Where to watch Cardinals games on television and streaming

St. Louis Cardinals games air on several networks depending on the game and time of year. Most regular-season games appear on MLB.TV, Bally Sports Midwest (the regional sports network), Fox, ESPN, or Apple TV+. Which channel carries a specific game depends on whether it is a local broadcast, a national broadcast, or a streaming-only game.

If you live in the Cardinals' broadcast territory (Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and parts of other nearby states), Bally Sports Midwest is the primary local channel. If you live outside that region, MLB.TV is the most direct option. National broadcasts on Fox and ESPN are available everywhere with those cable channels or their streaming apps.

The Cardinals' broadcast schedule is published before each season. You can find which network carries each game on MLB.com, the Cardinals' official website, or your cable or streaming provider's guide.

Key Takeaways

  • Bally Sports Midwest carries most local Cardinals games if you live in the broadcast territory, and requires a cable or streaming TV subscription that includes that channel.
  • MLB.TV shows out-of-market games and is the main streaming option for Cardinals fans outside the local region, though local games are blacked out if you live in the territory.
  • National games on Fox, ESPN, and Apple TV+ are available to anyone with those services, regardless of location.
  • Cable packages, streaming TV services, and sports-specific apps each carry different games, so checking the schedule before game time tells you which service has that particular broadcast.

Bally Sports Midwest for local broadcasts

Bally Sports Midwest is the regional sports network that holds the rights to broadcast Cardinals games in the local territory. It carries the majority of regular-season games, plus spring training and postseason games when the Cardinals are playing.

To watch Bally Sports Midwest, you need a cable or streaming TV subscription that includes the channel. Traditional cable providers like Charter Spectrum, AT&T, and Comcast carry it. Streaming TV services that include Bally Sports Midwest vary by region and change over time; check your provider's channel list to confirm it is included in your package.

If you live outside the Cardinals' broadcast territory, Bally Sports Midwest games are not available to you through any subscription, because the network only broadcasts to the local region.

MLB.TV for out-of-market games

MLB.TV is Major League Baseball's streaming service and shows games from all 30 teams. If you live outside the Cardinals' broadcast territory, you can watch most Cardinals games on MLB.TV with a subscription. The service costs money annually or monthly, and pricing varies by whether you purchase a single-team subscription (Cardinals only) or a full MLB.TV subscription (all teams).

If you live in the Cardinals' local broadcast territory, Cardinals games are blacked out on MLB.TV, meaning you cannot watch them through that service. This restriction exists because Bally Sports Midwest holds the exclusive local broadcast rights. You can still watch out-of-market teams' games on MLB.TV even if you live in the Cardinals territory.

MLB.TV also offers a free tier with limited games and on-demand replays. The paid subscription removes ads and gives you access to live games as they happen.

National broadcasts on Fox, ESPN, and Apple TV+

Some Cardinals games are broadcast nationally rather than regionally. These games appear on Fox, ESPN, or Apple TV+ and are available to anyone with those services, regardless of where you live.

Fox and ESPN games require a cable subscription that includes those channels, or a streaming TV service that carries them. Apple TV+ games require an Apple TV+ subscription. The number of nationally broadcast Cardinals games varies by season; typically there are several per month during the regular season.

National broadcasts are usually scheduled on weekends or holidays and often feature matchups between strong teams or division rivals. The Cardinals' schedule published before the season shows which games are national broadcasts.

Streaming TV services that carry Bally Sports Midwest

If you do not have cable but want to watch local Cardinals broadcasts, some streaming TV services include Bally Sports Midwest in their packages. These services stream live television over the internet and do not require a cable box or contract.

The streaming TV services that carry Bally Sports Midwest change periodically and vary by region. Services that have carried it in the past include YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV, but you should check the current channel lineup for your area before subscribing. Contact the service directly or visit its website to confirm Bally Sports Midwest is included in the package available to your zip code.

Streaming TV services typically cost between $50 and $80 per month and include dozens of channels beyond sports. Most offer a free trial period so you can test the service before committing to a subscription.

Free and low-cost ways to follow Cardinals games

If you cannot or do not want to pay for a subscription, several free options let you follow Cardinals games without a full broadcast.

MLB.com publishes live play-by-play text updates of every game, updated pitch by pitch. The Cardinals' official website and social media accounts post highlights, scores, and game summaries. MLB's official app and website show live scores and statistics. These options do not show the live video broadcast, but they let you follow the game in real time.

Some games are broadcast on local radio stations in the Cardinals' territory, and radio broadcasts are often available through the team's website or the MLB app. Radio broadcasts are free if you have a radio, or you can stream them through the app.

Blackout rules and location restrictions

MLB has blackout rules that restrict where certain games can be watched on certain services. The main rule affects MLB.TV: if you live in the Cardinals' broadcast territory, you cannot watch Cardinals games on MLB.TV because Bally Sports Midwest has the exclusive local rights.

Blackout territory is determined by your billing address or the location of your internet connection, depending on the service. If you move or travel, your access may change. VPNs (virtual private networks) can change your apparent location, but using a VPN to bypass blackout restrictions violates MLB.TV's terms of service.

National broadcasts on Fox, ESPN, and Apple TV+ are not subject to blackout restrictions and are available everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Cardinals games without cable?

Yes. If you live outside the Cardinals' broadcast territory, MLB.TV shows most games. If you live in the territory, a streaming TV service that includes Bally Sports Midwest (like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV) works like cable. National broadcasts on Fox, ESPN, and Apple TV+ are available everywhere with those services.

What is the difference between MLB.TV and Bally Sports Midwest?

Bally Sports Midwest is the regional network that broadcasts Cardinals games to the local area. MLB.TV is a streaming service that shows out-of-market games nationwide. If you live in the Cardinals territory, you watch local games on Bally Sports Midwest and out-of-market games on MLB.TV. If you live outside the territory, you watch Cardinals games on MLB.TV.

Do I need a cable subscription to watch Cardinals games?

Not necessarily. Streaming TV services like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV include Bally Sports Midwest and work like cable. MLB.TV works for out-of-market games. National broadcasts on Fox, ESPN, and Apple TV+ each require their own subscription but not cable.

Why are some Cardinals games blacked out on MLB.TV?

Blackouts protect the local broadcaster's exclusive rights. Bally Sports Midwest paid for the right to be the only service showing Cardinals games in the local territory. MLB.TV respects that agreement by blocking those games in the territory. Games outside the territory are not blacked out.

Can I watch Cardinals games on my phone or tablet?

Yes. Most services that broadcast Cardinals games have apps for phones and tablets: Bally Sports has its own app, MLB.TV has an app, and Fox, ESPN, and Apple TV+ all have apps. You need a subscription to the service to watch, and blackout rules still explore.