Watching Every Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds Game Costs Hundreds

Streaming services, national TV deals make following local teams an expensive proposition

Apr. 11, 2026 at 7:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy, crimson, and gold, conveying the fragmented and complex nature of modern sports viewership.The fragmented, high-cost landscape of sports broadcasting makes it challenging for fans to watch every game of their favorite MLB teams.Cleveland Today

Watching or streaming all 162 baseball games for the Cincinnati Reds or Cleveland Guardians during the 2026 season could cost over $500 without a traditional TV provider. Fans will need to navigate a complex web of streaming services, national TV deals, and local team-specific packages to access every game.

Why it matters

As more sports content moves to streaming, the cost of following local teams is becoming a significant burden for fans. This highlights the challenges of the fragmented media landscape and the need for more affordable and accessible options for die-hard baseball supporters.

The details

Both the Reds and Guardians offer in-market streaming options called REDS.TV and CLEGUARDIANS.TV that cost $99.99 for the full season. However, fans will also need subscriptions to Apple TV ($12.99/month), ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month), Peacock ($10.99/month), Fox One ($19.99/month), and HBO Max ($10.99/month) to access national broadcasts. Combining all these services for the 6-month season could total over $530.

  • The Reds and Guardians' 2026 seasons began on March 26 and 27, respectively, and both teams' final regular-season games are on September 27.

The players

Cincinnati Reds

A Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, competing in the National League Central division.

Cleveland Guardians

A Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio, competing in the American League Central division.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

As the 2026 MLB season progresses, fans will need to continue monitoring the availability and costs of various streaming services and national TV deals to access all Reds and Guardians games.

The takeaway

The fragmented media landscape for sports broadcasting is making it increasingly difficult and expensive for fans to follow their local teams. This trend highlights the need for more affordable and accessible options for die-hard baseball supporters.