What MLB.TV costs and what you get

MLB.TV is Major League Baseball's streaming service. You pay a monthly or annual fee to watch live games, replays, and on-demand content. The price varies depending on whether you buy a single-team package or access to all 30 teams, and whether you commit to a full year or pay month-to-month.

A single-team annual subscription typically costs between $80 and $110 per year. An all-teams annual subscription runs roughly $140 to $160 per year. Month-to-month pricing is higher per month but lets you cancel anytime — expect to pay $20 to $30 per month for single-team access and $25 to $35 for all teams. Prices change each season, so check MLB.TV directly for current rates.

What you receive: live game broadcasts, replays of games you missed, condensed games (usually 30 to 45 minutes), and archived games from past seasons. You can watch on phones, tablets, computers, and connected TV devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire Stick. Most accounts let you stream on multiple devices at once, though simultaneous streams may be limited depending on your subscription tier.

Key Takeaways

  • MLB.TV offers single-team or all-teams packages, with annual subscriptions cheaper per month than month-to-month plans.
  • Blackout restrictions prevent you from watching your local team's games on MLB.TV if they air on a regional sports network in your area.
  • You can watch on phones, tablets, computers, and most streaming devices, though simultaneous streams may be limited.
  • MLB.TV does not include playoff games or the World Series — those air on cable networks and broadcast TV.
  • A cable or satellite TV subscription with sports channels often includes MLB.TV at no extra cost through your provider's login.

Blackout rules and what games you cannot watch

MLB.TV has blackout restrictions that block you from watching certain games depending on where you live. If you live in the home market of a team — roughly defined as the team's city and surrounding region — you cannot watch that team's games on MLB.TV if they air on a regional sports network. This applies even if you bought an all-teams subscription.

The blackout rule exists because regional sports networks pay MLB for exclusive broadcast rights in their territory. If you want to watch your local team, you need cable or satellite TV that includes the regional sports channel, or you need to find another streaming option the team offers directly (some teams have their own streaming deals).

Road games — games where your local team plays away from home — are usually not blacked out, so you can watch them on MLB.TV. National games that air on ESPN, Fox, or MLB Network are also typically blacked out on MLB.TV because those networks have exclusive rights. Check the MLB.TV schedule before you subscribe to see how many of your team's games would be blocked in your area.

How to set up your account and log in on devices

To start, go to MLB.TV and choose your subscription type: single team or all teams, and annual or month-to-month. You will need an email address and a password. Enter your billing information — MLB.TV accepts major credit cards and some digital payment methods. Your subscription begins immediately after payment clears.

Once your account is active, you can log in on any device. On phones and tablets, download the MLB app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, then sign in with your email and password. On computers, go to MLB.TV and log in through the website. On TV devices like Roku or Apple TV, search for the MLB app in your device's app store, download it, and sign in.

If you have cable or satellite TV that includes MLB.TV as part of your package, you will log in using your cable provider credentials instead of creating a separate MLB.TV account. Your provider's website or app will tell you which streaming services are included with your plan.

Simultaneous streams and account sharing

MLB.TV allows multiple people to watch from the same account, but there are limits on how many streams can run at the same time. Most subscriptions allow 2 to 4 simultaneous streams depending on the plan and the current season's terms. If you exceed that number, the oldest stream will stop and you will see a message asking you to log in again.

Account sharing across different households is technically against MLB.TV's terms of service, though enforcement is inconsistent. If you share your login with someone outside your home and both of you try to stream at the same time frequently, you risk your account being flagged or suspended. If account sharing is important to you, check the current terms on MLB.TV to see what the service officially permits.

Playoffs, World Series, and national broadcasts

MLB.TV does not include playoff games, the World Series, or the All-Star Game. Those events air on cable networks (TBS, Fox, ESPN) and broadcast TV (Fox). You need a cable or satellite subscription, or a separate streaming service that carries those networks, to watch the postseason.

Regular-season games that air nationally on ESPN, Fox, or MLB Network are also blacked out on MLB.TV in most markets. You can watch those games on the network that broadcasts them, or sometimes through that network's streaming app if you have a cable login. MLB.TV's strength is local and regional games that would otherwise require a regional sports network subscription.

Canceling your subscription and refund policy

You can cancel MLB.TV anytime through your account settings on the website or app. Go to your account, find the subscription or billing section, and select cancel. The cancellation takes effect immediately, and you lose access to the service right away — there is no grace period to finish watching a game.

MLB.TV does not offer refunds for partial months or unused time. If you paid for a month-to-month subscription and cancel on day 15 of your billing cycle, you do not get a refund for the remaining 15 days. If you bought an annual subscription and cancel after three months, you do not get a refund for the remaining nine months. Plan your cancellation date around your billing cycle if you want to avoid paying for time you will not use.

If you were charged twice or believe there was a billing error, contact MLB.TV customer service through the website. They can review your account and issue a refund if the charge was incorrect.

Comparing MLB.TV to cable and other streaming options

MLB.TV is the cheapest way to watch most regular-season games if you do not have cable. A full-year all-teams subscription costs roughly $140 to $160, which is less than one month of most cable TV packages. The trade-off is blackouts for your local team and no playoff access.

If you have cable or satellite TV with sports channels, your provider likely includes MLB.TV at no extra cost. Log in with your cable credentials and you get the same service without paying separately. Some cable packages also include regional sports networks, which means you can watch your local team on cable and use MLB.TV for out-of-market games.

Other streaming options exist depending on your location and team. Some teams offer their own streaming packages through their websites. YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, and other live TV streaming services include cable channels and regional sports networks, so you can watch local games and playoffs, but they cost $70 to $90 per month. Choose based on which games matter most to you and how much you want to spend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch games on my TV if I only have MLB.TV on my phone?

Yes. Download the MLB app on your TV device (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, etc.) and log in with the same account. You can also use screen mirroring or casting from your phone to your TV if your TV supports it, though this uses more data and may buffer.

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

Blackout rules follow your location, not your account. If you move into a team's home market, games that were not blacked out before will be blacked out after you move. If you travel temporarily, blackouts still apply based on where you are watching from, not where you live.

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

No. You can create a standalone MLB.TV account with just an email and credit card. A cable login is only needed if your cable provider includes MLB.TV as part of your package and you want to use that instead of paying separately.

Can I download games to watch offline?

MLB.TV does not offer offline downloads. You must stream games live or on-demand while connected to the internet. Some condensed games and replays are available immediately after the game ends, but you cannot save them to your device.

What if the stream keeps buffering or stops?

Check your internet speed — MLB.TV recommends at least 5 Mbps for HD streaming. Restart your device and router, close other apps using your internet, and try again. If problems persist, contact MLB.TV support through the website with details about your device and internet speed.