How To Watch the Athletics
Athletics baseball looking for a turnaround season
I get it: It’s been tough to watch Athletics baseball the past several years. Five straight seasons without a playoff appearance is brutal, and the team’s temporary relocation to West Sacramento only adds to the sting.
But die-hard fans are wired differently. They stick with their team no matter what. And I bet 2026 will be no different.
NBC Sports California is home to the A’s in-market live broadcasts. Meanwhile, if you’re an out-of-market fan, you can choose between MLB.TV and MLB EXTRA INNINGS, depending on whether you prefer streaming or a traditional TV package. Keep reading for the best ways to tune in and support the A’s all season.
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—local TV breakdown
In-market fans needn’t look any further than NBC Sports California for live broadcasts of Athletics baseball. If there happens to be a scheduling conflict on the main network, you can easily catch the game on its overflow channel, NBC Sports California+. Both are available through various cable, satellite, and streaming services. Local fans can also stream games with Athletics.TV.
NBC Sports California is available throughout Northern and Southern California, Western Nevada, and parts of Oregon. If you don’t live in the A’s broadcast region, you can stream out-of-market games with MLB.TV or get MLB EXTRA INNINGS through a cable or satellite provider.
| Channel | Starting price | Coverage | Available on |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBC Sports California | — | Most in-market games | DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Peacock Premium, Spectrum, Xfinity, YouTube TV |
| Athletics.TV | $99.99/season | Most in-market games | MLB app |
| 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—national TV breakdown
| Network | Game types | 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 Athletics
The most cost-effective way to watch Athletics baseball locally is through a Peacock Premium subscription with the NBC Sports RSN add-on. This is best for people who may want to steer clear of a traditional cable or satellite plan.
Other than that, several TV packages offer NBC Sports California, so you can’t go wrong with any of them, really—it just depends on your budget. You may also want to have Apple TV for any games that stream exclusively there.
Best Overall
Athletics games on NBC Sports California are on DIRECTV Channel 698, available in the CHOICE™ package and above (starting at $94.99/mo.).
Exclusive Games
You’ll need an Apple TV subscription ($12.99/mo.) to watch the Athletics any time they appear on Friday Night Baseball.
Exclusive Games
Peacock Premium ($10.99–$16.99/mo.) is home to exclusive Sunday MLB games. Plus, Athletics fans can add NBC Sports California to their subscription.
Out-of-Market Coverage
MLB.TV ($149.99/season) is the main service Athletics fans need if they don’t live in the team’s broadcast region.
Watch the Athletics with a free trial
If you’re looking to test-drive some services, I’ve outlined a few free trials below that are worth your time. In addition to those, Hulu + Live TV, which comes with NBC Sports California, often offers a three-day 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 Athletics!
Buy Athletics tickets through our partner, StubHub—your source for the best deals on A’s games and more.
How to watch the Athletics baseball FAQ
What channel are the Athletics on?
You can watch in-market Athletics baseball games on NBC Sports California, which is available on several live TV streaming platforms and traditional providers. Those who prefer going through MLB.com can subscribe to Athletics.TV. National games will be on Peacock and likely Apple TV.
Can I stream Athletics games without cable?
There are several ways to stream Athletics games, as NBC Sports California is available on DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and more. In-market fans can also stream games using Athletics.TV, while MLB.TV is available for out-of-market viewing.
Why are Athletics games blacked out in my area?
The league blacks out games on MLB.TV if you're in the A's broadcast region. That's why, if you're an in-market Athletics fan, you need NBC Sports California or Athletics.TV to tune in.
Can I watch the Athletics for free?
A digital antenna is the best way to catch games for free on FOX or NBC, but you won't typically find the Athletics on those channels. Instead, your best bet for A's baseball is using a free trial to a live TV streaming service like DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com junior sports writer, Alex Vejar, reviewed the details of the Athletics 2026 schedule. He then researched which TV and streaming providers offered the most channels to watch Athletics baseball games. Using that information, he made recommendations that he feels are best for A’s fans.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
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