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Breaking: Hulu + Live TV Adds MLB Network on Opening Day; YouTube TV Still Lacking Channel

Breaking: Hulu + Live TV Adds MLB Network on Opening Day; YouTube TV Still Lacking Channel

With its robust channel lineup and ESPN+ integration, Hulu + Live TV is quietly becoming a force in sports streaming.

With a background in sports and entertainment reporting, he’s covered everything from Broadway to college football. He cut the cord in 2014 and has a sharp eye for streaming trends and a soft spot for Hallmark movies.

With the start of a new Major League Baseball season comes a host of new live-streaming options for fans to keep up with America’s pastime from now until October. On Thursday, just a few hours before the first pitch of Opening Day was thrown, Hulu + Live TV quietly added the MLB Network to its increasingly impressive channel lineup. The channel is now available to subscribers on the base subscription tier, meaning that YouTube TV is the only major live TV streaming service that doesn’t carry the channel after dropping it in January 2023.

  • Hulu + Live TV has added the MLB Network to its base subscription plan ahead of Opening Day.
  • YouTube TV is now the only major live streamer that doesn’t carry the channel.
  • With its growing channel lineup and ESPN+ integration, Hulu + Live TV is becoming a top sports platform.

What Live TV Streaming Services Carry MLB Network?

With the addition of the MLB Network, Hulu + Live TV has moved into contention for the title of top streaming service for baseball fans. The streamer carries all of the national networks that broadcast games throughout the season, as the MLB Network joins ESPN, Fox, FS1, and TBS. And while Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer nearly as many regional sports networks (RSNs) as DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo, the fact that a Hulu + Live TV subscription comes with the complete Disney Bundle means that fans also have access to all of the games broadcast on ESPN+; not to mention the great on-demand entertainment on Hulu and Disney+.

The MLB Network is available on Hulu’s base plan which runs $76.99 monthly. The only cheaper option to stream the channel is to subscribe to one of Sling TV’s base packages for $40 per month and then to get the Sports Extra add-on for $11. However, the only way to get all of the nationally available baseball games on Sling is to opt for both the Sling Orange and Blue plans for $55 monthly, plus the sports Extra pack. Unfortunately, however, Sling does not carry any RSNs and Fox is only available in 18 markets around the country.

The other live streaming options for MLB Network are DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo, both of which require a substantively higher financial commitment to get the channel. DIRECTV STREAM Is $3 more expensive per month than Hulu, but the MLB Network is only available on the Sports Pack for an extra $15 per month. While Fubo is at least $91.99 per month when its RSN fees are factored in and then an extra $9.99 monthly for the Sports Lite add-on that includes the MLB Network.

DIRECTV Fubo Hulu Philo Sling TV YouTube TV
Free Trial Free Trial Free 3-Day Trial Free Trial Save with Sling Free Trial
$20.99 $9.99 $28.99 $25 $19.99 $29.99 $45.99 $45.99 $64.99
MLB Network + $15 + $11 + $61 - - - + $11 + $11 -

Is Hulu + Live TV Good for Sports Fans?

Between regularly added channels and the Disney Bundle integration of ESPN+ content, Hulu + Live TV is quickly becoming a top streaming destination for sports fans. ESPN+ airs exclusive coverage of PGA and tennis tournaments and is the home of the NHL’s out-of-market package NHL Power Play. That exclusive sports content is automatically included in your Hulu browser as part of your live TV subscription. So when combined with over 95 top channels from across broadcast and cable, there is very little you will miss from across the sporting world.

Hulu + Live TV carries sports-focused networks including ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, [Fox Sports 2], NFL Network, ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, TNT, and TBS in every single plan, and every major local broadcast channel in nearly every market across the country. This means that it is a perfect option for NFL, NBA, college football, college basketball, NHL, fans, and much more.

Hulu Live TV

Hulu Live TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 70 channels for $89.99 per month. Hulu + Live TV base plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs). Subscribers get free access to Disney+ and ESPN Select at no extra charge.

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Where it really separates itself is value. Your subscription doesn’t just cover live TV — it also includes full access to Hulu’s on-demand library, plus bundled subscriptions to Disney+ and ESPN Select content at no extra cost. That means you’re getting everything from next-day network TV episodes and Hulu Originals, to Marvel, Star Wars, and live sports content all in one place without juggling multiple bills.

For sports fans, Hulu + Live TV also includes regional sports networks (RSNs) in select areas, a feature many competing services have dropped. That can be a big deal if you’re trying to follow local MLB, NBA, or NHL teams.

The DVR experience is another strong point. Subscribers get unlimited cloud DVR storage and the ability to fast-forward through commercials on recorded content — a feature that used to cost extra but is now standard. It’s designed to feel closer to a traditional cable DVR, just without the box.

If you want to customize further, several add-ons are available. You can upgrade to premium channels like HBO, Showtime, or Starz, add an unlimited streams option for households with lots of viewers, or go ad-free on Hulu’s on-demand content (live TV will still include ads).

Overall, Hulu + Live TV is less about being the cheapest option and more about being the most comprehensive. It’s built for people who want live TV, on-demand shows, and bundled streaming services all under one roof — without having to piece everything together themselves.


Matt Tamanini is the News Editor at The Streamable, where he oversees daily news coverage and editorial strategy, with a particular focus on breaking stories, streaming comparisons, and major industry events. A well-rounded journalist with a diverse background, Matt joined The Streamable in 2022 after holding key editorial roles at several high-profile outlets. He has an extensive career in sports and entertainment journalism, having served as a senior editor for BroadwayWorld, the world’s largest theater website, and as managing editor for Land-Grant Holy Land, which covers Ohio State sports.

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