The Minnesota Twins will have a new TV broadcast home on April 1, when they’re hosted by the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day. Well, kind of. They will still be found on the same channels and the same providers (sorry cable cutters and dish network customers) but “Fox Sports North” is officially rebranding to “Bally Sports North” in a move that’s been expected for double-digit months.

For those who will have access to Bally Sports North (all cable and DirecTV customers), Twins broadcasts will look very similar… but quite different at the same time. You can read all of the details for yourself at foxsportsnorth.com (yes, that’s still the URL) or you can let Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic) sum things up for you on Twitter. I checked and there wasn’t anything he missed that jumped out at me.

Some other TV-related details from the Twins:

– Just the fourth time in Twins history all 162 games will be on TV

– Pre/postgame hosted by Anthony LaPanta and Annie Sabo, with Tim Laudner and Glen Perkins as analysts

– Marney Gellner and Audra Martin back as sideline reporters

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) March 17, 2021

Some things of note

So long, Bert Blyleven. We knew he wasn’t going to be around anymore but it still hits different when you see the broadcast set list without him. I grew up with Bert circling fans on my TV during Twins games. Something about his voice was soothing on long summer evenings and cold April afternoons. But, his time had clearly passed and Justin Morneau, Roy Smalley and LaTroy Hawkins are all homerun replacements.

Honestly, I haven’t been impressed with Annie Sabo. She hasn’t improved since she started and still seems to fumble through many broadcasts. I’ll be watching to see if she shows any improvement. Audra has become a staple of Fox Sports North and hopefully sticks around as long as possible. Marney is a legend and LaPanta is quickly on his way there.

So while many things will be different during Minnesota Twins broadcasts this season, many things will still be the same. That includes all of the people crying on Twitter because their favorite streaming service doesn’t carry the games. That’s something I’ve gotten used to. Cable isn’t much different in cost nowadays, than whatever you’re streaming. Stop being stubborn and make the call OR just stop crying.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fans

TV providers are fighting again and it’s heavily impacting Minnesota sports fans. Actually, some of the disputes we are about to dive into date back more than a year.

So to make sure you can find a provider that has the channels and games you’re looking for, we’ve created a guide. Here are the current disputes between TV channels and providers, that are affecting channel lineups for sports fans around the state.

DirecTV battles with TEGNA (NBC – KARE)

NBC (KARE) has been blacked out for DirecTV users in Minnesota for nearly two weeks now. With NFL playoffs and holiday programming on the horizon, most experts didn’t see this dispute lasting a week… but now we’re going on two.

AT&T is looking to sell DirecTV and doesn’t need to be losing subscribers while the find suitors. We’ll see how long they hold out. TEGNA owns local stations of different network varieties across the country so everyone is pissed off about this one and calling for the two sides to reach an agreement… but nobody is budging yet.

There's a war going on between local Minneapolis/STP NBC (KARE) owner TEGNA and DirecTV (ATT). The Ravens vs Steelers game has been blacked out because of it.

Shit's real when you go to https://t.co/MDgp72qX6B pic.twitter.com/rfikUsDVAu

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 2, 2020

Sinclair (FOX) fighting with Dish Network and Cord Cutters

If you’re a Minnesota sports fan then this DirecTV/TEGNA disagreement seems like the difference between eternal damnation and a 5-minute timeout during recess.

Sinclair, who owns the local FOX affiliates like FOX Sports North, has been battling with about half of the major television providers available to Minnesotans for over a year.

You CANNOT watch FOX Sports North if you are a subscriber of Dish Network or any streaming services. That’s right… cable cutters are shit out of luck if they want to watch the Timberwolves, Twins or Wild.

It’s brutal out there right now in the cord cutting universe, especially if you are a Minnesota sports fan. Dish Network is the longest enemy of Sinclair and hasn’t had FSN since last summer.

Still, Sinclair has now lost all of its streaming providers so they have to be looking to make a deal soon. You can’t let all providers kick you out or there won’t be anyone left to watch and pay you…. right?

No shortage of fingerpointing and half-truths being flung around by corpfolk on twitter about the Fox Sports / Sinclair / Provider rift.

Don't blame the teams, folks. For now, they're bystanders… like the fans.

But this *should* be kept in mind when future deals are made pic.twitter.com/ZbQ24RLmip

— Chris Long (@ChrisLongKSTP) December 13, 2020

Those who wanted to watch Sunday Night football this week on DirecTV are either streaming it or watching the Spanish version, neither of which are blacked out.

If you’re wanting to watch the Wild and Timberwolves this winter but you have a streaming service or Dish Network… I recommend making a switch to DirecTV or your local cable provider. I’m not convinced Sinclair cares at this point.

If anything changes, we’ll be here to let you know!

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The sports streaming world has been melting down for the last couple days, after one of the last streaming providers who still offers the YES Network and FOX Regional Sports Networks, announced they would drop local sports coverage offered by Sinclair (owner of FOX Networks).

Last night, in much more discreet fashion, YouTube TV announced that their deal with Sinclair isn’t dead yet… by replying to their original tweet that announced their divorce with the FOX conglomerate in the first place.

While we don’t have plans to lower the cost at this time, we've agreed to a temporary extension! FOX RSNs + YES Network will still be available while we work to reach an agreement. We’ll be sure to share an update as soon as we have more info on a potential resolution/timeline.

— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 29, 2020

Hopefully, YouTube TV has realized that their service will die without local sports, since live sports is the only thing still pulling people to TV in timed fashion. Nothing else these days needs to be watched live….

Whether you create a package for sports, that costs a premium price compared to the rest of your service, or you charge more for all of your plans, you need to have local sports channels or your service will die like the rest of them.

We’ll see if the two sides can get a long-term deal done this round. Eventually, Sinclair will pay for all of the stress they have put on the streaming market, over the last year with all of this local sports broadcasting bullshit.

YouTube TV might have taken the hit this time but something in regional sports media needs to change or we will all be paying more for sports channels, than we do our mortgage.

I believe in the free market, though. Someone (CBS, NBC, Disney) will want all the money Sinclair is trying to leave on the table, by overpricing these regional sports networks…. it’s just a matter of time before someone figures it out and FOX is left with “morning after” regret for their transgressions..

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Welp, no more @FSNorth… so much for my @YouTubeTV subscription. It was a good run. pic.twitter.com/FaqvGSkCyQ

— Christian Peterson (@coolerheads29) February 27, 2020

Surprise, surprise… FOX has priced YouTube TV out of its local lineup. Add YouTube to the growing list of providers who have dropped local FOX channels that hold viewing rights to teams in Minnesota line the Timberwolves, Wild and Twins.

Here is the list of providers who no longer offer FOX regional channels in Minnesota. The platforms that have strikes through them, have folded completely:

• Dish Network
• Sling
• Playstation Vue
• Fubu

The only way you can watch your regional FOX channels now through a national provider, if you don’t have a cable package, is DirecTV, Hulu Live, and AT&T TV.

Obviously, DirecTV isn’t letting any sports channels get away from them and AT&T is bigger than any provider we are discussing… but I’d be really nervous if my cord-cutting life as a sports fan now relies solely on Hulu Live. I’ve heard of a lot of people who use YouTube TV or Hulu Live but I don’t know anyone who uses AT&T TV.

It sure seems like FOX is forcing streaming options out of the game. You can’t be a legitimate live television provider if you aren’t offering regional sports. Regional sports is the only thing that is keeping live TV…. alive.

We take the hit every month for cable but that’s because I can’t handle being on Twitter and seeing what happens before they transpire on my TV. For most though, that’s the least of their worries.

The free market will correct itself though. Maybe NBC decides to expand its local coverage to the midwest and we can get rid of FOX all together… or maybe a smaller company can land the rights and we can get an “MSC” of sorts back, like the glory days… if there is enough money in it, somebody will find a way to make it happen.

Let me know if you have tried AT&T TV or if you know about any options I may have missed.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Talk about an emotional rollercoaster, am I right? With all due respect, Valleyfair has nothing on the ups-and-downs associated with this bizarre “Circle Me Bert” situation.

In similar fashion to many of today’s news-related whirlwinds, the reports regarding the demise of Bert Blyleven’s on-air shtick began with a Tweet:

Just informed by FSN that there will be no more “Circle Me Bert” and Minnesota Lottery winners for this coming season. I want to thank all the fans that made signs over the past 15+ seasons. Doesn’t mean you can’t still bring signs! Go Twins ?⚾

— Bert Blyleven (@BertBlyleven28) March 27, 2018

Once the Hall of Famer released the above information, initial indications were that the fan-favorite tradition was as good as gone. That bombshell, to say the least, was a tough pill to swallow. While many Minnesotans reacted in anger, I went straight to the grieving process:

“You are hereby circled.” pic.twitter.com/nGzAyVo9c4

— Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN) March 28, 2018

During said process, I came across the origins of the “Circle Me Bert” phenomenon. According to Blyleven, the long tenured gesture dates back to the 2002 season. That’s when his employer, Fox Sports North (“FSN“), first armed the former big leaguer with a Telestrator. From there, with a “heavy-set individual” as his motivation, Bert went ahead and circled the big fella:

Previously, this article mentioned that many Minnesotan’s (for sure those Detroit Lakes’ Natives) reacted to Blyleven’s Tweet with anger. As for all of those individuals; you are hereby circled appreciated. In the midst of the aggressive (mostly passive) kick-back, FSN released this game-changing information:

“Circle Me Bert” started as an organic on-air element and is not going away. It will continue in its original form. @BertBlyleven28 will continue to circle fans on TV. The “Winners Circle” concept by @MNLottery – separate from “Circle Me Bert”- is evolving to include more fans.

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) March 28, 2018

Bada-bing, bada-boom. Like they say, legends never die.

First of all, f*ck yes! Who cares that it will no longer be linked to the “Winners Circle?” The important thing is that “Circle Me Bert” is back, baby! On the surface, this looked like a fan-ignited resurgence, that’s not the case. While all of the backlash appears to have generated a quicker response, APPARENTLY, the confusing scenario was a “misunderstanding.“

I misunderstood, Circle ⭕ Me Bert on @fsnorth is NOT going away. The @mnlottery Winner’s Circle element is changing to include even more fans. ?⚾⭕

— Bert Blyleven (@BertBlyleven28) March 28, 2018

Okay. I’m still not sold that this wasn’t one big publicity stunt (stay woke), but whatever. With confirmation that “Circle Me Bert” isn’t going anywhere, my conspiracy theory is irrelevant. Rather than stir that pot, let’s just assume this was all an accident. I mean, it wouldn’t be the network’s first mistake:

FSN is probably just relieved that there were no f bombs involved pic.twitter.com/hXIiPJjMrk

— Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN) March 28, 2018

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com