What MLB.TV gives you

MLB.TV is Major League Baseball's streaming service that lets you watch out-of-market games live and on demand. "Out-of-market" means games your local team is not playing in — if you live in New York and the Yankees are playing, you cannot watch that game on MLB.TV, but you can watch the Red Sox or any other team. Games are available the same day they air on television, and you can also rewatch them after they finish.

The service includes pre-game and post-game shows, highlights, and archived games going back several seasons. You can watch on a phone, tablet, computer, or connected TV device. MLB.TV does not include live local broadcasts or playoff games that air on national television networks like ESPN or Fox.

Key Takeaways

  • MLB.TV streams out-of-market regular season games live and on demand, but not your local team's games or nationally televised matchups.
  • You can watch on phones, tablets, computers, and most streaming devices, though the number of simultaneous streams depends on your plan.
  • MLB.TV offers a monthly plan and an annual plan; the annual plan costs less per month if you divide the total cost by 12.
  • Your cable or satellite TV login may give you free or discounted access to MLB.TV through a carrier partnership.
  • Blackout rules prevent you from streaming games involving your local team, even if you pay for the service.

Pricing and plan options

MLB.TV offers two main payment options: a monthly subscription and an annual subscription. The monthly plan renews automatically each month and can be stopped at any time. The annual plan covers 12 months of access and typically costs less per month than paying month-to-month, though you pay the full amount upfront.

Prices vary slightly by region and change year to year, so check MLB.TV's website directly for current rates. Some cable and satellite TV providers — including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and certain regional sports networks — include MLB.TV as part of their package or offer it at a discount. If you subscribe to one of these services, log in with your provider credentials on the MLB.TV website to see whether you have access included.

How blackout rules work

Blackout restrictions are the main limitation of MLB.TV. Games involving your local team are blacked out in your geographic area, meaning you cannot stream them even though you pay for the service. MLB defines your local team based on your IP address and the team's home market — typically a 75-mile radius around the stadium.

National broadcasts — games shown on ESPN, Fox, or MLB Network — are also blacked out on MLB.TV, even if they do not involve your local team. This is because those networks have exclusive rights to show those games. Blackout rules explore whether you watch live or on demand, so you cannot wait until later to stream a blacked-out game.

If you travel outside your local market, blackout restrictions lift and you can stream your home team's games. The service uses your device's location to determine whether a game is blacked out, so traveling with your phone or tablet will change what you can watch.

Devices and simultaneous streams

MLB.TV works on most devices: iPhones and iPads, Android phones and tablets, computers running Windows or Mac, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Google TV, and gaming consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. You can read the MLB.TV app from your device's app store or visit mlb.tv in a web browser.

The number of devices you can stream on at the same time depends on your plan. Most plans allow you to stream on one device at a time, though you can log in on multiple devices — you just cannot watch on two screens simultaneously. If someone else in your household tries to stream while you are already watching, one stream will stop.

How to sign up and log in

Go to mlb.tv and click the button to start a subscription. You will create an MLB.com account with an email address and password, then choose your plan and enter payment information. MLB.TV accepts major credit cards and PayPal. After you complete payment, you can start streaming when ready.

If you already have an MLB.com account — from buying tickets, fantasy baseball, or another MLB service — log in with those credentials instead of creating a new account. Once your subscription is active, open the MLB.TV app or website, log in, and select a game to watch. You do not need to do anything else to set up the service.

Canceling your subscription

To cancel a monthly subscription, log into your MLB.com account, go to Account Settings, find the Subscriptions section, and select Cancel Subscription. The cancellation takes effect when ready, and you lose access at that moment — you do not get a refund for the remainder of the month. If you cancel an annual subscription, you also lose access when ready and do not receive a refund.

If you signed up through a third-party service like Apple, Google Play, or Amazon, you must cancel through that platform instead of MLB.com. Open the app store or service where you subscribed, find your subscriptions, locate MLB.TV, and cancel there. This prevents accidental double charges if you cancel in the wrong place.

What happens during the playoffs

MLB.TV does not stream playoff games that air on national television networks. The World Series, League Championship Series, and Division Series are broadcast on Fox, TBS, or MLB Network, and those networks have exclusive rights. You cannot watch these games on MLB.TV even if you pay for a subscription.

Some wild-card or regular-season games late in the year may stream on MLB.TV if they are not part of the national broadcast schedule, but the majority of October baseball requires a cable or satellite TV subscription, or a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch my local team's games on MLB.TV?

No. Blackout rules prevent you from streaming games involving your local team in your home market. You need cable, satellite TV, or a live TV streaming service to watch your team's local broadcasts. If you travel outside your market, you can stream your team's games on MLB.TV.

Do I need a cable login to use MLB.TV?

No. You can subscribe to MLB.TV directly without cable. However, if you already have cable or a live TV streaming service, check whether MLB.TV is included — many providers bundle it at no extra cost or offer a discount.

Can I share my MLB.TV account with family members?

You can log in on multiple devices, but only one stream can play at a time on your account. If two people try to watch simultaneously, one stream stops. For multiple simultaneous streams, each person needs their own subscription.

What if I have a VPN — can I bypass blackout restrictions?

MLB.TV detects and blocks VPN connections. Using a VPN to bypass blackouts violates the service's terms, and your stream will stop if detected. Blackout rules are part of MLB's broadcasting agreements with local and national networks.

Can I watch games on demand after they air?

Yes. Out-of-market games are available on demand after they finish airing live. You can rewatch them anytime during your subscription period. Blacked-out games remain blacked out on demand as well.