MLB 2026 Opener Spotlights Shift to Streaming, Impacting Fan Costs

Major League Baseball fans, get ready! The 2026 season starts today, but you might need a scorecard to keep track of all the ways you can catch your favorite teams in action.

The opening game between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees will stream on Netflix, marking Netflix’s expansion into live sports. Netflix will also broadcast this year’s Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. And that’s not all – MLB games will be on ESPN, NBC, Peacock, TBS, Fox, FS1, and even Apple TV+.

While national coverage is expanding, some fans might face challenges watching their local teams due to changes in broadcasting. Fourteen teams, like the Reds, will now produce their own game broadcasts. For $99.99 per year or $19.99 per month, fans can stream in-market games. For an extra $100, fans can watch all other non-nationally televised games through MLB.TV.

But here’s the rub – the total cost can add up. If you want to catch every game this season, you’ll need to consider the base streaming package, a cable subscription for ESPN, FS1, and TBS games, along with Peacock and Apple TV+ subscriptions. And don’t forget about Netflix!

So, gear up, baseball fans. Get ready to enjoy the game in new and exciting ways this season!