If you’ve spent the last decade flipping to ROOT Sports to catch the M's, I’ve got some news that might feel like a wild pitch to the ribs. The 2026 season isn't just a new year of baseball; it’s a total teardown and rebuild of how you actually watch the games. ROOT Sports Northwest is gone. Dead. Done.
Basically, the Mariners decided to exit the regional sports network (RSN) business entirely. It’s a massive shift. Instead of the team running their own channel, Major League Baseball (MLB) has stepped in to take over the production and distribution. This means the seattle mariners tv schedule looks very different depending on whether you’re sitting in a recliner in Ballard or streaming from a laptop in Spokane.
Honestly, this is the most significant change for fans since the team moved from the Kingdome to T-Mobile Park. The old model was breaking, and the club knew it.
The New Way to Watch: No More ROOT
For years, the "Where is the game?" question had a simple answer. Now? You’ve gotta be a bit more savvy. Since MLB is now the primary distributor, they’re launching a direct-to-consumer streaming service often referred to as Mariners.TV.
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The big win here? No blackouts.
If you live in the Pacific Northwest and want to stream, you can finally buy a package directly from MLB.TV that actually lets you watch the local games. In the past, you needed a cable log-in or a specific Fubo subscription to bypass those annoying "this content is unavailable in your region" messages. That headache is mostly cured for 2026.
Cable and Satellite Options
Don't worry, cord-cutters aren't the only ones getting love. If you still have Xfinity, DIRECTV, or Spectrum, you’ll still find the games. MLB is negotiating with these providers to place the "Mariners channel" on their systems. It won't be called ROOT Sports anymore, but it'll be a dedicated spot on your guide.
Here is the kicker: because MLB is producing the feed, the graphics and maybe even some of the broadcast talent might feel a little "national." However, the team has been vocal about keeping the local flavor alive. You can still expect to hear familiar voices like Goldy or Dave Sims, even if the logo in the corner of the screen is different.
Breaking Down the 2026 Seattle Mariners TV Schedule
Opening Day is set for March 26, 2026, against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park. If you’re trying to plan your life around the first few weeks, here is how the broadcast landscape usually shakes out.
The schedule is a mix of local broadcasts (handled by MLB) and national windows. For the local stuff, nearly all 162 games will be available on the new Mariners-branded channel.
National TV Windows to Watch For:
- Sunday Night Baseball (ESPN): These are usually 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM PT starts. If the M's are hot, expect them to get flexed into this slot.
- Saturday Baseball on FOX/FS1: Usually afternoon or early evening games. These are exclusive, meaning the local "Mariners channel" won't show them.
- TBS/TNT Sports: Often Tuesday night games during the summer months.
- Apple TV+ (Friday Night Baseball): You’ll need a separate subscription for these. They usually take about two games a year from the local schedule.
- Peacock/Roku: Occasionally, MLB puts a Sunday morning "Leadoff" game on these services.
If the game is on FOX or ESPN, you can’t watch it on Mariners.TV in-market. You have to go to the national broadcaster's app or channel. It’s a bit of a scavenger hunt, but that’s the modern MLB experience for you.
Why This Change Actually Matters
You might be wondering why they bothered blowing up a system that worked for 30 years. The truth is, the RSN model was bleeding money. When Comcast moved ROOT Sports to a "higher tier" package in 2023, it cut the viewership by a huge percentage. The Mariners saw the writing on the wall.
By partnering with MLB, the team is basically saying, "We want to be where the fans are." Whether that’s a phone, a tablet, or a smart TV, they are trying to remove the barriers.
There are downsides, though. Some fans in rural parts of Washington or Idaho with poor internet might find the shift toward streaming frustrating. And for the older generation who just wants to "turn on the TV," finding a new channel number after 20 years of the same one is a legitimate chore.
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How to Get Ready for First Pitch
If you want to make sure you don't miss a single pitch of the seattle mariners tv schedule this year, you should probably do a "tech check" in February.
- Check your Cable Provider: Look for a notice about the new MLB-distributed channel. It likely won't be active until late March.
- Download the MLB App: This is going to be your hub. Even if you don't pay for the streaming service, the app is where the most accurate, up-to-the-minute schedule lives.
- Radio is Still King: If the TV stuff feels too complicated, Seattle Sports 710 AM remains the flagship. Rick Rizzs is still the best in the business, and the radio broadcast is often more reliable than a 5G stream in the middle of a Snoqualmie Pass hike.
Final Actionable Steps for Fans
Don't wait until the bottom of the 1st inning on Opening Day to figure this out. The transition from ROOT Sports to MLB distribution is a bit of a "beta test" for the whole league.
- Audit your subscriptions: If you only had Fubo for ROOT Sports, check if the new Mariners channel is included. If not, switching to the direct MLB.TV "Mariners Team Pass" might save you $50 a month.
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official Mariners website and use the "Add to Calendar" feature. It automatically updates game times and national TV changes so you don't have to check a PDF every morning.
- Invest in a digital antenna: For those big FOX games, a $20 antenna can get you a crystal-clear 4K-ish signal for free.
The era of ROOT is over. The era of "Watch wherever you want" is finally starting. It might be a bumpy transition, but hey, being a Mariners fan has always been about navigating the bumps, right?
Stay tuned to the official MLB press releases as Spring Training wraps up for the final list of cable channel numbers in your specific zip code. Once those are locked in, you're all set for 162 games of chaos.
Next Steps for 2026:
Keep an eye on the official MLB.TV pricing tiers, which usually drop in late February. You’ll want to look specifically for the "Single Team Pass" to avoid paying for the entire league if you only care about the boys in Northwest Green. Additionally, check the "Mariners.TV" landing page for any early-bird discounts for Washington residents.