MLB.TV is how all baseball streaming ought to work

As a Yankees fan dwelling in Cincinnati who additionally kind of roots for the Reds, I’ve a singular window into two baseball streaming worlds.

One is run by MLB.TV, whose out-of-market protection lets me watch each Yankees recreation besides these which can be nationally televised. The opposite is run by Fundamental Avenue Sports activities Group, whose FanDuel Sports activities Community app streams native Reds video games.

The 2 companies must be comparable, however there’s actually no contest. The MLB app is by far the higher method to watch baseball, however you may solely use it beneath two circumstances: Both your favourite workforce doesn’t play the place you reside (just like the Yankees, in my case), or your native workforce is likely one of the 10 golf equipment that companions with the league for in-market streaming.

In any other case, you’re caught with whichever regional sports activities community operates in your space for standalone streaming, and the expertise will in all probability be worse.

Why the MLB app is best

The variations between MLB.TV and FanDuel Sports activities Community are obvious as quickly as I begin streaming.

MLB.TV’s streams are at all times smoother out of the gate for me. Whereas video high quality might be blurry on the outset, inside seconds the stream pops into clear HD high quality. On my sensible TV—a Hisense set operating Google TV—FanDuel’s streams are inclined to stutter for the primary 30 seconds or so, and whereas they ultimately calm down, it’s initially extra distracting to observe.

Catching up on video games can also be simpler within the MLB app, which reveals the inning rely in its video participant and overlays the rating as you quick ahead or rewind. That’s useful for leaping on to scoring performs, however FanDuel’s app affords nothing related. And after the sport, MLB’s app affords condensed video games and recaps, whereas FanDuel’s app affords full replays solely.

Jared Newman / Foundry

MLB’s app has another neat options that make watching video games extra pleasant. My favourite is the choice to play the native radio broadcast in sync with the video telecast. (No disrespect to Michael Kay, however I need to hear how Dave Sims is acclimating to his new job.) There’s a statistical overlay for pitch sequences as effectively, although to be truthful FanDuel’s app affords the same characteristic.

As a result of MLB.TV’s service additionally streams different out-of-market video games, you can also use its multiview characteristic to observe a couple of recreation at a time on Apple TV, Hearth TV, and Google TV gadgets. That’s not an choice in FanDuel’s app, which doesn’t have a lot else to observe anyway.

Jared Newman / Foundry

All informed, the MLB app simply looks like a extra full of life place to observe baseball. You open the app and are immediately greeted with scores, schedules, and highlights. The FanDuel Sports activities Community app feels barren and overly utilitarian by comparability.

Jared Newman / Foundry

Jared Newman / Foundry

What needs to be executed about it

Regardless of the way you pay for the video games, it is best to have the ability to watch them within the MLB app, the place the expertise is simply higher, although that’s unlikely to occur anytime quickly.

As of 2025, 5 MLB groups (the Diamondbacks, Guardians, Rockies, Twins, and Padres) accomplice instantly with the league to distribute in-market video games, priced at $100 for the season or $200 when bundled with MLB.TV’s out-of-market protection. For 5 further groups, the league companions with their respective regional sports activities networks to supply in-market streaming via the MLB app.

That leaves 20 groups whose in-market video games aren’t obtainable via the MLB app. Native followers of these groups who don’t need a complete reside TV streaming package deal should as a substitute depend on no matter standalone streaming service their nearest regional sports activities community affords. Within the case of the Reds and eight different groups, that’s FanDuel Sports activities Community. (Just a few groups don’t supply standalone choices in any respect.)

Jared Newman / Foundry

Within the close to time period, it’d be nice if these networks might accomplice with the league on authenticated entry to the MLB app. The technical functionality to stream any recreation already exists—Reds followers who reside outdoors of Ohio can watch them with an MLB.TV subscription—and the MLB app already affords authenticated entry for Mets and Dodgers followers who get SNY or SportsNet LA as a part of a pay TV package deal respectively. There needs to be a system the place subscribers to FanDuel Sports activities Community, Gotham Sports activities, and different standalone regional sports activities companies might signal into the MLB app as effectively.

Over the long run, the league ought to simply supply in-market streaming entry nationwide, with no blackouts. That’s reportedly been the plan for years—right here’s a rumor from 2021, and right here’s one from final week that claims the league needs to accomplice with a bigger streamer on such an providing—however commandeering the rights from regional sports activities networks has been a slog. CNBC’s Alex Sherman says to not count on any important strikes till 2028, when the league’s main media rights offers expire.

Within the meantime, the 2025 season is one other reminder of how baseball streaming is a case of haves and have nots. Right here in Cincinnati, I’m a bit of each.

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