Fans of the Seattle Mariners are running into a new reality this season: watching games isn’t as simple as turning on the TV anymore.
During opening week alone, Mariners games were spread across multiple platforms, leaving many fans confused about where to watch.
What Changed This Season
The biggest shift came when the Mariners shut down their regional network, ROOT Sports Northwest.
Instead, games are now handled through Major League Baseball’s direct streaming platform, known as Mariners TV.
Fans now have a few options:
- A team-only streaming package (season or monthly)
- A full MLB package to watch all teams
- Select games on national platforms like ESPN, Apple TV Plus, NBC, and Peacock
- Limited cable access through providers like Xfinity or DirecTV
The result is a fragmented system where different games are on different services.
Why ROOT Sports Northwest Disappeared
ROOT didn’t collapse overnight. Several trends led to its decline:
- Cable subscriptions dropped as more people switched to streaming
- The network lost key teams like the Seattle Kraken and Portland Trail Blazers
- Subscriber numbers fell sharply over the past decade
By 2025, it was no longer sustainable to operate, leaving the Mariners to move fully into MLB’s streaming model.
The Streaming Trade-Off
Streaming does bring some benefits.
Fans can now watch games anywhere, even on their phones while commuting. Features like multi-game viewing also make it easier to follow multiple matchups at once.
But the downside is clear:
- Multiple subscriptions can get expensive
- It’s harder for casual fans to know where games are
- Older viewers may struggle with the shift from cable
Is There an Easier Way to Watch?
There are still a couple of simpler options:
- Local TV: A small number of games will air on KING 5
- Radio: Every game is available on 710 AM
Radio, in particular, remains one of the most accessible ways to follow the team. While it lacks visuals, many fans still enjoy the storytelling style of baseball broadcasts.
What This Means for the Future
The Mariners are not alone. More MLB teams are moving away from traditional TV deals and toward streaming.
That means this kind of viewing experience, fragmented and subscription-heavy, is likely to become the norm rather than the exception.
