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MLB Postseason Goes Streaming-Only!
30 Sep
Summary
- MLB Wild Card games are exclusively on Peacock.
- Peacock subscriptions range from $8.99 to $19.99 monthly.
- MLB controls decisions about playoff game broadcasting.
For the first time, two Major League Baseball (MLB) Wild Card series will be exclusively broadcast on the Peacock streaming platform. The White Sox-Astros and Cubs-Padres matchups are part of NBC's acquisition of the entire Wild Card round. This decision by MLB shifts playoff games behind a streaming paywall, a move that may not be popular with traditional baseball fans.
Peacock subscriptions are necessary to view these games, with monthly costs ranging from $8.99 to $19.99, and annual plans from $89.99 to $199.99. While some YouTube TV users can access the games through the NBCSN app, this exclusive streaming arrangement deviates from previous years when ESPN aired the Wild Card round. NBC's current programming strategy necessitates using Peacock for these specific games.
Despite potential fan frustration, MLB ultimately made the decision to place these games on Peacock. Other MLB postseason games will continue to be available on traditional television channels like Fox, FS1, and TBS, with streaming options also available on FOX One and HBO Max. This situation highlights a growing trend of sports content moving to various streaming services.
