What MLB.tv All Teams gives you

MLB.tv All Teams is a streaming service that lets you watch live and on-demand baseball games from every Major League Baseball team during the regular season. You pay one annual fee and get access to out-of-market games — meaning games involving teams outside your local broadcast area. The service also includes replays of games, condensed versions that run 30 minutes instead of three hours, and archived games from past seasons.

The key word is "out-of-market." If you live in New York and the Yankees are playing, MLB.tv will black out that game because local broadcasters have the rights to show it in that region. But you can watch the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, or any other team playing that same night. The blackout rules vary slightly by team and region, so your specific restrictions depend on where you live and which team's market you fall into.

You can watch on phones, tablets, computers, and connected TV devices like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and others. MLB.tv works on most major platforms, though the exact list changes as the company adds or removes support for devices.

Key Takeaways

  • MLB.tv All Teams covers every out-of-market game during the regular season, plus replays and condensed versions available on demand.
  • Games involving your local team are blacked out, so you cannot watch your home team's broadcasts through this service alone.
  • The annual subscription price varies by when you purchase — buying during the season costs more than buying before Opening Day.
  • You can stream on most phones, tablets, computers, and TV devices, but you need a strong internet connection for reliable streaming.
  • MLB.tv does not include the postseason (playoffs and World Series), which air on cable and broadcast networks instead.

Blackout rules and your local team

Blackouts are the biggest limitation of MLB.tv All Teams. Major League Baseball sells local broadcast rights to regional sports networks and local TV stations, so those broadcasters have exclusive rights to show games in their territory. MLB.tv respects those contracts by blocking the game in that region.

Your blackout zone is determined by your location, not by which team you root for. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Giants and Athletics games are blacked out because local broadcasters own the rights. If you move to another state, the blackout zone changes to match your new location. Some people use VPNs to work around blackouts, but MLB.tv's terms of service prohibit this, and the service actively detects and blocks VPN traffic.

The blackout map is not published in full detail on MLB.tv's website, so you may not know exactly which games will be blocked until you try to watch. A practical way to check is to look at the schedule for your local team and see which games show a blackout notice in the MLB.tv app or website.

Pricing and when to buy

MLB.tv All Teams costs less if you buy before the regular season starts in late March or early April. The price drops significantly once the season begins, and it drops again as the season goes on — buying in September costs far less than buying in April. The exact prices change year to year, so check MLB.tv's website for current rates.

You can also buy a monthly subscription instead of paying for the whole year, though the monthly rate is higher per month than the annual rate spread out. If you only want to watch for a few weeks, monthly might make sense. If you plan to watch through October (the end of the regular season), annual is cheaper overall.

Some cable and streaming TV packages include MLB.tv at no extra cost, so if you already subscribe to services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or certain cable plans, check whether MLB.tv is bundled in. You may not need to buy it separately.

What devices and internet you need

MLB.tv works on iOS and Android phones and tablets, Windows and Mac computers, and TV devices including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast, and Samsung Smart TVs. The app is free to read; you pay only for the subscription. Older devices may not be supported, so if you have a TV device from more than five or six years ago, check the MLB.tv website to confirm it is compatible.

You need a reliable internet connection to stream without constant buffering. MLB.tv recommends at least 5 Mbps for standard definition and 8 Mbps for high definition. If multiple people in your household are streaming at the same time, you need faster speeds. You can test your internet speed using free tools like Speedtest.net.

One subscription account can stream on multiple devices, but MLB.tv limits how many streams can run at the same time from one account — typically two simultaneous streams, though this can change. If you want to watch on three devices at once, you would need a second subscription.

Regular season versus postseason coverage

MLB.tv All Teams covers only the regular season, which runs from late March or early April through late September or early October. The postseason — the Wild Card games, Division Series, League Championship Series, and World Series — is not included in the subscription. Those games air on cable networks like TBS and Fox, and on broadcast networks like ABC.

If you want to watch the postseason, you need cable, a cable app login, or a streaming TV service that carries those networks. Some games are also available through MLB.tv if you have a cable subscription, but you cannot watch them with just the MLB.tv All Teams subscription alone.

How to set up and use your account

After you buy a subscription, you create an account on MLB.tv with an email address and password. You then read the MLB.tv app on the devices you want to use, or go to the website, and log in with that account. The subscription is tied to your account, not to a specific device, so you can log in on your phone, tablet, TV, and computer all with the same account.

The app shows a schedule of upcoming games with a filter to show only your favorite teams or all teams. You can set reminders for games you want to watch. Once a game starts, you can watch it live, or if you miss it, you can watch the full replay or a condensed version later. Replays are usually available within a few hours of the game ending.

If you have trouble logging in or the app crashes, MLB.tv has a support page with troubleshooting steps. You can also contact their support team through the website, though response times vary.

Comparing MLB.tv to other ways to watch baseball

MLB.tv All Teams is one option among several. Cable and satellite TV packages include local and national baseball broadcasts but require a cable subscription and a TV package that includes sports channels. Streaming TV services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV also carry baseball games and may include MLB.tv as a bonus.

Some games are broadcast nationally on ESPN, Fox, or MLB Network, which you can watch with a cable login or through those networks' apps. Your local team's games are usually broadcast on a regional sports network or local station, which you can watch with cable or sometimes through the team's own streaming service.

MLB.tv All Teams is cheapest if you want to watch many teams and do not care about your local team. If you want to watch your home team, you need cable, a local broadcast app, or your team's own streaming package in addition to or instead of MLB.tv.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch my favorite team's games with MLB.tv All Teams?

Only if they are playing out-of-market teams. Games involving your local team are blacked out. To watch your home team, you need cable, a local broadcast app, or your team's streaming service. Some teams offer their own streaming package separate from MLB.tv.

What happens if I travel or move to a different state?

Your blackout zone updates based on your location. If you move to a new state, games that were blacked out before may now be available, and games that were available may now be blacked out. The blackout zone is determined by your IP address, so it changes when you travel or move.

Can I share my MLB.tv account with family members in another house?

MLB.tv allows multiple devices to use one account, but only two streams can run at the same time. If family members in another location want to watch simultaneously, you would need separate subscriptions. Sharing login credentials across different households may violate the terms of service.

Do I get the postseason with MLB.tv All Teams?

No. The postseason is not included. You need cable, a cable app, or a streaming TV service that carries TBS, Fox, or ABC to watch playoff games and the World Series.

What internet speed do I need to stream without buffering?

MLB.tv recommends at least 5 Mbps for standard definition and 8 Mbps for high definition. If multiple people are streaming at once, you need faster speeds. You can test your speed at Speedtest.net to see if your connection is fast enough.