Royals to Air 10 Games on Free TV, Including Home Opener

The team renews partnership with Gray Media to broadcast select home games on KCTV5 in Kansas City.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Kansas City Royals will air 10 home games on free, over-the-air television this season, including their home opener against the Minnesota Twins on March 30. The games will be broadcast on KCTV5 in Kansas City as part of the team's renewed partnership with Gray Media.

Why it matters

This move allows more fans in the Kansas City area to access Royals games without needing a cable or streaming subscription, helping the team build connections with a broader audience.

The details

The 10 Royals games that will air on KCTV5 include the home opener on March 30 as well as matchups against the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and Arizona Diamondbacks. The broadcasts will feature the same commentary team of Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler that appears on the team's streaming service, Royals.TV.

  • The Royals home opener is on March 30, 2026 at 3:10 PM CT.
  • The 10 free TV games will air throughout the 2026 MLB regular season.

The players

Cullen Maxey

Royals President of Business Operations.

Ryan Lefebvre

Royals television play-by-play announcer.

Rex Hudler

Royals television color commentator.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We know that KCTV5 helped bring the personalities and talents of our exciting team to a broader audience, so we're thrilled to continue and grow our partnership. We want to build those connections with fans, and we're thrilled they can continue to access our games on cable, streaming, and local TV.”

— Cullen Maxey, Royals President of Business Operations (royalsreview.com)

What’s next

The Royals will announce details on the availability of their remaining games on Royals.TV and through cable/satellite providers at a later date.

The takeaway

The Royals' decision to air 10 games on free TV this season demonstrates their commitment to making the team's content accessible to a wider audience in the Kansas City market, helping to build their fan base and strengthen connections with the community.