Hulu's subscription TV service has added MLB Network to its lineup of major channels just in time for the league's Opening Day in 2024. This will give customers access to “more than 100 MLB games broadcast nationally throughout the course of the season,” along with the network's original programming and studio shows.
YouTube TV, a major competitor to Hulu and Live TV, abruptly left MLB Network early last year after it failed to reach a new streaming deal with Major League Baseball. And with no return announcement ahead of today's opening games, it looks like YTTV subscribers will be without it for another year.
Perhaps that shouldn't be surprising after the company shelled out $2 billion for the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket; Something had to be sacrificed for that deal, and football attracts many more viewers than baseball does today. But MLB Network is still offered by most of YouTube's competitors, including the aforementioned Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and Fubo. This last service also I just added YES Network so subscribers can tune in to New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets games.
The outlook for live sports streaming could be very different come Opening Day 2025. Earlier this year, ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to form a sports streaming giant that will join networks such as ESPN, TBS, TNT, ABC, FOX and many others. (Disney owns ESPN and Hulu.) That move has already caught the attention of the Justice Department, which will reportedly review the proposal to see if it will harm competition or leave consumers worse off. Fubo has staunchly opposed the plan, going so far as to sue the companies involved to ensure it is not disadvantaged.
Hulu with Live TV costs $76.99 per month for a package that also includes Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, all with ads, or $89.99 per month if you want the ad-free experience of the other included services.
