MLB Blackouts To Get Worse, Before They Get Better

Major League Baseball’s first labor proposal includes an offer from owners that could eventually dismantle the territorial TV rights system responsible for out-of-market “blackouts,” allowing local team broadcasts to be consolidated into a single streaming service over time.

The Athletic reports the change would blur — and possibly eliminate — the frustrating “in-market” versus “out-of-market” distinction that currently forces fans to consult maps and juggle services just to watch their favorite team. Under the existing setup, fans inside a team’s territory cannot access that team’s games through MLB.tv, the league’s out-of-market streaming platform. However, the proposal does not create a simple, all-in-one solution. 

National broadcasts (on ESPN, NBC, Netflix, and similar platforms) would still require separate subscriptions. MLB also plans to significantly increase the number of nationally televised games starting in 2029 while reducing locally available ones. As a result, fans will likely continue needing multiple paid services to follow every game their team plays, regardless of the bargaining outcome.

The territorial system has long existed primarily for profit. By granting exclusive local broadcast rights, it has generated substantial revenue for teams, broadcasters, and cable/satellite providers — revenue that has helped fund rising player salaries. But with local TV deals declining in many markets, the league is now seeking a new model.

This proposal represents a potential first step toward modernizing how fans access games, though full relief from fragmented viewing remains complicated.