If you’re a Mariners fan trying to figure out how to watch games this season, you’re not alone. The whole landscape just changed.
ROOT Sports Northwest — the regional sports network that aired Mariners games for over 37 years — shut down at the end of the 2025 season. Starting in 2026, MLB took over broadcasts directly, and the Mariners launched their own streaming service. The old playbook (get a live TV streaming service that carries ROOT Sports) is obsolete.
Here’s the current, accurate breakdown of every option to watch M’s baseball in 2026.
The Big Change: What Happened to ROOT Sports?
ROOT Sports Northwest ended operations after the 2025 season. The Mariners — and MLB — moved to a direct-to-consumer model, cutting out the regional sports network entirely.
This is actually good news for fans. The old system was a mess: blackouts, expensive live TV bundles just to get one channel, constant RSN carriage disputes. The new setup is simpler and, in most cases, cheaper.
Option 1: Mariners.TV (The Main Option for In-Market Fans)
Mariners.TV is the new direct-to-consumer streaming service for fans inside the Mariners’ home territory: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, Hawaii, British Columbia, and Alberta.
This is the equivalent of what ROOT Sports used to be — except it’s a standalone app you subscribe to directly, no cable bundle required.
What you get:
- Live regular-season Mariners games with no local blackouts
- Runs on the MLB.TV platform and app (same interface, separate subscription)
- Pregame and postgame coverage
- Available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and web browsers
Cost:
- Full season: $99.99
- Monthly: $19.99/month
- Sign-ups opened February 10, 2026
The honest take: At $99.99 for the full season, this is a much better deal than what fans were paying before. A cable package with ROOT Sports typically ran $80–120/month. You’re now paying less than $100 for the entire year.
Who this is for: Any Mariners fan in the Pacific Northwest (or nearby states/provinces). This is the primary replacement for ROOT Sports and the most direct way to watch every game.
Option 2: Traditional Cable and Satellite TV
If you still have cable or satellite, Mariners games are available on a dedicated Mariners TV channel through traditional providers including Comcast Xfinity, DirecTV, and YouTube TV.
This channel airs live games plus brief pregame and postgame coverage — similar to what ROOT Sports did, but through a new dedicated channel.
Worth noting: Specific channel numbers vary by provider. Check your provider’s channel guide as the season starts.
Who this is for: Fans who already have cable and don’t want to add another streaming subscription.
Option 3: MLB.TV (For Out-of-Market Fans)
If you live outside the Mariners’ home territory, the standard MLB.TV subscription gets you every Mariners game.
MLB.TV costs $149.99/year for the full package (all out-of-market games for every team). For a transplant fan in New York, Austin, or anywhere outside the Pacific Northwest, this is the obvious answer.
Note: If you’re in the Mariners’ home market, standard MLB.TV still blacks out local games. That’s what Mariners.TV is for.
Option 4: National TV Broadcasts
Select Mariners games air on national networks throughout the season — no blackouts, available to everyone:
- FOX / FS1 — national Saturday games
- TBS / TNT — select games and playoffs
- Apple TV+ — Friday night MLB games (free stream, no subscription required for the game)
- Peacock — some Sunday games
- ESPN / ESPN App — Monday night games
A basic HD antenna ($25–40) gets you FOX for free in most Seattle-area homes.
Quick Comparison
| Option | Cost | Best For | Blackout-Free? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mariners.TV | $99.99/season or $19.99/mo | In-market fans | ✅ Yes |
| Cable/Satellite | Existing bill | Already-have-cable households | ✅ Yes |
| MLB.TV | $149.99/year | Out-of-market fans | ✅ Yes (out of market) |
| National TV | Free / existing subs | Casual fans, select games | ✅ Yes |
The Bottom Line
For most Mariners fans in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest: Mariners.TV at $99.99 for the season is the answer. Cheaper than anything the ROOT Sports era offered, blackout-free, solid app.
If you’re outside the territory: standard MLB.TV.
The ROOT Sports era is over. Honestly? Good riddance — the new setup is better.
Want to gear up for the season? See our Best Seattle Mariners Gifts for 2026 — jerseys, gear, and fan essentials.