NEW YORK — ESPN officially began distributing Major League Baseball’s out-of-market streaming service, MLB.TV, on Tuesday, a key piece of the league’s reworked media-rights deal, according to Reuters.
The season price for MLB.TV is $149.99 for fans without ESPN Unlimited, while ESPN Unlimited subscribers can buy the package for $134.99, with existing MLB.TV subscribers auto-renewing at the prior price, Reuters reported. AP News said ESPN’s plan also includes a $29.99 monthly option for MLB.TV and a free month of ESPN Unlimited for new subscribers.
In-market streaming expands
MLB said in-market streaming subscriptions are now available for 20 of its 30 clubs via the MLB App, with MLB producing local broadcasts for 14 teams this season as regional sports networks continue to unwind, per Reuters.
AP noted that in-market packages for the 14 MLB-produced teams cost $99.99 per season or $19.99 per month, with a $199.99 bundle that combines local and out-of-market access, and that the Detroit Tigers’ in-market offering will be announced later. AP News also reported that six other clubs offer in-market streaming through MLB despite their games airing on regional sports networks.
What the new ESPN deal changes
Front Office Sports reported the revamped rights agreement keeps ESPN’s annual fee while retooling inventory and making MLB.TV a centerpiece of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer strategy, including discounted MLB.TV access for ESPN Unlimited subscribers and monthly options for cord-cutters. Front Office Sports also noted that blackout rules remain in place and that ESPN expects deeper local integration in 2027 as more teams’ local games are produced by MLB.
What to watch next
The new framework puts MLB’s distribution strategy squarely on ESPN’s platform ahead of the 2026 season, while the league continues to stabilize local broadcasts amid the regional-sports-network shakeout. Reuters said MLB expects a total of 21 teams to have in-market streaming available in the near future as additional clubs finalize their offerings.
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