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How to watch and stream the MLB Network in the US

The MLB 2025 season is underway shortly, with teams from coast-to-coast across the United States and Canada all looking to make their mark in pursuit of the World Series trophy, and of course success.

A two-game series curtain-raiser across the Pacific Ocean in Seoul, South Korea, between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, will start off LA's attempt at winning back-to-back World Series.

Aside from the Dodgers and a $392 million payroll that has been a topic of discussion around the league, fans will also be eager to see how Juan Soto fairs after his shocking move across New York from the Yankees to the Mets.

Those determined to ensure they catch plenty of action will want a channel in their lineup explicitly designed to cater to their baseball needs - the MLB Network, the pay-television sports channel launched in 2009 at home and abroad.

So, what is the MLB Network? How can you watch and stream it? How much does it cost? GOAL answers all these questions as we take you through our guide to MLB Network for the 2025 MLB season.

What is MLB Network?

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MLB Network is a pay-television cable channel owned by Major League Baseball and operated as its specific platform for coverage of MLB out-of-market fixtures and other MLB-related replays and programming. Similar to the NFL Network, it functions as a catch-all broadcaster alongside local, regional, and national free-to-air coverage.

MLB broadcast rights are split nationally between free-to-air and pay-television, with ABC, Fox, and NBC offering the former and ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and TBS delivering the latter. Additionally, certain programming blocks are exclusive to streaming partners, such as Apple TV’s Friday Night Baseball and Peacock’s MLB Sunday Leadoff.

Due to the proliferation of broadcast rights, MLB Network coverage is not quite as deep as might be anticipated. Just 26 non-exclusive games are aired in-house per season, and there are no English-language rights to postseason action. Nevertheless, through its channel, it offers additional out-of-market coverage for the vast majority of games.

Can you get MLB Network by itself?

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MLB Network can indeed be purchased by itself as a streaming channel operation. It is offered on a monthly or yearly contract and is priced at $29.99 per month or $149.99 per year

However, it is also carried by many satellite and streaming packages offered throughout the United States, meaning that those who want to capture the whole MLB experience may be better locating an option that includes the channel despite its impressive year-long price.

What's the cheapest way to get MLB Network?

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The cheapest way to get MLB Network is to purchase it by itself, as detailed above. This will allow subscribers to watch out-of-market matches on television and through their mobile devices and tablets, too.

However, it may also be cheaper to pick up MLB Network as part of a streaming package on balance, with higher prices working out to be more cost effective for the quantity and quality of overall coverage beyond the channel itself. Essentially, a much larger TV package could offer more for your buck.

How to stream MLB Network

With MLB Network available on a wide number of streaming options, finding the right package that ensures you can catch all of the baseball action this season and ensure your other coverage meets are met requires some serious thought.

Below, GOAL breaks down some of our favorite streaming packages that carry MLB Network as part of their lineup, as well as some pros and cons for each, helping you decide which fits the bill for you and your MLB coverage needs.

  • New Fubo LogoFubo

    Fubo

    There’s little lacking when it comes to MLB coverage from fubo (formerly fuboTV). The streamer touts itself as a one-stop shop for fans, thanks to MLB Network, regional sports networks, national free-to-air, and regular sports pay-television channels in its lineup. Their packages start at $84.99 per month, with the first month discounted by $20.

    That effectively covers the majority of matches shown every season, including those all-important postseason clashes, which will keep subscribers on top of just about everything throughout the campaign.

    Once again, you’ll miss out on the Apple TV+ games, but with its top-price plan coming in under a hundred dollars per month, it might have the edge over some rivals when it comes to keeping the relative cost down.

    Pros

    • Comprehensive MLB coverage
    • A wide variety of additional channels
    • MLB Network is included as a standard

    Cons

    • Will require additional Apple TV+ purchase
  • DirecTV Stream Promo PanelDirecTV Stream

    DIRECTV

    As Channel 213 on DIRECTV’s Choice, Ultimate, and Premier packages, MLB Network takes a key place among the streaming provider's sporting options and is complimented by a broad selection of other channels carrying the sport, such as ESPN.

    Stuffed to the gills with options outside of sport, DIRECTV carries enough films and entertainment to keep everyone satisfied, with a selection of premium channels also available as add-ons to further diversify its broadcast portfolio.

    With prices starting from $79.99 per month for Choice and rising well into triple figures for Premier, it might not be among the cheapest options on the market. With just a five-day free trial, prospective customers will need time to set-up before they can even settle on it.

    Pros

    • Wide MLB coverage
    • Additional channel options with packages
    • Multiple tiers to tailor personal preference

    Cons

    • Short trial period
    • Will require additional Apple TV+ purchase
  • Sling TV Logo

    Sling TV

    If you’re trying to keep your costs on the lower side without exclusively settling for MLB Network, then Sling TV presents a reasonable option, albeit with a caveat.

    Two packages - Orange or Blue - offer different base channels within their roster, but neither has MLB Network as standard, requiring customers to purchase the Sports Extras package to locate it.

    However, at just an extra $15.00 per month, on top of a starting fee of $45.99 per month for the Orange package, it still comes out considerably cheaper than many of its rivals.

    Pros

    • Low starting price for service
    • Includes other sporting channels

    Cons

    • Sports Extras is required as an add-on fee
    • Limited linear coverage inclusion
    • Will require additional Apple TV+ purchase
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