Mariners fans are navigating a complex broadcasting environment this season as games move across multiple streaming platforms following the departure of ROOT Sports.
The shift has led to increased costs and technical hurdles for viewers trying to follow the team.
During opening weekend, the Mariners had three games televised across three different services: Apple TV, Mariners TV, and Peacock. KIRO7 calculated that watching those three games would cost a viewer approximately $44 before taxes, based on monthly subscription prices.
The broadcast schedule for the season includes a variety of national and local platforms. In addition to the services used during opening weekend, games will be televised on ESPN, TBS, TNT, Fox Sports, and FS1.
The complexity of the schedule has prompted some fans to switch to audio broadcasts. Hunter Carvey, a fan from Montana, said he has struggled to track which games are available on which apps.
“I can’t even keep up with it,” Carvey said. “I am just on the radio now.”
For fans living outside the immediate Seattle area, the number of required subscriptions has become a significant hurdle. Ren Shepherd, who traveled from Montana to watch the team in person, noted the difficulty of locating games from home.
“It’s on so many different streaming services that I then have to go find,” Shepherd said. She added that she “would love it to be more simple than it is right now.”
Cost remains a primary concern for many long-time supporters. Richard Clayton, a fan from Bremerton, purchased a Mariners.TV subscription for $99, a service marketed as providing full-season coverage with minimal blackouts.
However, Clayton said he has been unable to watch local games despite the investment. “All Seattle games have been blacked out, why? WHY? I don’t know,” Clayton said.
He noted that the cumulative costs are high, with MLB.TV priced at $149 per year.
The expense of digital access has led some fans to compare streaming costs to the price of in-person attendance. Carvey noted that a single month of various streaming subscriptions can equal the price of a stadium seat.
“I am thinking that $70 ticket and we are having such a fun trip, that buys one month of watching Mariners games on TV,” Carvey said. “That doesn’t seem right to me.” Other fans expressed similar frustrations with the logistics of the new system.
Ryan, a fan from Vancouver, British Columbia, described the change as “so much more unnecessary effort and on top of the price.”
While many viewers are struggling with streaming applications, some fans continue to use traditional broadcast methods.
Ray, a Mariners fan, said he still utilizes satellite TV to follow the team. “But it’s definitely worth having it,” Ray said. “It’s convenient.”
KIRO7 reached out to MLB.TV regarding fan frustrations and whether the organization is looking into making games easier to watch. A response has not yet been received.