Streaming news roundup: MLB.TV is half off through the weekend, the NFL preseason lands on the ESPN app, and the NHL schedule drops next week

A few genuinely useful things landed this week: MLB.TV is half price through the weekend, the NFL preseason schedule is set with more games on the ESPN app, and the NHL's full 2026-27 schedule drops next week — plus a few teams have locked in new local-TV homes. Here's what's worth knowing.

The gist: A few genuinely useful things landed this week for anyone planning their viewing. MLB.TV is half price through the weekend, the NFL preseason schedule is set — with more of it on the ESPN app — and the NHL's full 2026-27 schedule drops next week, as a few more teams lock in where their local games will air. Here's what's worth knowing.

MLB.TV is half off through the weekend

As part of its All-Star Sale, MLB.TV's Seasonal package is 50% off at $47.99 through Sunday, covering the rest of the regular season live or on demand, with 24/7 access to MLB Network thrown in. (There's also an MLB+ Yearly option at $49.99 through July 14.)

One important thing to know before you buy: MLB.TV is an out-of-market package. It's built for following teams outside your home market — your local club's games are blacked out and still require your in-market option (a regional network, a team app like Cardinals.TV, or a provider that carries the local channel). If you've got a second team across the country, or you just want to watch more baseball down the stretch, the sale is a good deal; if you only care about your home team, it won't cover them. MLB.TV is now sold through the ESPN app, since MLB moved its distribution there for 2026.

The NFL preseason is set — and more of it is on the ESPN app

Preseason football runs August 13-29, and this year there are more ways to stream it. NFL Network will carry 19 live out-of-market games, and the ESPN app adds 12 more for ESPN Unlimited subscribers — up from just five a year ago. ESPN will also air one national game, the Raiders-Texans on August 20, giving everyone a first look at No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. All 48 preseason games will be available as replays on NFL Network.

The catch to keep in mind: those NFL Network and ESPN app games are out-of-market and subject to local blackouts. Your own team's preseason games are typically carried by a local station in your market or a live-TV streamer that includes it.

NHL corner: the schedule drops next week, and the local map is firming up

The NHL will reveal its opening-night matchups on July 15 (airing on ESPN) and the full 2026-27 regular-season schedule on July 16 — an 84-game slate, the league's first since 1993-94.

On the local side, more of the teams that left the FanDuel regional networks have settled next season's homes: the Red Wings move to the new Detroit SportsNet, the Predators signed with Scripps Sports, and the Kings stay put on the network now renamed Angels Broadcast Television. In St. Louis, the Blues still haven't announced where their games will land — worth watching as the season approaches.

(Also on this weekend: Wimbledon wraps up its finals and MLB All-Star Week gets underway — we covered where to watch each here.)

Not sure which of this week's games you can already watch? StreamCaddy maps the cheapest correct way to watch all of your teams and events for your exact location and subscriptions.

Sources

1. MLB.com — "All-Star Sale brings you MLB.TV for 50% off" (Seasonal $47.99 through Sunday; MLB+ Yearly $49.99 through July 14; out-of-market package sold via the ESPN app), July 6, 2026 — https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-tv-july-2026-sale
2. ESPN Press Room — "NFL Network presents 2026 preseason slate (19 games); ESPN expands its schedule with 12 additional matchups on the ESPN App" (Aug 13-29; ESPN Unlimited; Raiders-Texans national game Aug 20; replays on NFL Network; local blackouts apply), July 8, 2026 — https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2026/07/nfl-network-presents-2026-nfl-preseason-slate-featuring-19-live-games-espn-expands-its-schedule-with-12-additional-matchups-on-the-espn-app/
3. Pro Hockey Rumors — "NHL To Announce 2026-27 Season Schedule On July 16" (opening-night matchups July 15 on ESPN; full 84-game schedule July 16), July 7, 2026 — https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2026/07/nhl-to-announce-regular-season-schedule-on-july-16.html
4. Wikipedia — "2026-27 NHL season" (Red Wings to Detroit SportsNet; Predators to Scripps Sports; Kings on the renamed Angels Broadcast Television; local-rights details) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026%E2%80%9327_NHL_season
5. St. Louis Public Radio — "Blues seek new television home as Main Street Sports Group shuts down" (Blues' 2026-27 broadcast home not yet determined) — https://www.stlpr.org/news-briefs/2026-04-06/blues-seek-new-television-home-main-street-sports-group-shuts-down