], Fox Sports Sun and sister network Fox Sports Florida were rebranded as '''Bally Sports Sun''' and '''Bally Sports Florida''', resulting in 18 other Regional Sports Networks renamed Bally Sports in their respective regions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun FAQ |url=https://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/bally-sports-florida-bally-sports-sun-faq-031721 |website=FOX Sports |publisher=FOX Sports Florida |access-date=17 March 2021 |date=17 March 2021}}</ref> The first live sports event on Bally Sports Sun was at 7 PM featuring the Miami Heat at the [[Indiana Pacers]]. The game was preceded with the "Heat Live" pregame show.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun launches Wednesday, March 31 |url=https://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/bally-sports-florida-bally-sports-sun-launches-march-31-033121 |access-date=31 March 2021 |work=Fox Sports |date=31 March 2021}}</ref>

On March 14, 2023, Diamond Sports filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 Bankruptcy]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bouma|first1=Luke|title=Bally Sports Just Declared Bankruptcy – The Death of RSNs?|url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/bally-sports-just-declared-bankruptcy-the-death-of-rsns/ |access-date=14 March 2023 |work=Cord Cutters News |date=14 March 2023}}</ref>

On May 1, 2024, the Bally Sports channels, including Bally Sports Sun, were removed from [[Comcast]]'s [[Xfinity]] television service due to a carriage dispute with Diamond Sports Group.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rizzo |first=Lillian|title=Bally Sports regional networks go dark for Comcast cable customers |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/01/bally-sports-regional-networks-go-dark-for-comcast-cable-customers.html |access-date=May 2, 2024|work=[[CNBC]] |date=May 1, 2024}}</ref> The dispute was resolved and the channels were restored on August 1 of that year, albeit on the more expensive "Ultimate TV" service tier rather than the basic tier.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=Comcast, Bally Sports agree on new carriage deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40675947 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

On October 16, 2024, it was revealed in a court filing that Diamond had reached a new sponsorship agreement with [[FanDuel|FanDuel Group]], under which it intended to rebrand Bally Sports as the '''FanDuel Sports Network'''; on October 18, 2024, Diamond officially announced the rebranding, which took effect October 21.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2024-10-18 |title=FanDuel Takes Over Naming Rights to Diamond Sports RSNs |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/fanduel-naming-rights-diamond-sports-rsn-1236182511/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-18 |title=Diamond Sports branded as FanDuel in new deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41871214/diamond-sports-groups-channels-branded-part-fanduel-sports-network-deal |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Under the agreement, FanDuel has the option to take a minority equity stake of up to 5% once Diamond Sports exits bankruptcy. The branding is downplayed during programming related to high school sports.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Tony |title=Bally Sports Detroit set to become FanDuel Sports Network; what you need to know |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/2024/10/16/bally-sports-detroit-set-to-become-fanduel-sports-network-what-you-need-to-know/75707857007/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Randles |first=Jonathan |date=2024-10-16 |title=Diamond Seeks Approval to Rebrand From Bally Sports to FanDuel |url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/2024/10/16/diamond-seeks-approval-to-rebrand-from-bally-sports-to-fanduel/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=BNN Bloomberg |language=en}}</ref>

On May 14, 2025, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that they would leave FanDuel Sports Network Sun, with the [[E. W. Scripps Company]]-owned [[WXPX-TV]] taking over local broadcasts through [[Scripps Sports]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lerner |first=Drew |date=2025-05-14 |title=Tampa Bay Lightning leaving FanDuel Sports Network for local affiliate |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning-leaving-fanduel-sports-network-local-affiliate.html |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Programming==
[[File:Pre-Game Tampa Bay Lightning (27360590569) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Covering the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]]]
FanDuel Sports Network Sun holds the regional cable television rights to the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[Miami Heat]] and the [[Tampa Bay Rays]] of [[Major League Baseball]]. In addition, FanDuel Sports Network Sun offers insider programming for the [[Florida Gators]] and [[Florida State Seminoles]].

FanDuel Sports Network Sun maintains separate feeds for individual regions of the state, with feeds for Miami (covering [[South Florida]]), Tampa (covering western Florida) and Orlando (covering northern and [[central Florida]]). The separation of broadcast zones for the channel is mostly due to the defined broadcast territories set by the National Basketball Association for the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. Programming seen in each broadcasting zone is common in most areas, and includes a mix of programs supplied by FanDuel Sports Network and some original programming exclusive to FanDuel Sports Network Sun and FanDuel Sports Network Florida. Due to the naming rights deal with FanDuel, select programming from [[FanDuel TV]] is included in the schedule.

FanDuel Sports Network Sun is also home to outdoor programming, highlighted by extensive salt and fresh water fishing programs such as the Chevy Florida Insider Fishing Report and Sportsman's Adventures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.Foxsports.com/florida/outdoors|title = Outdoors}}</ref>

===Former programming===
From 2003 to 2004, the network aired [[Major League Wrestling]]'s (MLW) taped weekly [[professional wrestling]] show [[MLW Underground TV]] which featured taped matches from MLW's past events.<ref name="pwtorch">{{cite web|url=https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_3134.shtml#.W6fTy3tKjIU|title=PWTorch.com – MLW announces television deal with Sunshine Network|website=pwtorch.com|accessdate=2018-09-23}}</ref>

On May 14, 2025, it was reported that Main Street Sports Group had opted out of its contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team then signed with [[Scripps Sports]] and [[WXPX]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lightning leaving FanDuel, going over the air in deal with Scripps Sports |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/lightning/2025/05/14/scripps-sports-nhl-televised-games-fanduel-bally/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>

=== Programming rights with FanDuel Sports Network Florida ===
FanDuel Sports Network Sun shares the broadcast rights to the aforementioned professional sports teams with FanDuel Sports Network Florida. As the two regional networks are commonly owned, events from any team/conference in which FDSN Sun and FDSN Florida broadcasts are able to air on either channel depending on the start time of each team's respective games (particularly with the Marlins and Rays, since both teams routinely play at concurring start times).

The two channels do not focus on one region of Florida (although it was long rumored since the two came under common ownership that FDSN Sun would carry only teams from the Orlando and [[Tampa Bay]] areas, while FDSN Florida would carry Miami-area teams), but simply distribute games in accordance with each team's territorial rights, with both cable channels maintaining joint exclusivity over regional broadcasts of Heat, Marlins, Rays and the Magic.<ref>{{cite web|title=Magic to move 35 games to FSN Florida|url=https://capefish.blogspot.com/2007/08/magic-move-35-games-to-fsn-florida.html|website=Capefish|date=August 2007}}</ref>

In 2010, the [[Miami Marlins]] moved all of their Major League Baseball games to then Fox Sports Florida, while the Tampa Bay Rays began carrying all their games on then Sun Sports. Prior to 2009, some Rays games were available on [[terrestrial television|broadcast television]] stations in the state via a network made up of the state's [[Ion Television]] stations.

==Current personalities==

=== Tampa Bay Rays ===
* [[Dewayne Staats]] – [[play-by-play announcer]]
* Andy Freed – fill-in play-by-play announcer
* [[Brian Anderson (pitcher)|Brian Anderson]] – [[color commentator]]
* [[Matt Joyce (baseball)|Matt Joyce]] – [[Pre-game show|pre-game]] and post-game [[color analyst]]
* [[Denard Span]] – [[Pre-game show|pre-game]] and post-game [[color analyst]]
* [[Doug Waechter]] – [[Pre-game show|pre-game]] and post-game [[color analyst]]
* Rich Hollenberg -  Pre and Post game host and fill-in play-by-play announcer
* Ryan Bass - field reporter

=== Miami Marlins ===
* Kyle Sielaff – play-by-play announcer
* [[Tommy Hutton]] - analyst 
* Jeff Nelson – analyst (select games)
* Gaby Sánchez – analyst (select games)
* Rod Allen – analyst (select games)
* [[Craig Minervini]] – pre-game host and in-game reporter and Fill-in play-by-play announcer
* Kelly Saco – pre-game host and Fill-in in-game reporter

=== Miami Heat ===
* [[Eric Reid (television announcer)|Eric Reid]] – play-by-play announcer
* [[John Crotty]] – analyst
* [[Jason Jackson (reporter)|Jason Jackson]] – post-game host and in-game reporter
* [[Ron Rothstein]] – half-time and post-game analyst

=== Orlando Magic ===
* [[David Steele (sports announcer)|David Steele]] – play-by-play announcer
* [[Jeff Turner]] – analyst
* Paul Kennedy – host and in-game reporter
* Dante Marchitelli – fill in in-game reporter

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Official website|https://www.fanduelsportsnetwork.com/}}

{{Bally Sports}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Miami Heat}}
{{Miami Marlins}}
{{Orlando Magic}}
{{Tampa Bay Lightning}}
{{Tampa Bay Rays}}
{{SBGI}}
{{U.S. regional sports networks}}
{{Tampa Bay TV}}
{{Miami TV}}
{{WPB TV}}
{{Jacksonville TV}}
{{Ft. Myers TV}}
{{Tallahassee TV}}
{{Orlando TV}}
{{Panama City TV}}
{{Gainesville TV}}
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{{Fox Sports Networks}}
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}}

[[Category:1988 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Prime Sports]]
[[Category:Fox Sports Networks]]
[[Category:Bally Sports]]
[[Category:FanDuel Sports Network]]
[[Category:Sports television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports in Florida]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1988]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023]]