YouTube TV lost MLB Network on January 31, 2023, after a carriage deal fell apart. Three years later, baseball fans on the platform still can’t access MLB Network’s 24/7 programming. After streaming the entire 2025 season across multiple services, I can say the gap matters most during spring training and weekday afternoons when MLB Network carries exclusive live games that no other channel picks up.
- MLB Network left YouTube TV in January 2023 after contract negotiations broke down between YouTube TV and Major League Baseball
- YouTube TV still carries ESPN, Fox, FS1, and TBS for nationally televised regular season and postseason games
- Sling TV Orange + Blue at $55/month is the cheapest live TV service that includes MLB Network
- fuboTV offers optional MLB.TV integration for $7/month extra, combining MLB Network with out-of-market game streams
- MLB.TV costs $24.99/month standalone and streams 2,400+ out-of-market games per season with local blackout restrictions
#Why Did YouTube TV Drop MLB Network?
The carriage contract expired January 31, 2023. MLB issued a public statement accusing YouTube TV of refusing to negotiate a fair carriage agreement, noting that nearly 300 other U.S. providers had accepted comparable terms. YouTube TV never directly responded.
The timing made things worse. YouTube TV had just raised its monthly price from $64.99 to $72.99 weeks earlier, and paying more while losing a major sports channel frustrated subscribers, according to widespread complaints across Reddit and the YouTube TV community forums. That kind of double hit erodes trust fast.
Carriage disputes like this aren’t unusual in the streaming industry, but MLB Network’s absence has lasted longer than most. YouTube TV lost Sinclair’s regional sports networks in 2020 before restoring some of them, yet MLB Network has stayed off the platform for over three years with no signs of active negotiations. MLB Network’s official distribution page confirms that YouTube TV isn’t listed among current providers.
#Baseball Coverage Remaining on YouTube TV
YouTube TV still carries several channels that broadcast regular season and postseason games:
- ESPN and ESPN2 for Sunday Night Baseball and midweek national games
- Fox and FS1 for Saturday afternoon matchups and postseason coverage
- TBS for select regular season games and playoff broadcasts
- Local affiliates (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) for regional telecasts
These channels handle most nationally televised games. The gap is specific: MLB Network’s live look-ins across multiple simultaneous games, MLB Tonight studio analysis, spring training broadcasts, and minor league coverage.
YouTube TV still works fine for local team coverage. I tested it on my Samsung QN85B during the 2025 ALCS, and the picture quality on Fox’s 4K broadcasts looked excellent.
#Streaming Services That Carry MLB Network
Four live TV streaming services include MLB Network. Here’s how each stacks up.
#Sling TV
Sling TV’s Orange + Blue plan costs $55/month and includes MLB Network alongside ESPN, FS1, and TBS. It’s the cheapest option. The trade-off: Sling doesn’t carry local broadcast stations in most markets, so you’d still need an antenna or another service for regional games. Check the Sling TV vs YouTube TV breakdown for the full comparison, and see what other MLB content Sling TV carries.
#fuboTV
fuboTV starts at $79.99/month with MLB Network in the base plan. The standout perk is optional MLB.TV integration for $7/month extra, which unlocks out-of-market game streams directly inside the fuboTV app.
No other streamer matches that combo. According to fuboTV’s channel page, the base plan has 200+ channels. The fuboTV vs YouTube TV comparison covers the differences.
#DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream’s Choice plan runs $84.99/month with MLB Network and RSNs. The higher price gets you regional sports network access for your local team, which matters if you’ve relocated outside your team’s home market and can’t pick up games on local broadcast channels anymore. Unlimited cloud DVR storage is included, and you won’t hit recording limits like some competitors impose.
#Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV costs $82.99/month but doesn’t carry MLB Network. It does include ESPN, Fox, TBS, and local channels for baseball, and the bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ adds value beyond live TV. The fuboTV vs Hulu + Live TV comparison breaks down the sports coverage gaps.
#Is MLB.TV a Good Standalone Alternative?
MLB.TV is MLB’s own streaming service. It costs $149.99/year or $24.99/month and streams every out-of-market regular season game live.
That’s 2,400+ games per season.
Blackout rules limit it. Games featuring your local team won’t stream live on MLB.TV, and nationally broadcast games on ESPN, Fox, and TBS are blacked out during their live airings too. MLB.TV’s subscription page states that local blackouts lift about 90 minutes after the final out, which means you can watch replays the same evening but not the live action.
The app works on Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TVs. Samsung owners can follow the MLB on Samsung TV setup guide, and Roku users should check the MLB on Roku walkthrough. Fire TV Stick and Apple TV 4K are supported too.
For fans tracking an out-of-market team, MLB.TV fills the biggest gap.
#Cost Comparison Across Services
Here’s a pricing breakdown for the 2026 season:
| Service | Cost | MLB Network | Locals |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $72.99 | No | Yes |
| Sling TV | $55.00 | Yes | Limited |
| fuboTV | $79.99 | Yes | Yes |
| DirecTV Stream | $84.99 | Yes | Yes + RSNs |
| Hulu + Live TV | $82.99 | No | Yes |
Sling TV saves about $18/month over YouTube TV while adding MLB Network, which adds up to more than $100 saved across a full six-month baseball season from Opening Day through the World Series in late October.
fuboTV costs just $7 more than YouTube TV but bundles MLB Network and optional MLB.TV into one app.
#Outlook for MLB Network’s Return
YouTube TV has said it hopes to restore MLB Network, but three years without a deal suggests the pricing gap remains wide. YouTube TV’s channel lineup page no longer lists the channel at all.
The broader trend isn’t encouraging. Multiple streaming services have dropped RSNs and niche sports channels over the past few years to control costs, and YouTube TV itself lost Bally Sports RSNs without restoring them.
Still, contract talks can shift fast. If MLB Network adjusts its carriage fees or YouTube TV faces enough subscriber pressure, a deal could happen before the 2027 season. Google’s YouTube TV support page recommends contacting them to request specific channels, and enough requests from baseball fans might move the needle.
The safest play right now: pair YouTube TV with Sling TV or standalone MLB.TV during baseball season, then cancel the second service in October.
#Bottom Line
YouTube TV remains a strong live TV option, but baseball fans who want MLB Network need a second service. Sling TV at $55/month is the most cost-effective add-on. fuboTV is the best all-in-one choice with its MLB.TV integration.
Keep YouTube TV for core live TV and add Sling TV or standalone MLB.TV ($24.99/month) during the season. Cancel the extra subscription when the World Series wraps up in late October.
#FAQ
#Is MLB Network the same thing as MLB.TV?
No. MLB Network is a traditional TV channel with studio shows, analysis, and some live game broadcasts. MLB.TV is a standalone streaming subscription for live out-of-market regular season games. They’re separate products owned by Major League Baseball, and subscribing to one doesn’t give you access to the other.
#What’s the cheapest way to get MLB Network right now?
Sling TV’s Orange + Blue plan at $55/month is the least expensive live TV service that includes MLB Network. No free or lower-cost legal options exist for the channel.
#Does YouTube TV still show baseball games?
Yes. YouTube TV carries ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS, and local channels for regular season and postseason baseball. After streaming dozens of games on my setup during the 2025 season, the national coverage felt thorough. The gap is MLB Network’s dedicated programming: MLB Tonight studio analysis, spring training broadcasts, the around-the-horn live look-ins during weekday afternoon games, and minor league coverage that no other channel replicates.
#Can you get a free trial of fuboTV for baseball?
fuboTV offers a 7-day free trial with full MLB Network access. DirecTV Stream has a 5-day trial.
#Do MLB.TV blackout restrictions apply to every game?
Blackouts affect your local market team’s games. A fan in Chicago can’t watch Cubs or White Sox games live on MLB.TV. Those games become available on-demand roughly 90 minutes after they end. National broadcasts on ESPN, Fox, and TBS are also blacked out on MLB.TV during their live airings.
#Will YouTube TV lower its price now that MLB Network is gone?
No. YouTube TV hasn’t lowered its price after dropping MLB Network. The service actually raised its price to $72.99 at the same time it lost the channel in early 2023 and has continued increasing prices since then, reaching $82.99 for some add-on tiers. Price cuts for dropped channels are virtually unheard of in the streaming industry, and YouTube TV has shown no indication it plans to make an exception for MLB Network’s removal.
#Can you watch spring training without MLB Network?
MLB.TV streams most spring training games starting in late February. That’s your best standalone option. MLB Network also airs select spring training matchups, so a temporary Sling TV or fuboTV subscription during February and March fills that gap if you want the studio coverage too.
#How do you switch from YouTube TV to fuboTV?
Go to tv.youtube.com or the app settings and cancel your subscription. Sign up at fubo.tv and install the fuboTV app on your streaming device. Recordings stay accessible for 21 days.