How To Watch the San Diego Padres
Are the Padres playoff-bound in 2026?
I know you want to watch the San Diego Padres in 2026 after the team got ousted by the Chicago Cubs last year in a three-game Wild Card series. Seeing whether the Padres can make a postseason run will be a fascinating ride, and I’ve got all the ways you can tune in.
Padres.TV is the team’s main broadcast home, with select matchups airing on national networks like NBC, FOX, and TBS. You’ll also find exclusive streaming windows on Peacock and Apple TV. If you don’t live in the Southwest, though, check out MLB.TV.
Keep scrolling for all the information you could possibly want about how to watch the Padres.
Spring into baseball with DIRECTV!
DIRECTV has the most MLB games, including Spring Training, period.* Not only that, but this season you can catch the World Baseball Classic and tons of college ball streaming on your favorite devices. With so much live action on deck, it's time to get your game together by scouting DIRECTV's packages today.
*Claim based on total games carried on Nat'l and combined local Regional Sports Networks. RSNs avail. with CHOICE package or higher. Avail. of RSNs varies by ZIP code and pkg. Blackouts apply.
Where to watch the Padres—local TV breakdown
Padres fans won’t need to change anything in 2026, as Padres.TV is still the in-market home for live games. The broadcast region for the Padres includes San Diego, parts of Arizona and New Mexico, Hawaii, and Tijuana. Those who live outside that region have two options for San Diego games.
If you’re someone who prefers a streaming service, MLB.TV is for you. For more traditional viewers who want—or already have—a cable or satellite provider, you’ll need MLB EXTRA INNINGS. Each service offers complete out-of-market coverage.
| Channel | Starting price | Coverage | Available on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padres.TV | $99.99/season | Most in-market games | MLB app, Cox, DIRECTV, Fubo, Spectrum, Xfinity |
| MLB.TV | $29.99/mo. | Most out-of-market games | MLB and ESPN apps |
| MLB EXTRA INNINGS | $149.99/season | Most out-of-market games | Cable and satellite services |
Where to watch the Padres—national TV breakdown
Thanks to their star-studded roster and recent playoff runs, the Padres are a major draw for national television. Throughout the 2026 season, you’ll find San Diego stepping into the national spotlight on major networks like FOX, FS1, NBC, TBS, and MLB Network.
You’ll also want to keep an eye out for a few exclusive streaming matchups on Apple TV and Peacock Premium. The best part? These national broadcasts are available nationwide, bypassing standard local blackout restrictions.
| Network | Coverage | Available on |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV | Friday Night Baseball exclusive games | Apple TV subscription ($12.99/mo.) |
| ESPN | Select regular-season games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| FOX | Saturday MLB games, select primetime matchups, All-Star Game, World Series | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| FS1 | Saturday regular-season games, select postseason games (Division Series, League Championship Series) | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| MLB Network | Regular-season national games, simulcasts, showcase matchups | Cable, satellite, select live TV streaming services |
| NBC | Select Sunday MLB games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| Netflix | Exclusive events (Home Run Derby, MLB at Field of Dreams) | Netflix subscription ($7.99–$24.99/mo.) |
| Peacock | Exclusive Sunday MLB games | Peacock Premium subscription ($10.99–$16.99/mo.), NBCSN (simulcasts) |
| TBS | Regular-season Tuesday night games, select postseason games (Division Series, League Championship Series) | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
Best TV plans for watching the San Diego Padres
DIRECTV is the most comprehensive choice for watching the Padres all season long. Whether it’s satellite or streaming, the service includes a dedicated channel for all things Padres, plus many of the national channels the team will appear on.
But having only DIRECTV won’t cut it, I’m afraid. You’ll likely need at least two streaming services to watch games that air exclusively on those platforms. More on that below.
Best Overall
You can watch the Padres team channel (ch. 694) for live in-market broadcasts on DIRECTV ($89.99–$169.99/mo.), but keep in mind that you must subscribe to the CHOICE™ plan or above to get it.
Exclusive Games
Apple TV is the exclusive home of Friday Night Baseball. You’ll need a subscription to stream any Padres matchups that land on this weekly national showcase.
Exclusive Games
The Padres will have a few games streaming on Peacock this season, with some simulcasts on NBC.
Out-of-Market Coverage
MLB.TV is the best streaming option for Padres fans living outside of the local broadcast region.
Watch the Padres with a free trial
If you need some time to try out a service before committing, you have a few to choose from to watch the Padres. Depending on where you live, channel availability may vary.
| Packages | Price | ESPN | FOX | FS1 | NBC | TBS | MLB Network | RSNs* | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV | Five days free, then $89.99–$169.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM |
| Fubo | Five days free, then $14.99–$94.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | View Plans for FuboTV |
| YouTube TV | Varies, then $82.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | — | View Plans for YouTube TV |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Avail. of RSNs varies by zip code and pkg.
Get tickets to see the Padres!
Buy San Diego Padres tickets through our partner, StubHub—your source for the best deals on Padres games and more.
How to watch the San Diego Padres FAQ
What channel are the Padres on?
You can watch in-market San Diego Padres games on Padres.TV. Some games will air on national channels like NBC, FOX, FS1, and others. Select games will stream exclusively on Peacock and Apple TV.
Why are Padres games blacked out in my area?
MLB restricts local Padres games on MLB.TV. If you live within the San Diego broadcast region, you must watch local games on Padres.TV through a participating TV or streaming provider.
Can I watch the San Diego Padres for free?
You can watch Padres games airing on FOX and NBC with an over-the-air antenna. Outside of that, there are some free trials to live TV streaming services, but they typically last only about a week.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com junior sports writer, Alex Vejar, reviewed the details of the San Diego Padres 2026 schedule. He then researched which TV and streaming providers offered the most channels to watch Padres games. Using that information, he made a recommendation that he feels is best for Padres fans.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our review methods.
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