Where to watch Seattle Mariners games on television and streaming
Seattle Mariners games air on several different networks depending on which game you want to watch. Most regular-season games broadcast on ROOT Sports Northwest (the regional sports network), MLB.TV (the league's streaming service), Apple TV+, or national networks like ESPN, Fox, and MLB Network. The channel changes game to game, so you need to check the schedule before each broadcast.
If you live in the Seattle area, ROOT Sports Northwest is the primary local option, but it is not available through every cable or streaming provider. If you live outside the Pacific Northwest, MLB.TV carries most games but has blackout restrictions for your local team. National broadcasts on ESPN or Fox are available to anyone with those channels, regardless of location.
The cost and how you watch depends on which service carries the game. Some require a cable or satellite subscription, some require a streaming subscription, and some are included with services you may already have.
Key Takeaways
- ROOT Sports Northwest carries most Mariners regular-season games in the Seattle area, but requires a cable, satellite, or streaming TV subscription that includes the channel.
- MLB.TV streams most games nationwide but blacks out games in your home market, meaning you cannot watch your local team's games through it if you live in the Pacific Northwest.
- National broadcasts on ESPN, Fox, and MLB Network are available to anyone with those channels and have no blackout restrictions.
- Apple TV+ carries a limited number of Friday night games throughout the season as part of its "Friday Night Baseball" package.
ROOT Sports Northwest: the regional broadcast option
ROOT Sports Northwest is a regional sports network that holds the broadcast rights to Mariners games in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It carries the majority of regular-season games, typically 150 or more per season. To watch ROOT Sports Northwest, you need a cable, satellite, or streaming TV subscription that includes the channel.
Cable and satellite providers that carry ROOT Sports Northwest include Comcast Xfinity, Dish Network, and Verizon Fios in areas where they operate. Streaming TV services that include ROOT Sports Northwest are Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Fubo. Each of these services costs between $70 and $80 per month, though prices change and vary by provider. You can check the ROOT Sports Northwest website to see which providers serve your address.
If you already subscribe to one of these services for other channels, you can watch Mariners games at no additional cost. If you do not currently subscribe to any of them, you would need to add a subscription to watch ROOT Sports Northwest games.
MLB.TV: the league-wide streaming service
MLB.TV is Major League Baseball's official streaming service and carries out-of-market games nationwide. It costs $139 per year for a full-season subscription or $24.99 per month if you want to watch for a shorter period. MLB.TV also offers a free tier that shows highlights and clips but not live games.
The key limitation is blackout restrictions. If you live in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, or northern California), Mariners games are blacked out on MLB.TV because ROOT Sports Northwest has exclusive local broadcast rights. Blackout restrictions are based on your location, which MLB.TV determines through your internet address. If you live outside the blackout region, you can watch every Mariners game on MLB.TV.
MLB.TV works on phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. You can watch on multiple devices with one subscription, though you can only stream on one device at a time.
National broadcasts: ESPN, Fox, and MLB Network
Some Mariners games broadcast on national networks that are available to anyone with those channels, regardless of where you live. These networks include ESPN, Fox, and MLB Network. National broadcasts happen throughout the season but are less frequent than regional games — typically a handful per month.
ESPN and Fox are included in most cable and satellite packages. MLB Network is a specialty channel that requires a higher-tier cable or satellite package or a streaming TV service like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo. National broadcasts have no blackout restrictions, so you can watch them from anywhere in the country if you have access to the channel.
To find out which games are on national networks, check the Mariners' official schedule on MLB.com or your cable provider's guide.
Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball
Apple TV+ holds the rights to a limited number of Friday night games throughout the MLB season, including some Mariners games. These games are part of Apple's "Friday Night Baseball" package. You need an Apple TV+ subscription to watch, which costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Apple TV+ also includes movies, TV shows, and sports documentaries beyond baseball.
Not every Friday night game involves the Mariners, so you need to check the schedule to see if a Mariners game is part of the Apple TV+ broadcast that week. The schedule is published before each season on Apple's website and on MLB.com.
How to find which channel carries each game
The easiest way to find out where a specific Mariners game broadcasts is to visit MLB.com and navigate to the Mariners' schedule. Each game listing shows the broadcast channel. You can also check the Mariners' official website or your cable provider's TV guide.
Most cable and satellite providers also have apps or websites where you can search the schedule and see which games are on channels you subscribe to. Streaming TV services like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV show upcoming games in their guide and let you set reminders.
Comparing the cost and coverage
| Service | Cost | Coverage | Blackout Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROOT Sports Northwest (via cable, satellite, or streaming TV) | $70–$80/month (as part of a TV package) | Most regular-season games in Pacific Northwest | None for local viewers |
| MLB.TV | $139/year or $24.99/month | Out-of-market games nationwide | Blacked out in Pacific Northwest |
| ESPN or Fox (via cable, satellite, or streaming TV) | Included in most TV packages | Select national games throughout season | None |
| MLB Network (via cable, satellite, or streaming TV) | Included in higher-tier TV packages | Select national games throughout season | None |
| Apple TV+ | $9.99/month or $99/year | Select Friday night games | None |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Mariners games if I live outside Washington state?
Yes. If you live outside the Pacific Northwest, you can watch most Mariners games on MLB.TV without blackout restrictions. You can also watch any nationally broadcast games on ESPN, Fox, or MLB Network if you have those channels. Apple TV+ Friday night games are available nationwide to subscribers.
Why are some Mariners games blacked out on MLB.TV?
MLB.TV blacks out games in your home market to protect the broadcast rights of regional sports networks like ROOT Sports Northwest. This means if you live in Washington, Oregon, or northern California, you cannot watch Mariners games on MLB.TV because ROOT Sports Northwest has exclusive local rights. You would need to watch on ROOT Sports Northwest instead.
Do I need cable to watch Mariners games?
No. You can watch on streaming TV services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo instead of cable. You can also watch on MLB.TV if you live outside the blackout region, or on Apple TV+ for Friday night games. However, most regular-season games in the Seattle area broadcast on ROOT Sports Northwest, which requires one of these subscriptions.
What is the cheapest way to watch Mariners games?
If you live outside the Pacific Northwest, MLB.TV at $139 per year is the most affordable option for the full season. If you live in the Seattle area, you need ROOT Sports Northwest, which costs $70–$80 per month as part of a streaming TV or cable package. Watching only nationally broadcast games on ESPN or Fox is free if you already have those channels.
Can I watch Mariners games on my phone or tablet?
Yes. MLB.TV, Apple TV+, and most streaming TV services have apps for phones and tablets. ROOT Sports Northwest also has an app, though access depends on your cable or streaming TV subscription. You can read the MLB app to see highlights and clips for free, but live games require one of the paid services listed above.