Your 2026 Boston Red Sox TV & Streaming Guide: Hogdale, NESN, NBC & More
I have watched this old Red Sox promotional spot way more than I'd like to admit.
Growing up in the late 80s and early 90s, the Red on TV was a pretty simple process. Games on NESN and games on TV-38. Or Channel 68. One year (maybe two?) Channel 56. In 2026? There are a lot more hoops to jump through in 2026 if you want to watch every Red Sox game.
With Opening Day just a day away, a quick guide to where you'll find the Red Sox on TV/streaming this season.
Hogdale Red Sox Streams
Hell, yes: full 162 with HogDale. He's streaming every game this year. Lock and load. Electric factory.
There is no more passionate voice when it comes to the Red Sox than Hogdale. The Sox games will be on a bunch of places this season - none will be more entertaining than Hogdale's streams. Plus, you can watch the game WHILE you're watching the stream.
The language can sometimes be rated M for mature. The energy is always 100/100. Chats are always poppin'. You can watch on Twitch here: Twitch.tv/hogdale33, or on YouTube at this link.
And you should.
NESN
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Man, do I miss the old NESN logo. Was everything just better 20 years ago?
Anyway, 145 of the team's 162 games will be on NESN. To watch them in the New England market, you need a cable subscription with a provider that carries NESN. I will never cut the cord and still roll with Xfinity here in Massachusetts, so it's pretty straightforward. I guess Fubo TV also carries NESN.
Cord-cutters without Fubo TV will need NESN's direct-to-consumer app, NESN 360. That's gonna cost you $29.99/month or $239.99 annually.
I have never had to use NESN 360, but I've heard plenty of fans complain about how bad it is. The app has 2.5/5 stars on the App Store 👀👀
These are the three most recent reviews there. I know, I know, people don't leave positive reviews and comments, but it doesn't sound awesome. There are dozens of reviews like these if you keep looking.
Dave O'Brien will call most of the games on NESN, and former Red Sox infielder and co-host of Mut and Merloni, Lou Merloni, will join him for 120 of those 145.
I've worked with both guys in the past, so I'm probably biased, but it's a very solid booth. Dave and Lou are willing to be critical of the team, a player, or a play, which you don't always get on a local team broadcast.
NESN tried a few years of an analyst 'rotation' after the death of beloved Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy. They've finally settled on Merloni as the No. 1 guy, and they made the right call. If he wants to, I think Lou will eventually be calling games at the national level - maybe even this year. More on that below.
The chemistry with Dave and Lou should be a lot better with the 120-game schedule. When Lou is off, former players Will Middlebrooks and/or Kevin Millar will fill in. When he's not on TV, Middlebrooks will be the primary voice on WEEI's radio coverage, along with play-by-play voice Will Flemming.
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MLB.TV
I guess if you're an out-of-market Sox fan, this is the play? If you have ESPN Unlimited, it will run you $134.99. Otherwise, it's $149.99. Some markets allow you to get this for your team in the local market - not the Red Sox.
Apple TV
Those Friday Night Apple TV+ double-headers are back, and the Sox play the Tigers on Apple on April 17th. To watch the out-of-market games, you've needed an Apple TV+ subscription. In the past, it was sometimes free to watch your own team. I don't know if that will be the case again. I do know that NESN does not carry these games.
Fox and FS1
There will be a bunch of games on Fox (Saturdays) and some games on FS1 (weekdays). Cable, streaming, and the Fox Sports App are all available for these.
KMazur. Getty Images.ABC/ESPN/ESPN App
ESPN is no longer the home to Sunday Night Baseball, but they'll continue to carry games this season. They'll have 30 games that are ONLY on these platforms. If you don't have cable or streaming access to these, ESPN Unlimited will give you access, but there's a $29.99/month price tag. Again, I'm never cutting the cord. Xfinity offers ESPN Unlimited free on some cable plans.
NBC/Peacock
Welcome back, NBC and Bob Costas!
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Yep, the new home of Sunday Night Baseball. Every Sunday Night Baseball game this season will air on NBC, Peacock, or both simultaneously. I think most people know how to find NBC, but Peacock requires a subscription. Again, I get mine through Xfinity. Costas will host the pregame show. With the NBA on NBC and now this, Costas and nostalgia are having a little moment here.
Jason Benetti has been tabbed as the lead play-by-play voice for NBC and Peacock for the 2026 MLB season. Rather than a set analyst, Benetti will call games with a rotating team of local analysts. So for the first Sox game on NBC (June 14th vs. the Rangers), Merloni could be the local Sox voice on the NBC call. Smart idea from NBC on this, including the local team voices on the national broadcast. Baseball has become a lot more regional, and this will help the presentation.
Note that NBC/Peacock/NBCSN will be the home to all Wild Card games once we get to the playoffs. No NESN in the playoffs.
TBS
TBS Tuesdays are back this year, but these games (Red Sox/Yankees on April 21) will air locally on NESN. Should the Red Sox get there, TBS will televise both the ALDS and ALCS. Again, no playoff games on NESN
Netflix
There are NO Sox games on Netflix this season, but it's the only place to watch Opening Night on Wednesday night, Yankees/Giants. They are also the exclusive home of this year's Home Run Derby in Philadelphia on July 13 and the MLB Field of Dreams Game between the Phillies and Twins in Dyersville, Iowa, on Aug. 13.
Yep, it's a lot.
Looking forward to watching a lot of Hogdale this summer. Feel free to post your NESN 360 horror stories in the comments.