2021 MLB playoffs: How to watch and stream all the World Series games
The 2021 Major League Baseball playoffs conclude with the 2021 World Series. The best-of-seven Fall Classic will see the Atlanta Braves face the Houston Astros. Every game will be aired by Fox. All this leaves one big question (besides which team will win): How will you watch -- and stream -- all the action?
Is YouTube TV the best bet for you? Hulu Plus Live TV? Sling TV? Something else entirely, like a digital-TV antenna, perhaps?
Here's a look at what World Series games you can -- and can't -- watch on five of the leading live-TV streaming services. TV viewers with decently sized cable-TV or satellite packages shouldn't have much trouble catching all the action. But cord-cutters who rely on live-TV streaming may find themselves facing unexpected programming holes. So, be prepared -- and read on.
YouTube TV
Priced at $65 a month, YouTube TV's standard package delivers more than 85 live-TV channels, including, depending on your coverage area, your local TV stations, including Fox. (Conversely, depending on your coverage area, you may not get your local TV stations, including Fox.)
As with the other live-TV services noted here, there are no installation fees, equipment fees or contracts. And, as with the competition, YouTube TV is supported on a number of devices and streaming media players.
One heads-up for Roku users: YouTube TV is currently not available in the Roku channel store. Until YouTube TV's parent company, Google, and Roku resolve their months-long contract dispute, new users who haven't previously downloaded the app will have to settle for watching YouTubeTV in work-around fashion via the regular YouTube channel.
As of publication, YouTube TV was offering new users a free trial, followed by a $10 discount off a monthly subscription (for the first three months).
Watch the 2021 MLB playoffs on YouTube TV (subscription required)
DirecTV Stream
The recently launched, rebranded live-TV streaming service (formerly known as AT&T TV) follows the no-contract, no-hassle, loads-of-channels script of YouTube TV. And cable vets will be familiar with its tiered packages and pricing.
As far as the 2021 World Series goes, any of DirecTV Stream's monthly packages will work -- depending on your coverage area, natch. Prices on DirecTV Stream services start at $70 a month.
Watch the 2021 MLB playoffs on DirecTV Stream (subscription required)
Hulu Plus Live TV
A standard Hulu Plus Live TV subscription (regularly priced at $65 a month) gets you more than 75 channels, including (potentially) your local Fox station.
Hulu Plus Live TV does have something its competitors don't: Access to regular, ad-supported Hulu, including its original shows, such as "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Only Murders in the Building." You can see a list of the newest shows on Hulu here.
As of publication, Hulu Plus Live TV was offering new subscribers a seven-day free trial, followed by $10 off the first three months of a monthly subscription.
Watch the 2021 MLB playoffs on Hulu Plus Live TV (subscription required)
FuboTV
For $65 a month, FuboTV's "Starter" tier offers as many as 110 channels, including, depending on your area, your local Fox station. As of publication, FuboTV was offering new users a free trial.
Watch the 2021 MLB playoffs on FuboTV (subscription required)
Sling TV
Sling TV's $35-a-month "Blue" tier will deliver more than 40 channels, including, depending on your coverage area, Fox. As of publication, Sling TV was offering its "Blue" plan to new users for just $10 for the first month.
Watch the 2021 MLB playoffs on Sling TV (subscription required)
Indoor HD digital TV antenna
For a flat $29, the U Must Have amplified, indoor HD digital TV antenna will deliver the live, Fox-aired World Series games to your HDTV set -- plus everything else offered by the other free, digital channels in your area. No subscription, no monthly fee. Just connect the U Must Have to your set, and watch. It's the 20th century TV-viewing experience with 21st century technology.
The U Must Have antenna boasts nearly 14,000 customer reviews on Amazon -- and a four-and-a-half star rating.
Not to complicate things, but keep in mind that the reason cable TV became a thing is that some areas just don't get very good TV reception. Today's digital antennae are far better than the rabbit ears of yore, but even they can only do so much if your home is reception-challenged.
And one more thing: As noted above, the live-TV streamers can't guarantee that you'll get all your local TV stations. If you live in an area where your, say, YouTube TV subscription will not include Fox, then you're going to need a digital antenna to (hopefully) pick up the free-TV channel.
U Must Have indoor HD digital TV antenna, $29
MLB.TV
Our very last option is the simplest: With a MLB.TV subscription, you can watch every single World Series game -- no ifs, ands or buts. There's just one major caveat: If you're a true cord-cutter (meaning, you don't have a TV provider), then you can't watch the games live. (Local-TV blackouts will apply to MLB.TV users who do have TV providers, so, truly, nothing is perfect.)
For all subscribers, the World Series games will be available to stream on MLB.TV 90 minutes after they conclude. Archived action is still a lot of action -- and it's all in one place.
As of publication, a new MLB.TV subscription could be had for $24.99. (The subscription will expire before the start of 2022 MLB Spring Training.)
Watch the 2021 MLB playoffs on MLB.TV (subscription required)
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