MLB 2026 Opener Shows Trend Toward Streaming, Increased Costs for Fans

Wednesday marks the kickoff of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, and fans are facing a new challenge of keeping up with where to watch games. The season opener featuring the San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees will be streaming on Netflix, marking the platform’s foray into live sports. Netflix has even secured the rights to broadcast this year’s Home Run Derby and the anticipated Field of Dreams game between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. With multiple outlets now broadcasting MLB games nationally, fans have more options than ever before, but it may come at a higher cost.

In addition to Netflix, ESPN will be airing 30 games on its cable channels and app, while NBC will be broadcasting “Sunday Night Baseball” most weeks. In the case of scheduling conflicts, games will be shown on Peacock and simulcast on NBCSN. Peacock will also be streaming 18 Sunday games starting early in the day. MLB will also maintain partnerships with TBS, Fox, and FS1, as well as offering a “Friday Night Baseball” package on Apple TV+.

While national coverage of MLB is expanding, some teams are facing challenges when it comes to airing games locally. With the bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group in 2023, fourteen teams will now produce their own broadcasts. Fans can stream in-market games for a fee, which varies depending on the team, or gain access to all non-nationally televised games through MLB.TV for an additional cost. For example, a Reds fan in Cincinnati can use this service to catch all games not airing nationally.

For fans who want to watch every game this season, the costs can add up. The base streaming package costs around $100 for most games. Additionally, a cable subscription may be required to watch games on ESPN, FS1, and TBS, along with subscriptions to Peacock, Apple TV+, and potentially Netflix. So, as the baseball season kicks off, fans have more ways to watch their favorite teams, but it might come at a higher price tag.