Brandon Rodriguez (left) and Anthony Encinas paint the team logo on a conditioning field before the Texas Rangers first minor league spring training workout of the season at the team’s training facility on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022, in Surprise, Ariz.

FROM TNS REPORTS

ARLINGTON — After separating from Bally Sports following the 2024 season, the Texas Rangers will enter into a multi-year partnership with Victory+ to stream all non-nationally televised games, the club announced Wednesday.

Dallas Stars games are carried for free on the platform, but the Rangers will charge $100 for the season.

Neil Leibman, the Rangers president of business operations and chief operating officer, said in a statement that he was excited to announce a new way for fans to watch the team.

“The Rangers’ partnership with Victory+ as our direct-to-consumer provider is a tremendous first step as the club continues to finalize our television offerings for 2025 game broadcasts,” said Leibman, “Victory+ has proven itself over the past few months as a reliable streaming home for several professional sports teams, and we feel Rangers fans will enjoy the familiarity, convenience and simplicity of this service.”

The Victory+ platform was created by A Parent Media Co. in conjunction with the Dallas Stars to help air the team’s games after they ended their partnership with Bally Sports.

In a statement announcing the partnership, APMC president and CEO Neil Gruninger said he was excited to add the Rangers to the Victory+ platform.

“We’re thrilled to add Texas Rangers baseball to the Victory+ service in the 2025 season giving fans another way to access this iconic team,” said Gruninger, “It’s an honor to become the Rangers’ first direct-to-consumer streaming home and offer both Rangers and Dallas Stars games to fans throughout the region. We can’t wait to give even more fans the viewing experience they deserve.”

Fans wanting to join the wait list to sign up for season passes can go to the Victory+ website to join.

The Rangers and Bally Sports ended their partnership amid bankruptcy proceedings for the latter’s parent company, Diamond Sports Group, which affected teams across the MLB, NBA and NHL.

Victory+ also hosts games for the Anaheim Ducks and has streamed preseason St Louis Blues games.

The platform launched in 2024 and has been downloaded over 500,000 times.

RANGERS-SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

The Texas Rangers’ local television drama has neared a conclusion. So let’s zoom out.

The Rangers will play at the San Diego Padres on July 6 as part of an ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Fourth of July weekend doubleheader, the network announced Wednesday. Texas and San Diego are scheduled to play at 8:10 p.m.; the first leg of that day’s doubleheader is still to be determined.

That nationally televised game — which precedes the All-Star break by one week — is Texas’ lone Sunday Night Baseball appearance as part of ESPN’s “early-season schedule.” The Rangers played three first-half games on ESPN last season: March 28 vs. the Chicago Cubs, April 7 vs. the Houston Astros and April 21 at the Atlanta Braves. They went 2-1 in those games.

ESPN has not yet announced its second-half broadcast schedule. The Rangers also played eight games last season on either FOX or FS1, though that network has yet to announce its 2025 broadcast schedule.

ASTROS-SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

The Houston Astros will make an early-season appearance on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, the network announced Wednesday in unveiling its initial matchups for 2025.

ESPN will broadcast Houston’s April 20 game against the San Diego Padres at newly renamed Daikin Park. The game is set for a 6 p.m. CT start.

The Astros have yet to announce start times for other 2025 home games. The series with the Padres from April 18-20 will be their fourth at home this season, following visits by the Mets, Giants and Angels.

Houston had three games carried on Sunday Night Baseball in 2024, two of which were added in-season.