How to watch a baseball game in 2026 and beyond: streaming, broadcasting, other

Prompted by the news that the 9 teams with Fanduel contracts have terminated those contracts. Non-paywalled link: https://archive.ph/NTGce (good job, The Athletic, for the headline that makes it look like there are nine teams in MLB).

Meanwhile, here is NBC's 2026 broadcast/Peacock schedule: https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/mlb-returns-to-nbc-and-peacock-in-2026-full-schedule-announced

I thought about doing a rundown of every team's streaming situation, but things are too much in flux.
Fox has the 2026 WBC in the States; Netflix has it for Japan.

ESPN has a bunch, but right now I'm just seeing "key dates" instead of a full schedule: https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/12/espn-unveils-more-mlb-game-selections-for-key-dates-in-2026/

Netflix key dates: opening day, HR derby, Field of Dreams game: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/mlb-netflix-opening-day-home-run-derby-field-of-dreams

Add your local info if so inclined.

Handy access to ESPN and RSNs for cord-cutters: https://tvpass.org (sometimes reliable, sometimes "sorry, our connections are maxed out, get a paid subscription you freeloader")

https://nypost.com/2026/01/12/sports/japan-upset-that-world-baseball-classic-to-be-on-netflix/

I canceled all network TV so will have to figure something out for the Mets this year (if I've recovered from last season by opening day).

for international fans my understanding is that MLB.tv will still work as it always has, just with another carve-out for the netflix games. but i’ve read elsewhere that the plan is to move everything into ESPN+ from 2027 onward? if so it’s utterly bizarre to me that MLB would patiently build a userbase for its streaming product over 20 years, secure distribution deals with device makers etc and then just hand everything to espn??

SNY offers a streaming package for about the same price as mlbtv

well, did - i dunno what that'll look like since mlbtv got sold to espn

"FanDuel Sports Network makes new offers to MLB teams, hinging on the company being sold" -- from The Athletic

https://archive.ph/sTeKW

john demarsico retiring ;_;

Supposedly fired due to impropriety with a colleague’s daughter

yes, this got way wilder yesterday

Cardinals, Brewers, Royals, Reds, Marlins, Tigers, Rays, Angels and Braves to Main St. Sports: drop dead. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/02/02/sources-all-nine-mlb-teams-officially-leaving-main-street-nba-and-nhl-in-holding-pattern/

Five of the other eight teams -- the Cardinals, Brewers, Royals, Reds and Marlins -- will strike deals with local distributors in their respective home markets and, according to sources Monday afternoon, have their games produced by MLB and streamed on the league’s app. Sources said the remaining three teams -- the Tigers, Rays and Angels -- are leaning toward joining the other five.

The Cardinals, Brewers and Marlins have already made their transition to MLB Media official.

The ninth team, the Braves, are expected to launch their own network, perhaps to air on a national streaming platform such as Amazon or Apple or with a template similar to the Rangers Sports Network -- which has direct-to-distributor deals with cable and satellite providers, a local over-the-air partner and a streaming outlet in Victory+.

https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1qxqqee/renewing_your_mlbtv_subscription_for_2026/

the espn fuckery is starting

Still free with T-Mobile for now tho

xp ugghhhh

if i’m understanding this right, if you are a current MLB.tv subscriber you can just renew without worrying about ESPN?

i mean as an international subscriber to whom ESPN means nothing i’m not sure what the alternative would be tbh

Email from MLB today says:

“Starting this season, MLB.TV will be available through ESPN in the United States. That means subscribers will be able to stream MLB.TV through both the MLB apps and web site as well as through the ESPN app and web site”

i'm an international subscriber and my email doesn't mention ESPN at all (though it does list the price for a year in dollars...)

if the ESPN deal mean MLB gets to keep streaming through its own apps as well then it feels like just... free money for MLB?

yeah I don’t get the hoopla

I guess if people watch on ESPN that will eat into the advertising revenue realised on MLV.tv but i guess they’ve looked at it and decided the cash offsets any cannibalisation. if audiences can watch on either app i don’t see the downside for anybody

BravesVision is (almost) go: https://www.mlb.com/braves/schedule/watch