Rays games will be produced, distributed by MLB in 2026

ST. PETERSBURG -- This year will bring a new way to watch Rays baseball.

The Rays announced Monday that their local television broadcasts will be produced and distributed by Major League Baseball, starting this season. According to the team, fans across Florida will be able to watch the Rays play through their cable or satellite provider and through MLB’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, without local blackouts.

Under this agreement, fans in the Rays’ home market will still be able to watch games on participating cable and satellite systems. The club said that provider details and channel lineups will be provided soon. Now, streaming access will also be available for purchase in the local market on MLB.com and the MLB app (which can be accessed on a wide variety of devices) when subscriptions go on sale this month.

“Since our first days of taking ownership of the club, we’ve been committed to delivering a world‑class fan experience,” said Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby. “This transition reflects that commitment. With MLB’s best‑in‑class streaming platform, Rays fans in our home market will finally be able to stream games on the MLB app without local blackouts. And just as importantly, fans who prefer the tradition of watching Rays baseball on television will continue to find our games on cable and satellite. Every decision we make is done first and foremost with our fans in mind.”

Many teams have transitioned to an MLB-distributed broadcast. The Rays were one of several clubs to announce such a move on Monday after recently terminating their contracts with Main Street Sports Group, the parent company of FanDuel Sports Network Sun. The club noted in its announcement that all 162 regular-season games will be available through either local distribution or MLB’s national broadcast partners.

The Rays did not announce further information on Monday, including pricing or potential changes to broadcast personnel and pregame/postgame coverage, but said additional details “will be shared in the coming weeks.”

Fans outside of the Rays’ home market can still watch their games with an MLB.TV subscription.