Core Viewpoint - The St. Louis Cardinals and Gray Media are launching "Home Plate," a comprehensive package providing fans with free access to live games and programming, enhancing the connection between fans and the team [1][2][8]. Group 1: Home Plate Programming Details - The Home Plate package will include full broadcasts of Cardinals live games, starting with Spring Training on February 23, 2026 [1]. - The package features ten regular-season games broadcasted on Friday nights, available on Gray Media-owned and syndicated television stations across 14 Midwestern markets [2][4]. - Additional programming includes at least twelve Memphis Redbirds (AAA affiliate) games and ten Springfield Cardinals (AA affiliate) games, along with next-day replays of most Cardinals games [4][7]. Group 2: Market Reach and Accessibility - The programming will be accessible in St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, and parts of Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, and Kentucky [4][5]. - The partnership aims to provide unprecedented access to the entire Cardinals organization, from minor leagues to major league games, enhancing fan engagement [2][8]. Group 3: Organizational Background - Gray Media, the parent company of Matrix Midwest, operates the largest number of top-rated local television stations in the U.S., reaching approximately 37% of U.S. television households [11]. - The St. Louis Cardinals are a historic franchise with a rich legacy, having won 11 World Series Championships and numerous division titles since their inception in 1892 [14].