The Cord Cutting Report

How to Watch MLB Network Without Cable

by /

MLB Network is a cable TV network that is available on four live TV streaming services. 

You can watch MLB Network without cable on:

You won’t find MLB Network on YouTube TV or Hulu Live TV. 

During the regular season, MLB Network airs a number of out-of-market games during the week. But if your local team is playing on MLB Network, you will be subject to blackout restrictions. 

The channel airs live and tape-delayed spring training games. During the MLB playoffs, you can find at least two Division Series games on the channel.

How to Watch MLB Network

There are a number of live TV streaming services that are similar to a cable TV or satellite subscription. 

These services are used by cord-cutters and Major League Baseball fans to watch their local team’s games and national broadcast games. 

You can watch sports networks such as ESPN, local broadcast channels and popular cable channels, including AMC, A&E and CNN. 

You just need an internet connection. Smart TVs, streaming devices and even iPhones support watching live TV.

Once you get a free trial of a live TV streaming service, download the app to your Smart TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast or Apple TV. Gamers can watch live TV on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. You can also watch live TV on a PC or Mac.

You can easily cancel a streaming service online, and jump to a competing service whenever you want. Some cord-cutters even jump from platform to platform throughout the year just to catch certain shows.

Here’s a quick look at each of these services.

MLB Network
(photo credit: The Cord Cutting Report)

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) streams MLB Network and regional sports channels needed for local, in-market MLB games.

The Choice plan has more than 105 channels for $99.99 per month. Choice subscribers get unlimited Cloud DVR storage for recordings. And you can watch live TV on an unlimited number of screens in your home.

You can sign up for a free 5-day trial of DIRECTV STREAM without any obligations. There are no added fees for the regional sports channels. 

The Choice channel lineup includes: A&E, ABC, ACC Network, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BET, Bravo, Big Ten Network, CBS, CNBC, CNN, Discovery Channel, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, FOX, FOX Deportes, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, History, ion TV, Longhorn Network, MSNBC, MTV, NBA TV, NBC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Pac-12 Network, Paramount Network, PBS, SEC Network, TBS, Telemundo, TLC, TNT, TruTV, Turner Classic Movies, USA Network, The Weather Channel and Vice TV.

You will also get regional sports networks such as Bally Sports and NBC Sports in the Choice plan.

DIRECTV STREAM still has one advantage over paying for cable or satellite providers such as DISH, Xfinity, Comcast or Spectrum. 

You can cancel whenever you want. Subscriptions run month to month. No cable box or satellite receiver is needed. 

Subscribers can get three months of HBO Max, Showtime, and Cinemax for free before the monthly rates kick in. 

DIRECTV STREAM works with Roku, Amazon Fire TV, iPhones, web browsers, tablets and Samsung Smart TVs.

You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up.

fuboTV

fuboTV carries MLB Network in a couple of add-on bundles that you can get with the Pro plan. 

The Pro bundle has more than 152 channels, including ESPN, FS1 and local NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX stations. A&E, History, Big Ten Network, AMC, and HGTV are part of the Pro plan.

There are two ways to add MLB Network:

  • Fubo Extra ($7.99 per month) adds 54 channels, including entertainment, news and sports networks

You can watch live TV on 10 screens at once.

Subscribers get 1000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to activate more than 40 apps for channels that are in your lineup. Fubo works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS and Android smartphones.

A subscription costs $74.99 per month. You can watch TV or on-demand content on 10 screens at once. fuboTV adds a regional sports fee. It costs $10.99 per month for one regional network. It’s $13.99 per month if you have two RSNs in your area. 

fuboTV works on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV devices. There are mobile apps for iPhones, Android and you can watch on web browsers.

You can sign up for a free 7-day trial without obligation.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the cheapest option to watch MLB Network without cable. 

You’re going to need to the Sports Extra add-on with either the Sling Orange or Sling Blue plan.

The Sling TV Orange plan includes 32 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 and entertainment networks like A&E and History.

Sling Blue subscribers get NFL Network, FOX Sports 1, TNT and TBS.

A subscription costs $40 per month. Sports Extra adds 10 channels and costs $11 per month. Subscribers get 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage.

To maximize sports channels, you can combine the Sling TV Blue with Sling TV Orange for $55 per month.

Sling TV works on just about any streaming device: Roku, Firestick, Apple TV and even an Xbox. It is also supported by Samsung Smart TVs and Smart TVs operating on Android TV or Google TV. Sling TV also supports mobile apps for iOS and Android.

There are no hidden fees or contracts if you decide to keep the service. You can look over the latest offer Sling TV has for new and returning customers.

When you sign up for Sling TV, there are no contracts, or extra fees like cable TV. 

If you prepay for a brief subscription, you can get a free streaming device.  

Vidgo

Vidgo carries MLB Network, FS1, and local FOX stations in its Plus plan.

The Plus plan has more than 110 live TV channels. A&E, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, HGTV and INSP are part of the channel lineup.

Subscribers can stream on up to three devices at once. Vidgo has apps on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Android TV devices such as Google Chromecast. You can watch live TV on three screens at once.

A Vidgo subscription costs $64.95 per month. You can look over the channel lineup before deciding whether to sign up.

Watching MLB Network without cable FAQs

These are questions readers ask when searching for ways to watch MLB Network without a pay TV provider. 

Can I watch MLB Network on the MLB app?

Yes. According to an MLB.com help page, you can live stream MLB Network on an iPhone, iPad and supported Android phones and tablets. But only certain pay TV providers support what is known as “TV Everywhere” access. For example, DIRECTV STREAM subscribers can activate the app, but currently fuboTV and Sling TV cannot. 

Is MLB Network on Hulu?

Hulu Live TV does not include MLB Network in its channel lineup. Hulu Live TV has more than 75 live TV channels, including ESPN, FS1 and local broadcast channels such as FOX and NBC. A subscription costs $69.99 per month and includes ad-supported access to Disney+ and ESPN+.

Does YouTube TV have MLB Network?

No. YouTube TV currently does not carry MLB Network in its channel lineup. MLB Network was once included with a YouTube TV subscription. But the network was removed on January 31, 2023 after it failed to strike a new agreement. 

How to watch MLB Network on Roku

Roku users can subscribe to fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV or YouTube TV to start watching MLB Network live on their TV. 

Does MLB Network show spring training games?

Yes. MLB Network shows a number of live spring training games along with regular season games. But you may be subject to blackout restrictions during the regular season.

Does MLB Network show live games?

Yes. MLB Network shows both live spring training and regular season games. The network also shows games that have been pre-recorded. 

Can I Watch MLB games for free?

The easiest way for price-savvy baseball fans to get free local channels is with a TV antenna. A few American League games will be broadcast on FOX along with the World Series. 

Checking to see if you’re close to broadcast towers is easy. Head over to the Antennas Direct Transmitter Locator tool. Punch in your zip code or address and push the “View Channels” button.

Here are a number of resources that I have assembled over the years based on my own hands-on testing. 

What games can I watch on MLB.TV?

With a MLB.TV subscription, you can watch every out-of-market game during the 2023 season.

The only caveat is that you can’t watch games live without a TV provider. Even if you do have a cable subscription, you will be subject to local blackouts anyway.

Subscribers can stream MLB games 90 minutes after a game ends. MLB.TV is currently offering a postseason package for $24.99 after a free 7-day trial. 

You can also sign up for the same free trial and package through MLB.TV on Amazon Prime.

What’s the best way to watch MLB Network without cable?

Sling TV is the cheapest option at $51 per month. Subscribers need to get the Sports Extra add-on with their channel lineup. You can choose Sling Orange, which has 31 channels, including ESPN and ESPN2 for $40 per month. You can also subscribe to Sling Blue for $40 per month. The latest promotion is giving subscribers half off for the first month when they sign up. Subscriptions run month to month without any obligations. 

DIRECTV STREAM has a 5-day free trial. The Entertainment plan has ESPN and ESPN2, allowing you to watch every game without cable TV. A subscription costs $74.99 per month. There is no obligation to keep a subscription. And you can sign up for free trials of premium networks such as HBO Max and Cinemax.

This article was published October 21, 2021, and has been updated to reflect new streaming options and pricing.

For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.