The now-defunct RSN operator alleges the two largest pay-TV providers breached contracts during the 2026 NBA and NHL seasons. The suits add legal pressure to a sector already squeezed by cord-cutting.
Main Street Sports, the regional sports network operator that began winding down earlier this year, sued Comcast and Charter Communications in Delaware Superior Court on Monday. The complaints, seen by CNBC, allege that the two largest pay-TV providers underpaid licensing fees during the first part of 2026, when Main Street's channels were still carrying NBA and NHL games in local markets.
Neither Comcast nor Charter immediately responded to requests for comment.
Main Street traces its roots to the Fox Sports regional networks. It changed hands several times after 2019 and emerged from bankruptcy in early 2025 under the FanDuel Sports Network banner. At its peak the group operated about 15 channels and carried games for roughly 30 teams across Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and some NBA clubs. The company's liquidity problems persisted even after bankruptcy, and it began winding down earlier this year. It aired its final MLB games in 2025 but completed the 2025-26 NBA regular season and the NHL regular season and first round of playoffs.
The suits focus on fees that Main Street says were due under existing contracts. The amounts are not disclosed in the filings. The company is now seeking damages for what it calls breach of contract, a move that could affect how much creditors recover from the winddown.
The dispute is the latest sign of strain in the regional sports network model. Cord-cutting has eroded the pay-TV subscriber base that once made these channels a lucrative distribution outlet for local sports. Carriage fee disputes have become common, and several RSN owners have struggled to adapt. Main Street's own bankruptcy and eventual shutdown reflect the same pressures.
For Comcast and Charter, the lawsuits add a layer of legal exposure at a time when both companies are focused on broadband growth and streaming launches. The suits could also influence how other distributors handle their RSN contracts, especially those tied to teams whose games are still being aired by other regional networks.
AlphaScala's Alpha Score rates Comcast at 67 (Moderate) and Charter at 47 (Mixed), reflecting the different risk profiles of the two cable companies. The lawsuits represent a new legal risk for both, though the immediate financial impact is unclear.
No hearing date has been set in the Delaware case.
Drafted by a large language model from the source reporting linked above, then screened by automated publishing checks. It is not read by a journalist before publication. Some articles cite our Alpha Score. Verify prices and figures against the original source. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.