MLB, NBA, and NHL fans in Michigan and Northern Ohio need Bally Sports Detroit. This network offers live coverage of most Detroit Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings games. It also provides coverage (but not games) of the Detroit Lions. To learn how to get Bally Sports Detroit without cable, read on!
In a hurry? There are two great options to get Bally Sports Detroit:
Fubo
Known for its outstanding sports coverage, Fubo’s 150+ live TV channels provide a broad selection that appeals to most people. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
DIRECTV STREAM
The king of RSNs, this is the streaming service for MLB, NBA, and NHL fans with its Choice Plan. New customers get a 5-day free trial with DIRECTV STREAM.
If you can’t watch your favorite sports because of your location, get ExpressVPN to access the content you deserve.
Table Of Contents
Local fans of Detroit sports need to get Bally Sports Detroit. It is the channel that shows the vast majority of Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings games. And you can stream it all on a budget. Read on to learn your choices!
How to Stream Bally Sports Detroit
If you want access to streaming content from this RSN, you have two choices: Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM. They are currently the only providers. Until 2020, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV provided access to it but since then, they haven’t managed to sign a contract.
How to Watch Bally Sports Detroit with Fubo
Fubo (formerly FuboTV) is a great all-around streaming service but it is sports-first. It offers 150+ channels with all your local network affiliates and a great selection of news, entertainment, and family “cable” channels. But roughly a third of its channel lineup is dedicated to sports.
MLB.TV is available as an add-on.
The base Fubo plan is Pro and it costs $79.99/month. However, there is a separate fee for RSNs since they are among the most expensive channels. The pricing is as follows:
- Plan Cost: $79.99/month
- RSN Fee:
- One RSN: $11.99/month — total: $91.98/month
- Two or More RSNs: $14.99/month — total: $94.98/month
For most subscribers in Michigan, that means your total cost will be $91.98/month. That comes with a full slate of live TV channels, unlimited cloud DVR, and streaming on up to 10 devices at once.
For more information, see our Fubo review.
How to Stream Bally Sports Detroit With DIRECTV STREAM
For subscribers in Michigan and a very limited section of northern Ohio, DIRECTV STREAM provides Bally Sports Detroit with three of their plans:
- Choice ($108.99/month): 100+ channels including several sports channels like ESPN, FS1, NBA TV, and more.
- Ultimate ($119.99/month): 140+ channels adding even more sports channels like FS2, CBS Sports Network, NHL Center Ice, and more.
- Premier ($164.99/month): The same as the Ultimate plan but with a ton of premium channels from Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, and Starz.
Depending upon where you are located, you may get some other RSNs. Most people in Michigan get only Bally Sports Detroit. But subscribers in Toledo, OH also get Bally Sports Cincinnati, Bally Sports Great Lakes, and Bally Sports Ohio.
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How to Get Bally Sport Detroit With Bally Sports+
Note: Bally Sports+ has secured rights for the games of all covered NBA and NHL teams. But it has not secured rights to most MLB team games. Make sure that your teams will be available before signing up.
Bally Sports began testing a direct-to-consumer streaming service, Bally Sports+, in mid-2022. Bally Sports Detroit was one of those channels. The service has a single plan with two payment periods:
- Monthly: $19.99
- Yearly: $189.99
Starting with the 2022 MLB regular season, you get access to whatever Bally Sports channels broadcast in your area. This can be any from one to three. Most areas served by Bally Sports Detroit will only get one. But subscribers in Toledo, for example, also get Bally Sports Ohio and Bally Sports Great Lakes. (deal)
Bally Sports+ supports a small but acceptable number of devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android mobile, Android TV-compatible TVs, iOS (iPhone, iPad) tvOS, and web browsers (BallySports.com).
Remember that Bally Sports fans will not get access to any national sports channels like ESPN or FS1. So you may need to supplement it with a service like Sling TV.
And some locations offer non-Bally RSNs. For example, Fort Wayne subscribers also qualify to get Marquee Sports Network (Chicago Cubs) and NBC Sports Chicago (Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks). All three come with DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo.
What Are the Alternatives to Bally Sports Detroit?
If you don’t feel like Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM fit your needs or budget, your only other option is to go with a cable or satellite provider. However, most fans are not looking so much for the Bally Sports Detroit channel as they have access to the games they air. And in that regard, you have some options.
The simplest thing to do is limit yourself to nationally televised games. In this case, you can get a streaming service like Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV, which offers a lot for less money. The problem with this is that local blackouts still hold for most games so you won’t see a lot of these games.
If you don’t mind waiting to watch, you can subscribe to MLB.TV or NBA League Pass. MLB.tv allows you to watch every Detroit Tigers game — but only after it finishes. NBA League Pass allows you to watch every Detroit Pistons game after it ends.
On the other hand, if you don’t live in the Michigan area, MLB.TV and NBA League Pass will allow you to watch these games live. You can also watch some Detroit Red Wings games live on ESPN+.
Sign up for MLB.TV on Fubo for FREE today!
TVs and Other Streaming Devices for Bally Sports Detroit
Just because you are streaming Bally Sports Detroit does not mean you and your friends need to huggle around a computer or tablet to watch your favorite Detroit team games. Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM allow you to watch games on a wide variety of devices from the smallest smartphones when you are on the go to the latest big-screen TVs while relaxing at home.
The popular TV streaming devices are all supported: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. So is the Chromecast device, which allows your TV to display Bally Sports Detroit on your TV cast from your phone.
Or, if you want to watch on your phone, iOS and Android mobile devices are supported.
If you have a Samsung or Android TV-compatible smart TV, both services support them. Or if you want to go old school, you can watch it on your web browser.
Fubo also supports several other smart TVs and the Xbox gaming system.
There is also a Bally Sports App. It supports more smart TVs as well as the Xbox One. You can use this app with your DIRECTV STREAM account.
What Is Bally Sports Detroit?
Bally Sports Detroit is a regional sports network (RSN) that operates primarily in the state of Michigan. This is by design. The network has secured rights to broadcast games in its specific geographic area. The focus is that it shows almost all Detroit Tigers games at Comerica Park and away. In addition to carrying Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings games, you get access to a lot more.
In particular, you can also watch a select number of Grand Rapids Griffins games. They play in the American Hockey League (AHL) and are the top minor league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Furthermore, Bally Sports Detroit airs several Michigan and Michigan State regular-season college hockey games.
Bally Sports Detroit broadcasts a handful of Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans hockey games each year. It also broadcasts Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) games — especially important ones like the football and basketball championships.
If scheduling conflicts arise, games may be shifted from Bally Sports Detroit to its substation, Bally Sports Detroit Extra (previously Bally Sports Detroit Plus). This typically occurs when the Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons are playing on the same night.
Bally Sports Detroit Commentators
Bally Sports Detroit provides pregame and postgame news and analysis for all games like Tigers Live Pre-Game and Tigers Live Post-Game. They also feature specials and shows like Pistons Weekly and Inside the Tigers.
Jason Benetti is behind the microphone for Bally Sports Detroit-broadcast Tigers games while Tigers legend Kirk Gibson and Craig Monroe serve as analysts. Gibson helped lead Detroit to the 1984 World Series title, the club’s most recent.
John Keating hosts the pre-game and post-game shows. Todd Jones and Dan Petry provide analysis in the studio. Dan Dickerson is the radio voice of the Tigers and does play-by-play on TV during the off-season.
The Detroit Pistons’ broadcast team consists of George Blaha and Greg Kelser. Blaha has been announcing games for the team since 1976 while Kelser is a Detroit native who played for the Pistons from 1979-81. Grant Long provides studio analysis.
Calling the action from the ice are Ken Daniels, who has been announcing for Detroit for more than two decades, and Mickey Redmond, a former Red Wings player. John Keating is the studio host with Trevor Thompson, Chris Osgood, Larry Murphy, and Mickey York.
Former pro racing cyclist Natalie Kerwin provides sideline reporting. So does Dannie Rogers but she focuses on coverage of the Detroit Lions.
Today’s Bally Sports Detroit Schedule
See our Bally Sports Detroit Schedule page for all the details of what’s playing today.
Wrapping Up
Bally Sports Detroit is a regional sports network available throughout Michigan and northern Ohio. It allows you to watch most Detroit Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers regular-season games as well as select minor league and college games.
We recommend Fubo to stream Bally Sports Detroit. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
See Also
- Detroit Tigers Viewer’s Guide
- Detroit Pistons Viewer’s Guide
- MLB Viewer’s Guide
- NBA Viewer’s Guide
- NHL Viewer’s Guide
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to stream Bally Sports Detroit?
If you’re looking to stream this network without going into financial distress, you can sign up for Bally Sports+. But you will still need a live TV streaming service for the postseason. Overall, it’s a better deal to get Fubo. For $91.98/month, you’ll get access to this channel and 130+ others. You may also get access to streaming content from Bally Sports Detroit through your cable provider, though it will be more expensive.
Can I watch Bally Sports Detroit with Bally Sports+?
You can watch Bally Sports Detroit with Bally Sports+. It is a direct-to-viewer subscription service that provides access to some channels. It costs $19.99/mo or $189.99/yr. It’s a good deal if you aren’t interested in a live TV streaming service. But that will leave you without access to playoff games as well as ESPN, FS1, CBSSN, and more. We think DIRECTV STREAM is a better option.
Does Hulu offer Bally Sports Detroit?
None of the Bally Sports channels are available from Hulu + Live TV including Bally Sports Detroit. It does, however, offer a small number of other regional sports networks. But the only one that is anywhere near Detroit is NBC Sports Chicago, which is available to some in western Michigan. But DIRECTV STREAM offers both channels.
Does YouTube TV have Bally Sports Detroit?
None of the Bally Sports channels are offered by YouTube TV. It stopped offering them in 2020 and it is extremely unlikely that will change. It provides otherwise good sports coverage. And it offers all the same RSNs as Hulu + Live TV. To get Bally Sports Detroit, you need to sign up with DIRECTV STREAM.
Why can’t I get Bally Sports Detroit if I’m outside of the coverage area?
You can only get Bally Sports Detroit from any provider if you live in its coverage area. Networks such as Bally Sports Detroit are designed to provide coverage over a limited area. This ensures that other teams won’t have to compete with other channels for viewers in their home markets. Therefore, you can only get access to this particular network if you live in its primary broadcasting zone.
Why are some games blacked out?
Games can be blacked out for a variety of reasons. For example, feeds from regional sports networks may be shown to audiences in a team’s home market even if the game is being shown to the rest of the country on networks such as ESPN. This helps to ensure that the regional networks can maximize their ability to attract local subscribers.
What can I do if I’m outside of Bally Sports Detroit’s coverage area?
If you are outside of Bally Sports Detroit’s coverage area, you cannot get the station. However, there are ways to get some or all of the games. The situation is rather good for MLB and NBA fans. They can watch Tigers and Pistons games with MLB.TV and NBA League Pass. General streaming services like Hulu + Live TV also provide a lot of coverage.
What happened to Fox Sports Detroit?
Fox Sports Detroit was sold to Sinclair Broadcast Group and Entertainment Studios (as Diamond Sports Group) in 2019 after Walt Disney Group announced that it was going to acquire all Fox Sports Network (FSN) properties. The Department of Justice (DOJ) determined that the acquisition violated antitrust laws because Disney already owned ESPN. All Fox Sports RSNs have been rebranded as Bally Sports.
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How can I watch the Tigers’ divisional rivals?
For more about the other teams in the American League Central, see the following team and channel pages:
- Chicago White Sox — NBC Sports Chicago
- Cleveland Guardians — Bally Sports Great Lakes
- Kansas City Royals — Bally Sports Kansas City
- Minnesota Twins — Bally Sports North
How can I watch the Red Wings’ divisional rivals?
For more about the other teams in the Atlantic Division, see these articles:
- Boston Bruins — NESN
- Buffalo Sabres — MSG
- Florida Panthers — Bally Sports Florida
- Montreal Canadiens — NA
- Ottawa Senators — NA
- Tampa Bay Lightning — Bally Sports Sun
- Toronto Maple Leafs — NA
How can I watch the Pistons’ divisional rivals?
For information about the other teams in the Central Division, see these articles:
- Chicago Bulls — NBC Sports Chicago
- Cleveland Cavaliers — Bally Sports Ohio
- Indiana Pacers — Bally Sports Indiana
- Milwaukee Bucks — Bally Sports Wisconsin
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My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.
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