Commission Rob Manfred says the league is close to agreements with NESN and Root Sports to offer in-market live streaming of Major League Baseball games this season, according to USA Today.

NESN has the local TV rights to Boston Red Sox games while the four Root Sports regional channels air games played by the Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners.

Amazon: See today’s ‘1-Day-Only’ Deals.

If the agreements are signed, as Manfred says is likely, that would bring the total number of Major League Baseball teams offering in-market live streaming this season to 27.

Only the Los Angeles Dodgers (SportsNet LA), and the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals (both on MASN), would not offer live streaming in 2017, assuming they do not sign deals with the league before the season starts.

Amazon: See the latest deals on Valentine’s Day Gifts!

“We think it’s a huge improvement for our fans to be able to watch games live stream in-market,” Manfred says, according to USA Today.

To watch a live MLB game online, you will still have to be a subscriber to the regional sports channel via your pay TV operator. The subscriber will have to type in his or her pay TV user name and password to access the online edition of the game which will be streamed at the channels’ sites or via apps such as NBC Sports (for NBC regional sports channels) or the Fox Sports Go app (for Fox’s regional sports channels.).

Amazon: See Home Theater systems for under $400.

The live stream will only be available in-market, meaning you can only watch the teams in your area, not a team outside of your market. However, the live stream, which will be available on tablets, computers, smart phones and connected TVs, will enable you to watch the local game whether you are home or away from home.

— Phillip Swann

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

