Roku announced the broadcast schedule on Thursday for its 2025 MLB Sunday Leadoff series, marking the second year of its media rights deal. The streaming service will air 18 MLB games this season, primarily kicking off the day’s schedule on Sundays, beginning with the first game on May 11 at 11:35 a.m. ET, featuring the Chicago Cubs at the New York Mets.
Roku is your home for #MLBSundayLeadoff! Stream every game free all summer long on the Roku Channel starting on May 11. pic.twitter.com/VyDowE7gqP
— Roku Channel (@TheRokuChannel) February 20, 2025
Viewers don’t need a Roku device to enjoy the games, as matchups will be available on the free Roku Channel and on MLB.TV (with no blackout) for subscribers. However, the MLB Sunday Leadoff games will be subject to blackout on regional sports networks (RSNs). MLB will again produce the games, with local broadcasters providing the commentary.
Interestingly, last year’s World Series teams, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, will each make only one appearance in this season’s lineup. Roku initiated a three-year, $30 million media rights deal last year to broadcast 18 MLB games annually, aligning with their overall sports strategy. Although the deal is not particularly lucrative for MLB in terms of revenue, the Roku Channel offers significant exposure for the games. As the most popular free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in the U.S., Roku reached an estimated 145 million viewers in 2024, surpassing all streaming services except Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+.
