How to get cable without paying for it?
Spring is here and so is one of the most popular sports in America, Major League Baseball (MLB). Traditionally, the majority of fans would have been out of luck if they wanted to watch a game only covered by a local TV station. Thankfully, you don’t have to live in a city to see sports events from that city on TV anymore. Baseball fans can now catch many, if not all, of their favorite team’s games, even if they don’t have cable.
We’ve got a few suggestions on how to legally watch MLB on TV, without agreeing to a two-year contract.
Cord cutters who live out-of-market
Live in New York but root for the St. Louis Cardinals? Live in California and love the Detroit Tigers? MLB.TV has you covered with their subscription streaming service that gives you every out-of-market game with DVR, Multi-View, On-demand, etc. all for $109.99 a year. Far cheaper than cable.
If you live away from your favorite team, this is by far your best option. And if you’re military or a student, you can get a 35% discount.
Options for those in-market
If you live in-market and your team is covered by a local channel that airs the games, even if it is on cable, MLB.TV probably won’t be the best fit for you. Good news, you still have some great options.
Over-the-Air TV
A growing number of teams now have deals with local stations to carry their games. In St. Louis, for example, the local CW channel carries Cardinal’s games for free over the air; other teams have made similar deals. Unfortunately, not all MLB teams have done this, so make sure you read up on which channels offer your favorite team.
Regional Sports Networks & ESPN
Many teams play most of their games on a regional sports network like Fox Sports or ESPN. There are now two options offering MLB games from local regional sports networks: PlayStation Vue and Sling TV.
These are two new streaming services that let you watch cable channels live for a low monthly fee, and without a two-year contract. They both offer ESPN and TBS as a way to get nationally broadcast games and your local sports network. However, not every regional sports network is available on Sling TV and PlayStation Vue.
My suggestion would be to take one, or both, of these services up on their free trial to see if they will work for you. Before you sign up, ask their customer service if your local sports network is available.