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?
Getty imagesMLB 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?
Getty ImagesMLB 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?
Getty ImagesThe 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.