First season of Rangers TV network largely successful, despite unknown revenue data.

If a 95 mph fastball is hit 450 feet for a home run, and no one is there to witness it, does it sill make a crack off the bat?

All kidding aside, apart from the fans enjoying a cold beer and a hot dog at Globe Life Field, it has been extremely difficult to take in a Rangers game over the airwaves the last several seasons.

Fortunately, the Bally's Sports Southwest contract expired after the 2024 season and was not renewed because its owner, Diamond Sports Group, declared bankruptcy. The Rangers Sports Network took over, purchasing the rights from the club.

Watching Rangers games became easy again, and the numbers reflect it

According to Nielsen ratings, RSN broadcasts generated an increase of 37% in households over the 2024 season average in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

Most of that improvement happened because, unlike Bally's, whose games were part of a pre-existing streaming bundle package that wasn't available to millions of Metroplex residents, Rangers Sports Network made its broadcasts readily available on Victory+.

Victory+ allowed fans all over North Texas and beyond to purchase standalone packages either monthly or annually that could be canceled and renewed at any time. So if you were unable to stomach the frustrating early-season stumbles, you could hop back in as the team looked as if it were going to make a September push for the postseason.

Die-hards could watch Dave Raymond, Mike Bacsik, David Murphy and on-field reporter Laura Stickells deliver a quality product nightly without committing to an undesirable package.

It was refreshing to have the team and their streaming rights come along into the 21st century as cord-cutting has become the norm.

The extra revenue hasn't been released yet, but it should increase the Rangers payroll

Rangers Sports Network and the Rangers haven't released the monetary increase the easier access garnered as of yet, but it should be sizable enough to create extra payroll for the organization moving forward.

Ideally, president of baseball operations Chris Young and the Rangers' brass would have that money in hand when they go shopping to improve both the starting lineup and pitching staff in 2026.

The team could use help at several positions as it looks to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season.