As Opening Day arrives, plenty of Miami Marlins fans are still staring at their TV guides and wondering which channel will actually show most games. Major League Baseball has stepped in to handle production and distribution of the team’s local broadcasts this season while it negotiates with pay-TV and streaming providers.
Over the winter, MLB rolled out Marlins.TV, an MLB-run platform that will show in-market Marlins games through streaming and on participating cable and satellite channels. The league says it will produce the local telecasts and sell streaming packages through MLB’s apps, with specific channel slots to be announced later. According to MLB.com, Opening Day is scheduled for March 27 at 7:10 p.m. at loanDepot Park.
This shakeup traces back to a series of rights disputes that left several teams without a stable regional sports partner. Major League Baseball has already taken over local broadcasts for multiple clubs after Main Street Sports Group, which rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network, failed to make scheduled payments. As reported by AP News, MLB will be producing local feeds for at least six teams this season while clubs and providers work out distribution.
That backstory matters for the current carriage negotiations. Comcast’s Xfinity service already had an agreement to carry FanDuel Sports Network programming, and providers are now working out how to slot the new MLB-produced feeds into their lineups. FanDuel announced an extension with Comcast in 2025 that kept FanDuel channels on Xfinity in its markets, underscoring how important existing carriage relationships can be. See the 2025 carriage announcement via Business Wire.
Closer to home, the Miami Herald reports that MLB and the Marlins are in talks with distributors and that Comcast Xfinity and DirecTV are among the providers most likely to carry Marlins games on a stand-alone channel. The Herald also says the league plans to disclose channel numbers and whether there will be an extra fee when deals are announced next week, and notes that season-ticket holders may be offered discounted Marlins.TV access. The piece suggests YouTube TV subscribers should be less confident their service will carry the new feeds.
For viewers who want a guaranteed option, MLB is selling a Marlins.TV seasonal streaming package for $99.99 for in-market fans, while a combined MLB.TV & Marlins.TV season pass is listed at $199.99. MLB’s subscription page lays out the packages and blackout rules and notes that streaming purchases will be handled through MLB.com and the MLB app. See the Marlins.TV package details at MLB.com.
How Not To Miss A Single Marlins First Pitch
In practical terms, the game plan is simple, check your provider’s channel lineup and have a backup ready. The team has historically simulcast some games on over-the-air TV, and CW33/WBFS aired up to 15 Marlins games in 2025, so local free broadcast windows may reappear this year. For the 2025 arrangement and a sense of how simulcasts can work, see CBS Miami.
Roster Notes And Spring Training Nuggets
There are also a handful of roster and health items to track. The Herald reports the Marlins optioned depth pieces including Joe Mack and Jack Ralston and that Ryan Gusto was slated to begin the season in the minors. Miami’s beat coverage also says Max Acosta will miss three to four weeks with an oblique strain and that Agustín Ramírez and Kevin Hicks are penciled in as the club’s catchers to open the year. For a full local rundown and additional spring statistics, see the Miami Herald’s report. Miami Herald.
Bottom line, most fans should be able to watch the Marlins this spring and summer, but where and how will likely vary by provider. MLB says it will publish channel numbers, carriage details and final pricing when it finalizes deals, so keep an eye on MLB.com and on announcements from your pay-TV provider over the coming days.
