Where the games are, the 2026 season
Broadcast rights move between networks every few seasons. This reflects the the 2026 season season as of 2026-09-17 — confirm carriage before a season starts rather than assuming last year’s arrangement still holds.
| Game type | Typically carried by | Route without cable |
|---|---|---|
| Local team, most of the season | A regional sports network or a team-owned direct service | Check the specific network or the team’s own streaming option |
| National games of the week | National broadcast and streaming partners | Antenna or a live-TV streaming service |
| Out-of-market games | MLB.TV | League subscription, local team blacked out |
| Postseason | National partners | Antenna for broadcast windows, streaming service otherwise |
Team-direct streaming is changing the picture
Several clubs now sell a direct-to-consumer stream of their own local games, following the disruption of the regional sports network model. Where that exists, it is usually the cleanest answer for a local fan and it does not require any bundle.
Check whether your club offers one before assembling a more complicated arrangement.
Blackouts and the local-market rule
MLB.TV blackouts are determined by the ZIP code registered on the account and cover every game involving the teams assigned to your area — sometimes more than one team.
Some areas are assigned to clubs hundreds of miles away, which is why the blackout map surprises people. Check your ZIP code against the league’s published map before buying.
Setting up before the first game
- Confirm the specific networks above are available to you, in your market, before the season starts.
- Size your plan for the busiest day of the week, not the average one.
- Install and test on the TV you will actually watch on — not the laptop.
- Run a five-minute playback test during a live event, not a rerun.
- Have a backup route for the games that matter most. Nothing streamed is guaranteed.
Questions people ask
Why is MLB.TV blacked out for my team?
MLB.TV is an out-of-market package. Games involving the clubs assigned to your ZIP code are excluded because those rights belong to a local carrier.
How do I watch my local baseball team without cable?
Find the regional network or team-direct service that holds local rights for your club, then check availability at your address. That is the whole decision for most fans.
Are any MLB games free?
National broadcast-window games are free with an antenna, and the league has periodically streamed selected games free. Local games are generally not.