Baseball enthusiasts, rejoice! The MLB regular season is finally back, and it’s starting with a bang on March 30th. This year’s Opening Day will be extra special, as all 30 teams will play their first game of the regular season on the same day. It’s certainly been a minute – the last time this happened was way back in 1968. However, if you’re a cord-cutter, you may be feeling a little lost when it comes to figuring out where and how to watch your favorite teams. Fear not – nationally televised games will be broadcast on a variety of networks, from Fox to ESPN to the MLB Network. And for those with local teams, regional sports networks (RSNs) have got you covered. Bottom line? There’s no excuse not to tune in and enjoy America’s favorite pastime.
For baseball fans, MLB Network Strike Zone is a must-watch channel that provides non-stop coverage and analysis of games from teams across the league. The channel broadcasts on Wednesdays and Fridays, the perfect days for fans looking to stay up-to-date with the latest highlights, scores, and stats from several games happening simultaneously. On top of that, Apple TV+ viewers can catch exclusive “Friday Night Baseball” games while Peacock offers an exclusive Sunday morning package, “MLB Sunday Leadoff.” With a total of 2,430 games in the regular season, there’s no better way to stay on top of everything that’s happening in the world of baseball.
As the 2023 MLB season kicks off, fans are looking for the best ways to watch their favorite teams. Lucky for them, live TV streaming services are offering plenty of options. One of the most popular choices is MLB.TV, which offers a direct streaming package from Major League Baseball. For $24.99 a month or $149.99 per year, viewers can catch every out-of-market game, making it an ideal choice for those wanting to follow a team outside their home city. While local team games aren’t available for live streaming, they can be watched on-demand 90 minutes after they end. Subscribing is easy too, with options to sign up on the MLB website or through a streaming service. Watching an entire season of baseball has never been more convenient!
For the ultimate baseball fan that wants every game and every national MLB channel, DirecTV’s “Choice” plan is the way to go. At $84.99 per month, it’s definitely the most expensive option on the list, but the plan is also the most comprehensive. You’ll have access to Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN, and MLB Network. Depending on your location, you may even get your local RSN. And, for the truly committed fan, DirecTV also offers the MLB Extra Innings add-on for $149.99 per season. With this, you’ll get every out-of-market game, as well as MLB Network Strike Zone and the MLB Extra Innings Mix, which lets you stream up to eight games at once. It’s certainly pricey, but for the serious baseball fanatic, it may be worth the investment.
When it comes to streaming live sports, many options exist, but it can be challenging to find the best deal for your buck. Sling TV promises to be the most cost-effective choice. By subscribing to the Orange & Blue bundle along with the Sports Extra add-on for $70 per month, Sling TV customers can access major networks like ESPN, MLB Network, Fox, TBS, FS1, and MLB Network Strike Zone. That said, those looking for RSNs or out-of-market games will have to look elsewhere. Fubo TV, formerly FuboTV, offers a more comprehensive package, including coverage of RSNs and out-of-market games, with MLB Network, MLB Strike Zone, ESPN, Fox, and FS1. Fubo TV’s Pro subscription plan costs $74.99 per month, with Elite and Premier plans offering higher price points but also more features. Equally, Fubo TV recently announced it will launch an MLB.TV add-on in the future, aimed at making the platform even more attractive to sports fans.
Hulu Live TV is a fantastic option for sports fans who are looking to catch nationally broadcast games on channels like FOX, TBS, and ESPN. They offer great live sports content, including daily regular-season games that air live on ESPN. However, those looking to watch RSNs might be out of luck as Hulu Live TV doesn’t have as many RSN groups as it used to. Additionally, out-of-market games aren’t available on the platform. It’s essential to note that ESPN+ may have local blackout restrictions for MLB games. If you’re looking for a streaming service that still carries most RSNs and national networks like Fox, ESPN, and TBS, YouTube TV might be a better option, even though it dropped MLB Network this year.
Sports fans are facing an increasing challenge of finding their favorite RSNs due to the rise of carriage disputes. YouTube TV’s recent decision to drop MLB Network is a clear example of this trend. Compounding the problem is the fact that YouTube TV does not offer Bally Sports RSNs, which has further limited viewers’ options for live sports streaming. The situation is even more concerning for fans of Bally Sports RSNs, as their parent company, Diamond Sports Group, has filed for bankruptcy. However, with Major League Baseball likely to step in to take over the RSNs, fans can remain hopeful that they will still be able to enjoy their favorite games in the future.
