MLB.TV Blackout Rules Explained for the 2026 Season

The MLB.TV blackout rules come down to two things: you cannot watch your local team’s games live on MLB.TV, and you cannot watch nationally exclusive games live on it either. Local games are reserved for the team’s regional TV partner, and national exclusives belong to networks such as FOX, NBC, Peacock, ESPN, TBS, Apple TV and Netflix. In 2026 the big change is that most clubs now sell in-market streaming, so blacked-out local fans finally have a legal streaming option.

Below we explain each type of blackout, how MLB decides where you are, and exactly where to go for each blocked game. This is about following the rules, not getting around them.

The two kinds of MLB.TV blackouts

Local blackouts: how home territories work

Each MLB club has a home television territory. Some territories are small, while others cover several states, which is why fans in places like Iowa can find several teams blacked out at once even though no team plays nearby.

If you live inside a team’s territory, every game involving that team is blacked out live on MLB.TV, including road games against out-of-market opponents. For example, if you follow the Cubs but live in the Brewers’ territory, a Cubs at Brewers game is blacked out on your MLB.TV, while other Cubs games are not.

MLB offers a blackout lookup where you enter a ZIP code to see which teams are blacked out at your address. Check this before you buy, because it decides how useful MLB.TV will be for you.

National blackouts

National exclusives are blocked live on MLB.TV everywhere in the US. In 2026 that includes:

• FOX’s Saturday night Baseball Night in America games and FS1 exclusives.
• NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball and Peacock’s Sunday Leadoff games.
• ESPN’s 30 exclusive weeknight games.
• TBS’s Tuesday games.
• Apple TV’s Friday Night Baseball.
• Netflix’s special events, such as the Home Run Derby.

For a full schedule of who carries what, see our map of where to watch MLB 2026.

How MLB determines your location

MLB.TV uses the location of the device and connection you are watching on, such as your internet IP address and, on mobile, your device location. That is why the same account can show different blackouts at home and while traveling. When you travel, the blackouts of the place you are visiting apply.

Using a VPN or other tricks to hide your location breaks MLB.TV’s terms of use and can get your account suspended. We do not recommend it, and the legal options below cover every blacked-out game anyway.

What changed in 2026

This season brought two big changes for fans who used to be stuck with blackouts.

1. In-market streaming for 22 clubs. Most teams now sell a local streaming package that removes local blackouts inside the home territory. For clubs whose local media MLB runs, it costs around $99.99 a season or $19.99 a month in the MLB App, or about $199.99 a season bundled with MLB.TV.
2. MLB.TV moved to ESPN. ESPN took over MLB.TV, so you buy and watch it in the ESPN app in the US. The blackout rules themselves did not change. ESPN also holds in-market rights for Cleveland, San Diego, Seattle, Minnesota, Arizona and Colorado.

The legal fix for every blacked-out game

Regional networks are carried by some live TV services and not others, and our comparison of the best US live TV options for locals and sports shows where to look. If you mainly want ESPN’s games, our guide to the cheapest way to watch ESPN compares the options.

Replays after a blackout

Blacked-out games are not lost on MLB.TV. They become available on demand as archived games after the live broadcast is over, following a delay. That works well if you only want to watch later and avoid spoilers.

Some fans also look at IPTV subscriptions to follow several teams. Our own plan, IPTV Journal, is $89 for 12 months. IPTV is a legal technology, but only licensed services may carry MLB games, so check what any provider is authorized to show where you live.

FAQ

Why is my team blacked out on MLB.TV?

Because you are inside your team’s home TV territory. Local rights belong to the team’s regional network or streaming package, so MLB.TV blocks those games live. Use the team’s in-market package or a live TV service that carries its network.

Are road games blacked out too?

Yes. If your local team plays a road game, it is still blacked out on MLB.TV for you, because the local broadcaster carries road games as well.

Can I watch blacked-out games later on MLB.TV?

Yes. Blacked-out games become available as archived replays after the live broadcast ends, following a delay. That is useful if you can avoid scores until you watch.

Is the World Series on MLB.TV?

No. Postseason games are national exclusives. In 2026 the Wild Card round is on NBC and Peacock, the AL rounds are on TBS and truTV, the NL rounds are on FOX and FS1, and the World Series is on FOX.

Does using a VPN avoid MLB.TV blackouts?

Using a VPN to change your apparent location breaks MLB.TV’s terms of use and can lead to account suspension. The legal route is your team’s in-market streaming package or the national network that holds the game.