How To Watch the Washington Nationals
Nowhere to go but up for the Nationals
The Washington Nationals haven’t had a winning season since they won the World Series in 2019. But that doesn’t mean fans have stopped watching Nationals baseball—far from it.
Starting this season, local fans can watch games on Nationals.TV following the team’s departure from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN). But because MLB rights are sprinkled across multiple networks, you’ll still have to track down a handful of national TV broadcasts to catch every single pitch.
Could this be the year the Nationals get back to their winning ways? Whether you’re a die-hard Nats fan or a casual viewer, I built this guide to help you catch as many games as possible this season.
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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 Nationals—local TV breakdown
Nationals.TV is the home of Washington baseball’s in-market games. The team announced in January that production and distribution of its games would move over to MLB after its longtime partnership with MASN ended.
In-market fans across North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and parts of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware can access Nationals.TV through MLB’s standalone streaming app or participating providers like DIRECTV. If you live outside that territory, you can stream out-of-market Nationals games with MLB.TV or watch with MLB EXTRA INNINGS through a cable or satellite provider.
| Channel | Starting price | Coverage | Available on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals.TV | $99.99/season | Most in-market games | MLB app, DIRECTV |
| MLB.TV | $149.99/season | 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 Nationals—national TV breakdown
Nationals fans will get several opportunities to watch games on national TV in 2026. The channels they’ll need are mainly FS1 and Peacock, though select games will appear on Apple TV.
Other networks may also factor into the broadcast mix, as MLB often reveals its national TV schedule in batches throughout the season. Hit the drop-down menu below to see every possible national MLB broadcaster.
| 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 ($9.99–$26.99/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 Washington Nationals
Any plan that gets you Nationals.TV and FS1 will be great for Nationals fans. That will most likely be a cable or satellite provider.
I love DIRECTV for this because not only does it include the in-market channel, but also FS1. That gives you most Nats games with just one service. If you want to save money, the standalone Nationals.TV still gets you a ton of games during the regular season at a fraction of the price.
In addition, you’ll want a Peacock Premium subscription and also an Apple TV subscription to cover games streaming exclusively on those platforms. I have more information below.
Best Overall
DIRECTV offers plans with national MLB channels like FS1 and TBS. In-market fans can also get a linear version of Nationals.TV on Channel 641 by signing up for the CHOICE™ package or higher (starting at $94.99/mo.).
Exclusive Games
Select Nationals games will stream on Apple TV ($12.99/mo.) as part of Friday Night Baseball.
Exclusive Games
Peacock has exclusive games for many MLB teams this season, including the Nationals. You’ll need a premium subscription ($10.99–$16.99/mo.) to tune in.
Out-of-Market Coverage
Fans living outside of the Nationals’ broadcast market will need MLB.TV ($149.99/season) to watch any games not on national TV.
Watch the Nationals with a free trial
| 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 Nationals!
Buy Washington Nationals tickets through our partner, StubHub—your source for the best deals on Nationals games and more.
How to watch the Washington Nationals FAQ
What channel are the Nationals on?
You can watch in-market Nationals baseball games on Nationals.TV. Meanwhile, nationally televised games will air on FS1, Peacock, and Apple TV.
Can I stream Nationals games without cable?
Yes. Nationals.TV is a standalone streaming service for in-market fans that will get you access to most Nationals games during the season. Alternatively, DIRECTV's streaming product includes that channel and many national channels, giving you the most games with just one provider. Of course, some games will also stream on Peacock Premium and Apple TV.
Why are Nationals games blacked out in my area?
You're likely encountering game blackouts because you're a local fan trying to use MLB.TV to watch the Nationals. In-market fans need Nationals.TV to avoid local blackouts enforced by the league.
Can I watch the Washington Nationals for free?
Yes. If the Nationals have any games airing on NBC or FOX, you can catch those with an over-the-air antenna. As a temporary option, you can get a free trial to a live TV streaming service. Otherwise, most games will be on networks that require a paid subscription.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com junior sports writer, Alex Vejar, reviewed the details of the Washington Nationals’ 2026 schedule. He then researched which TV and streaming providers offered the most channels to watch Nationals games. Using that information, he made a recommendation that he feels is best for Nationals fans.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our review methods.
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