MLB.TV & Blackouts Explained in 2026 — What's Blacked Out & Why

MLB.TV is the best way to follow an out-of-town team — and the most confusing, because of blackouts. Here's what MLB.TV actually gives you in 2026, why your local club is blacked out, and how to get around it legitimately.

What MLB.TV is

MLB.TV is the league's out-of-market streaming package: it carries every regular-season game except those in your local area. For 2026, it's sold and distributed by ESPN (through the ESPN app) in addition to MLB's own platforms — but the underlying product, and its blackout rules, are the same wherever you buy it.

Why your local team is blacked out

Local TV rights belong to each club's regional network. So on MLB.TV, games involving the club (or clubs) in your home television territory are blacked out — the league can't stream you a game your local RSN has the rights to. Blackouts are based on your billing/ZIP location, not where you happen to be sitting. Separately, nationally-exclusive games (for example FOX's Saturday-night window) are blacked out on MLB.TV for everyone, because those rights are exclusive to the national broadcaster that night.

How to watch your local team without a blackout

Because MLB.TV can't show your home team, you have a few legitimate options for local games:

Your club's regional network or in-market stream. Many clubs — especially the 14 on MLB-produced local broadcasts — offer a direct-to-consumer stream you can buy for in-market viewing, blackout-free within the home territory. MLB says most clubs now have such an option.
A live-TV service that carries your RSN. Services like Fubo and DirecTV Stream carry many regional networks; YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling generally do not carry RSNs.
Free over-the-air / national windows. When your team is on a national broadcast (FOX, ESPN, NBC, etc.), that game isn't RSN-exclusive.

Audio is never blacked out

One useful quirk: MLB.TV includes live radio for all 30 clubs with no blackouts. Even if the video of your local team is blacked out, you can listen to the home or away radio call anywhere.

What changed in 2026

ESPN now sells MLB.TV. You can buy and watch it through the ESPN app as well as MLB's platforms; buying it may involve an ESPN account.
MLB+ launched. A new tier that bundles 24/7 MLB Network, MLB Big Inning, select out-of-market games and blackout-free team radio.
More in-market DTC options. With more clubs on MLB-produced broadcasts, blackout-free in-market streaming is available for most of the league.

The bottom line

Use MLB.TV for the out-of-town teams you follow, and your club's regional network or in-market stream (or a national broadcast) for your home team. If you're not sure which applies to a given game, our live schedule shows the national or in-market carrier for every matchup.

Last verified July 2026 against MLB's published policy. Blackout rules and MLB.TV pricing can change — confirm current terms at MLB.TV before subscribing.