As pitchers and catchers report for 20 MLB teams on Wednesday, many fans are turning their attention to baseball. However, the broadcasting landscape for the sport has undergone significant changes, particularly on the local front. A number of teams have transitioned from regional sports networks to various combinations of over-the-air and streaming broadcasts, while national MLB broadcasting has also evolved, making it all quite confusing.
We’re here to help clarify these changes. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of how to watch your favorite team’s games, starting with local broadcasts and moving on to national options. (Use Control-F to find your team.)
What if I don’t live in my team’s designated home territory?
The out-of-market options are perhaps the most straightforward for local games, though they can be costly. To access streaming games, you’ll need either a full MLB.tv subscription (currently priced at $149.99 per year or $29.99 per month) or a team-specific package for $129.99 annually. If you have a traditional cable or satellite package or a virtual MVPD like YouTube TV that offers MLB Extra Innings, you can obtain out-of-market games at an additional cost that varies by provider.
It’s important to note that MLB.tv often has free promotions through corporate partners like T-Mobile. Both MLB.tv and MLB Extra Innings are out-of-market packages and do not allow access to games if you reside in your team’s designated home territory, where out-of-market packages remain blacked out. These territories can be quite extensive, often larger than expected, and significantly larger than those held by teams in other sports. To check which teams are blocked in a specific zip code, click here.
I live in my team’s territory, and they’re still with a FanDuel Sports Network RSN.
The good news is that networks associated with these teams are accessible via MVPDs (cable, satellite, or virtual) and over-the-top streaming services. Fans of the nine teams in this category (Braves, Tigers, Royals, Angels, Marlins, Brewers, Cardinals, Rays, and Reds) can watch games through an MVPD package that includes the network in their area or via the FanDuel Sports Networks website/app. Many are also available as add-ons through Amazon’s Prime Video.
For those needing a FanDuel Sports Network channel, consider DirecTV Stream and Fubo as vMVPD options. DirecTV’s new MySports skinny bundle is expected to include these channels as add-ons later this year and they remain accessible through various traditional cable and satellite providers. Package prices for these networks depend on the package and tier, but many are now available as standalone streaming services, eliminating prior issues where fans couldn’t legally watch some in-market games. Streaming prices typically start at $19.99 per month, but could decrease.
I live in my team’s territory, and MLB now holds their rights.
The five MLB-held teams (Guardians, Twins, Rockies, Padres, and Diamondbacks) each have a distinct linear broadcasting setup, but they all provide a streaming option generally priced at $99.99 per year or $19.99 per month, which can be found on the teams’ official websites. These MLB-produced local games will also be available through traditional pay TV packages in local markets. MLB started distributing the Padres and Diamondbacks in 2023 and added the Rockies last season. Details regarding the channels for these two new teams will be announced closer to Opening Day.
I live in my team’s territory, and their rights have gone to a new, non-MLB option.
This situation specifically concerns the Rangers and White Sox. The Rangers have just launched their own Rangers Sports Network, which will air 15 games over local affiliates, with the remainder available through cable and satellite deals, plus a $99.99-a-year streaming option via Victory+. The White Sox are transitioning to Chicago Sports Network this year after the closure of NBC Sports Chicago. They currently have MVPD deals with DirecTV, Astound Broadband, and FuboTV but lack agreements with major providers such as Comcast and YouTube TV. An over-the-top option will be available for $19.99 per month for one team or $29.99 for access to all White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks games.
I live in my team’s territory, and their rights remain on another RSN with an OTT option.
This includes the Red Sox (NESN), Yankees (YES), and Cubs (Marquee). These games will typically remain within the MVPD packages they have traditionally been part of but are also available directly to consumers. The Cubs’ Marquee subscriptions are priced at $19.99 per month, the Yankees’ YES at $24.99 per month (or $41.99 if bundled with MSG), and the Red Sox’s NESN 360 at $29.99 per month. Notably, since 2021, the Yankees have broadcast approximately 21 games annually on Prime Video within their local market, but this has led to frustration among some fans due to its limited availability in the broader context.
I live in my team’s territory, and their rights remain on an NBC Sports RSN.
This applies to the Phillies, Giants, and A’s. Networks like NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Bay Area, and NBC Sports California are still accessible through traditional pay-TV providers or services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, and YouTube TV. However, they are currently unavailable as standalone streaming services.
I live in my team’s territory, and their rights remain on another RSN without an OTT option.
This encompasses seven of the remaining eight teams: Mets, Orioles, Nationals, Pirates, Astros, Dodgers, and Mariners (the Blue Jays will be discussed in their own segment due to unique Canadian circumstances). These teams will continue broadcasting on the same RSNs without any upcoming changes from the 2024 season.
Recent changes have occurred for several networks, such as the Astros taking over AT&T Sportsnet Southwest with the Rockets and rebranding it Space City Home Network in 2023, and the Nationals’ network changing from NBC Sports Washington to Monumental Sports Network in 2023. The Pirates’ network will also be rebranded as SportsNet Pittsburgh ahead of the 2024 season, with the team gaining an equity stake.
My team is the Blue Jays.
As with many other things, we see a unique situation for the Blue Jays. They have a national deal with Sportsnet, which is unusual because their games can be viewed across Canada through MVPD packages that include Sportsnet or via OTT with Sportsnet Now at $24.99 Canadian per month. However, if you’re in the U.S., you’ll need MLB.tv, since Sportsnet Now is exclusive to Canada.
What about the national games?
For 2025, national MLB broadcasters include ESPN, Fox, FS1, MLB Network, TBS/truTV, Apple TV+, and The Roku Channel. The Roku Channel’s MLB Sunday Leadoff package is free. While broadcast Fox can be accessed for free with an antenna, it requires an MVPD package otherwise. MLB Network is available OTT for $6.99 a month, with some game restrictions.
Apple TV+ charges $9.99 monthly, while TBS/truTV games are included with Max subscriptions starting at $9.99 a month, along with B/R Sports add-on options. Currently, ESPN and FS1 are not available OTT, but ESPN is anticipated to launch its own streaming service soon. Fox is also reportedly working on a standalone streaming service. Thus, if you’re interested in your team’s games scheduled for national broadcasts, you may need an MVPD package alongside multiple OTT subscriptions to cover both local and national viewing.
It seems like a lot to handle, but the information above should help you navigate how to watch any specific MLB team’s games in 2025. Additionally, the MLB is reportedly working toward nationalizing their rights deals by 2028, which could simplify this process by eliminating the in-market/out-of-market distinction, similar to Canada’s national-only deal. We’ll see what unfolds in the future.
