MLB.TV was built for fans of faraway teams
MLB.TV streams out-of-market games. Every live game of a club whose home television territory you are in is blacked out, because the local rights belong to whoever carries that club on local TV. You still get the game later: MLB's terms say a blacked-out game appears as an archived game about 90 minutes after it ends. In 2026 the same subscription also works inside the ESPN App.
What gets blacked out
- Every live game of the clubs whose territory you are in, home or away, on local TV or not.
- Select regular season, special event and postseason games that belong to national partners.
- ESPN and ABC alone hold 30 exclusive national games in 2026, according to MLB.
- Some territories reach past the US border: MLB's terms note that Giants and Athletics games are blacked out on Guam.
Where the national games went in 2026
- Sunday Night Baseball moved from ESPN to NBC.
- The Home Run Derby moved to Netflix.
- ESPN and ABC keep 30 exclusive games, including Jackie Robinson Day, Memorial Day, the second-half opener and the Little League Classic.
- MLB.TV carries more than 2,000 games, and you do not need an ESPN subscription to use it.
Checking your own territory
- 1
Open the MLB.TV subscription page and find the blackout check.
- 2
Enter the zip code where you will be watching, not your billing address.
- 3
Read the list of clubs you cannot watch live from there.
- 4
Treat it as a guide: MLB's terms say access also depends on information such as your IP address.
In-market streaming changed the picture in 2026
On February 10, 2026, MLB made in-market streaming subscriptions for 20 clubs available in the MLB App. For those clubs, the service delivers all local games to subscribers anywhere in the club's home territory, which in practice removes the local blackout. For the 14 clubs whose games MLB produces itself, the price is $99.99 a season or $19.99 a month, or $199.99 a season bundled with MLB.TV. The six clubs carried through regional networks, the Athletics, Orioles, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Giants, have prices that vary by market.
What the terms say about VPNs
MLB's terms are blunt. Circumventing a home territory blackout means immediate termination of the subscription, a $100 early termination charge, possible legal action and a possible report to law enforcement. MLB also reserves the right to block specific IP addresses. For that reason we do not suggest using a VPN to change what MLB.TV sees, and Softech VPN is not sold for it.
The legal routes are the in-market subscription where your club has one, the local channel, the national partner for national games, or the archive 90 minutes after the final out. This page was prepared with AI assistance from MLB's own terms and announcements.
Sources
- MLB Terms of Usechecked 2026-10-03
- MLB makes in-market streaming subscriptions for 20 clubs available (MLB press release, Feb 10, 2026)checked 2026-10-03
- Opening Day 2026: MLB.TV on ESPN FAQ (MLB.com)checked 2026-10-03
Questions
Is there an MLB blackout map?
MLB's own check works by zip code. Fan-made maps circulate, but the zip code result, and in the end your connection's location, is what MLB.TV applies.
Why is my team blacked out when I live hours away?
Home territories are drawn by MLB and are often far wider than the metro area. The zip code check shows the result for your address.
Can I watch the game after it ends?
Yes. A blacked-out game appears in the MLB.TV archive about 90 minutes after it ends.
Are postseason games on MLB.TV?
Select postseason games belong to national partners and are not available with MLB.TV.
Does MLB.TV work outside the US?
MLB sells it outside the United States too, but territory rules can extend beyond the US.
Do I need ESPN to watch MLB.TV?
No. MLB says the MLB App still works on its own, without the ESPN App or an ESPN Unlimited subscription.
How much is in-market streaming?
For the 14 clubs MLB produces itself, $99.99 a season or $19.99 a month in 2026. Prices for the six regional network clubs vary by market.