Question on MLB.TV Package for 2026 Season

[isucy86]

Looking to sign up for MLB season package. Want to watch Cubs games and live out of market, so Marquee is not an option, In the past I purchased MLB package on Prime platform for around $30/month.

ESPN purchased rights to MLB package over the off-season and it looks like buying MLB package on Prime platform is no longer an option. In searching online, it appears for 2026, MLB package can only be purchased through ESPN and I have to also purchase ESPN Unlimited package at $29.99/month.

Does anyone know if MLB Package can be purchased stand alone. I currently have ESPN Unlimited but was planning on dropping at end of March. Will be be pi$$ed at MLB if they require customers to buy ESPN subscription to watch MLB games. Might be listening to Pat & Ron to get my Cubs fix.

 

[RagingCloner]

Looking to sign up for MLB season package. Want to watch Cubs games and live out of market, so Marquee is not an option, In the past I purchased MLB package on Prime platform for around $30/month.

ESPN purchased rights to MLB package over the off-season and it looks like buying MLB package on Prime platform is no longer an option. In searching online, it appears for 2026, MLB package can only be purchased through ESPN and I have to also purchase ESPN Unlimited package at $29.99/month.

Does anyone know if MLB Package can be purchased stand alone. I currently have ESPN Unlimited but was planning on dropping at end of March. Will be be pi$$ed at MLB if they require customers to buy ESPN subscription to watch MLB games. Might be listening to Pat & Ron to get my Cubs fix.

MLB tv packages are ****. Subscribe to Marquee. It’s like $8 per month and you can actually watch games. Even with a subscription, MLB’s blackout rules still apply

Edit-it’s $20 per month but still worth it imo

 

[cyfanatic]

Looking to sign up for MLB season package. Want to watch Cubs games and live out of market, so Marquee is not an option, In the past I purchased MLB package on Prime platform for around $30/month.

ESPN purchased rights to MLB package over the off-season and it looks like buying MLB package on Prime platform is no longer an option. In searching online, it appears for 2026, MLB package can only be purchased through ESPN and I have to also purchase ESPN Unlimited package at $29.99/month.

Does anyone know if MLB Package can be purchased stand alone. I currently have ESPN Unlimited but was planning on dropping at end of March. Will be be pi$$ed at MLB if they require customers to buy ESPN subscription to watch MLB games. Might be listening to Pat & Ron to get my Cubs fix.

I believe I read that ESPN makes you sign up for a free month of Unlimited and then you cancel it while still maintaining MLB.tv. I read that a month ago...I love having access to all the games (although living in Iowa I have to use an VPN).

 

[1UNI2ISU]

MLB tv packages are ****. Subscribe to Marquee. It’s like $8 per month and you can actually watch games. Even with a subscription, MLB’s blackout rules still apply

Edit-it’s $20 per month but still worth it imo

He can't if he's out of market.

 

[isucy86]

MLB tv packages are ****. Subscribe to Marquee. It’s like $8 per month and you can actually watch games. Even with a subscription, MLB’s blackout rules still apply

Edit-it’s $20 per month but still worth it imo

Not sure I can watch on Marquee because I am out-of-market. Plus I have wireless ISP that uses servers in places like Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Portland. Even when I lived in Cubs market (2 years ago) and had wireless ISP that was a constant battle with Marquee customer service to watch games because their APP thought I was out-of-market.

I added a VPN service this fall, just not sure if that will override the wireless ISP server location and fool Marquee. I can choose Illinois as VPN server location. Any help is appreciated.

 

[JM4CY]

As a twins fan, I’m out this year. I’m not spending money to watch that trash team. Rando colleges games on espn + will get me by this year.

 

[mred]

As an out-of-market Cubs fan and T-Mobile home internet user, I'm happy they are once again giving T-Mobile customers free MLB.tv this year.

 

[David Freshman1982]

I believe I read that ESPN makes you sign up for a free month of Unlimited and then you cancel it while still maintaining MLB.tv. I read that a month ago...I love having access to all the games (although living in Iowa I have to use an VPN).

I need to figure this out as well, I'm in KC. Last year, I subscribed directly with MLB.tv, had it set up on my Roku, you can even share your subscription with a family member so I was able to set up the subscription both at my house and at my parent's. Worked great, got all Cubs games that were not on national TV.

Not sure how it will work this year though, I'm concerned I won't be able to do this again. No way am I paying for ESPN's garbage. Not interested.

 

[cyfanatic]

I need to figure this out as well, I'm in KC. Last year, I subscribed directly with MLB.tv, had it set up on my Roku, you can even share your subscription with a family member so I was able to set up the subscription both at my house and at my parent's. Worked great, got all Cubs games that were not on national TV.

Not sure how it will work this year though, I'm concerned I won't be able to do this again. No way am I paying for ESPN's garbage. Not interested.

I believe I read if you were a returning customer that you would be able to access MLB.tv thru their app for another season...but not sure beyond that. I have had some issues with spring training games not being friendly with a VPN...so that concerns me as I live in Iowa and want to watch the Midwest teams (White Sox fan).

 

[MountainManHawk]

I had an MLB subscription last year and they just sent me the renewal link and it didn’t say anything at all about ESPN, I just signed up through the app like last year.

I live in Colorado so I get all the Cubs games no problem but when I’m in Iowa they are blacked out. As mentioned above, anyone in Iowa will need Marquee to watch the Cubs due to the blackout rules.

 

[MJ29]

If you already have ESPN+, you should be able to get the MLB.TV subscription without issue. When I signed up, I thought it would sign me up for ESPN Unlimited and then I'd have to cancel before the 30 day "trial." But I did not get Unlimited and when I called to check on it, they said since I already had ESPN+, I was good to go. I did have to link my MLB and ESPN accounts to use the MLB app, but that was super easy.

 

[2020cy]

As usual MLB clear as mud. Still ridiculous that Iowa gets blacked out on all Midwest teams.

 

[AdRock4Cy]

not cubs related, but i signed up for cardinals.tv. So for $99 for the whole year i get most of the cardinal games, unless they are on broadcast, espn, or appletv. But 140ish games a year i thought that was a good deal.

 

[andybernard]

This doesn't answer the question, but is somewhat related... we always wait until around Mother's Day and MLBtv gets marked down 50%. Miss a month of the season, but the cost savings is worth it imo. Also, in our house, we are fans of out-of-market teams, so the ridiculous blackouts don't affect us much.