MLB Streams: Fans Face High Costs for Skenes' Starts

Major League Baseball's increasing reliance on streaming-only broadcasts is creating significant fan frustration, particularly concerning access to highly anticipated games and players. For instance, a pivotal Sunday matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins, featuring star pitcher Paul Skenes, was exclusively available on Peacock. This means fans, even those in the Pittsburgh and Miami local markets, had to subscribe to the streaming service to watch the game live, as it was not broadcast on traditional local channels. This streaming-first approach is not new for MLB, which has offered streaming-only Sunday packages for several years. However, this strategy is criticized for potentially hindering the sport's broader appeal and accessibility. The trend is expected to carry over into the postseason, with Peacock slated to provide exclusive coverage of the entire MLB Wild Card Series, raising concerns about local viewership access during critical playoff games. While streaming offers benefits like fewer blackouts and ease of access across devices, the necessity of multiple subscriptions for full sports viewership is a growing issue for fans across various leagues.