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    How to watch the MLB postseason and NHL in 2026: prices compared

    In 2026 the ALCS streams on HBO Max, and the NLCS and World Series on FOX One, which starts at $19.99 a month.[1][2][3] For the NHL, US national games are split between ESPN/ABC and TNT, and Sportsnet carries them in Canada. Prices below are dated and come from official pages or named outlets.[4]

    Editor reviewedUpdated ExplainerSports

    October 2026 is busy for North American sports fans: the MLB postseason is in its League Championship Series and the NHL season is two weeks old.[5][6] This guide lists the official channels for each and what the streaming services cost.

    How this guide works: ContentLora does no hands-on testing. We did not subscribe to or try these services for this guide. We compare published channel line-ups and list prices from official pages, plus prices reported by named outlets, and cite each one with its date. Prices change often, may exclude tax and vary by provider, so check before you subscribe.

    MLB postseason 2026: who shows what

    RoundDates (2026)English TVStreaming
    Wild Card Series29 Sep to 1 Oct (finished)NBC networks[7]Peacock (two series exclusive)[7]
    ALCSFrom 12 Oct[5]TBS, truTV[1]HBO Max[1]
    NLCSFrom 11 Oct[5]FOX, FS1[1]FOX One[8]
    World Series23 to 31 Oct[2]FOX[2]FOX One[2]

    Spanish-language coverage is on FOX Deportes for the NLCS and World Series, and on UniMas for the ALCS.[1][2][5] ESPN Radio carries every postseason game nationally.[1]

    NHL 2026-27: who shows what

    In the US, national NHL games are shared between Disney’s ESPN and ABC and TNT Sports, which also streams on HBO Max. In Canada, Sportsnet is the national partner. The Stanley Cup Final is exclusive to TNT in the US and Sportsnet in Canada.[4]

    Yahoo Sports counted 53 US national games on ESPN and ABC, 47 on ESPN+ (also available through Disney+ and Hulu) and 72 on TNT for 2026-27.[9] For games outside your local market that are not on national TV, it said US viewers need the ESPN Select tier.[10] In Canada, Sportsnet+ carries Monday and Saturday Night Hockey, and Amazon Prime carries Wednesday Night Hockey.[11]

    Prices compared

    ServicePriceSource and dateWhat it covers here
    FOX OneFrom $19.99/monthFOX One, 11 Oct 2026[3]NLCS, World Series (FOX/FS1)[8]
    FOX One + ESPN Unlimited bundle$39.99/month, no free trialFOX, 11 Oct 2026[12]FOX channels plus ESPN networks[12]
    HBO Max Standard$18.49/monthHBO Max, 11 Oct 2026[13]ALCS; NHL on TNT/truTV[1][14]
    HBO Max Premium$22.99/monthHBO Max, 11 Oct 2026[13]Same live sports as Standard[13]
    HBO Max Basic with Ads$10.99/monthHBO Max, 11 Oct 2026[13]No live sports[13]
    ESPN SelectAbout $14/monthYahoo Sports, 18 Sep 2026[10]Out-of-market NHL games[10]
    Peacock$8.99 to $19.99/monthOutKick, 29 Sep 2026[15]2026 Wild Card Series (now over)[7]
    Sportsnet+ Standard (Canada)$30/monthYahoo Sports, 18 Sep 2026[11]Monday and Saturday Night Hockey[11]
    Amazon Prime (Canada)$9.99/monthYahoo Sports, 18 Sep 2026[11]Wednesday Night Hockey[11]

    US prices are in US dollars. Canadian prices are as reported by Yahoo Sports, which did not state the currency.

    Which option fits which viewer

    These pairings follow from the line-ups above. They are not hands-on recommendations.

    • Only the World Series and NLCS: FOX One carries FOX and FS1, where all of those games air.[8][2]
    • ALCS plus NHL on TNT: HBO Max Standard or Premium covers both. Basic with Ads does not include live sports.[13][14]
    • MLB on FOX plus NHL on ESPN: the $39.99 FOX One and ESPN Unlimited bundle combines both companies’ channels.[12][4]
    • Fans following an out-of-market NHL team in the US: ESPN Select, according to Yahoo Sports.[10]
    • Canadian hockey fans: Sportsnet+ for Sportsnet’s national games and Prime for Wednesday nights.[11]

    Free options

    Yahoo Sports found no free way to watch NHL national broadcasts, though some services offer short free trials.[16] ESPN Radio’s national postseason coverage is an audio-only alternative for baseball.[1]

    Sports

    Major League Baseball (MLB)

    Major League Baseball: its 30 teams, 12-team postseason, the 2026 playoff race and the labor deal that expires on 1 December 2026.

    Questions readers ask

    How can I stream the 2026 World Series?

    Every World Series game is on FOX, and FOX One streams FOX channels. FOX One plans start at $19.99 a month as of 11 October 2026.[2][3]

    Where is the 2026 ALCS on TV?

    On TNT Sports platforms - TBS, truTV and HBO Max - with Spanish-language coverage on UniMas.[1][5]

    Which HBO Max plan includes live sports?

    Only Standard ($18.49 a month) and Premium ($22.99). The $10.99 Basic with Ads plan does not include live sports, as of 11 October 2026.[13]

    Is there a bundle with FOX One and ESPN?

    Yes. FOX One plus ESPN Unlimited costs $39.99 a month, with no free trial, as of 11 October 2026.[12]

    How do I watch out-of-market NHL games in the US?

    Yahoo Sports reported in September 2026 that you need the ESPN Select tier, about $14 a month, for games not on national broadcasts.[10]

    Is there a free way to watch the NHL?

    Yahoo Sports reported no free option for national broadcasts, though some services offer short free trials.[16]

    Sources

    · 16 claims from 7 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      The 2026 ALCS airs on TNT Sports platforms (TBS, truTV and HBO Max, with Spanish on UniMas) and the NLCS on FOX and FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One; ESPN Radio carries every postseason game nationally. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    2. [2]

      The 2026 World Series is scheduled to start on Friday 23 October and, if it goes seven games, end on Saturday 31 October, with all games on FOX (streaming on FOX One, Spanish on FOX Deportes); Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 are at the team with the better 2026 record. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    3. [3]

      As of 11 October 2026, FOX One plans start at $19.99 a month. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    4. [4]

      The NHL's national broadcast partners for 2026-27 are The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC) and TNT Sports (TNT/HBO Max) in the US and Sportsnet in Canada; the Stanley Cup Final airs exclusively on TNT in the US and Sportsnet in Canada. confirmedas of 2026-07-16

    5. [5]

      The 2026 NLCS (Dodgers at Brewers) was scheduled to open on 11 October, and the ALCS (White Sox or Guardians at Rays) on 12 October; Game 7s, if needed, were set for 19 and 20 October. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    6. [6]

      The 2026-27 NHL regular season has 1,344 games, 84 per team (up from 82), starting on 29 September 2026 and ending on 10 April 2027. confirmedas of 2026-07-16

    7. [7]

      NBC held rights to the entire 2026 Wild Card round, and the White Sox-Astros and Cubs-Padres series aired exclusively on the Peacock streaming service. confirmedas of 2026-09-29

    8. [8]

      FOX One streams the NLDS and NLCS, all of which air on FOX or FS1, with Spanish-language coverage on FOX Deportes. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    9. [9]

      In the US, 53 national NHL games in 2026-27 are scheduled on ESPN and ABC, 47 on ESPN+ (also via Disney+ and Hulu) and 72 on TNT. reportedas of 2026-09-18

    10. [10]

      US fans outside their team's market need the ESPN Select tier, about $14 a month, to watch NHL games not on national broadcasts, according to Yahoo Sports in September 2026. reportedas of 2026-09-18

    11. [11]

      In Canada, Sportsnet+ Standard costs $30 a month and carries Monday and Saturday Night Hockey, and Amazon Prime ($9.99 a month) carries Wednesday Night Hockey, according to Yahoo Sports. reportedas of 2026-09-18

    12. [12]

      As of 11 October 2026, a bundle of FOX One and ESPN Unlimited costs $39.99 a month, with no free trial. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    13. [13]

      As of 11 October 2026, HBO Max costs $10.99 a month (Basic with Ads), $18.49 (Standard) or $22.99 (Premium) in the US, and live sports including MLB and NHL are included only with Standard and Premium. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    14. [14]

      The HBO Max Standard plan, at $18.49 a month, carries NHL games broadcast on TNT and truTV. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    15. [15]

      Peacock subscriptions ranged from $8.99 to $19.99 a month as of late September 2026. reportedas of 2026-09-29

    16. [16]

      Yahoo Sports reported no free way to watch 2026-27 NHL national broadcasts, though some services offer short free trials. reportedas of 2026-09-18

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created with prices checked on 11 October 2026.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Nov 1, 2026.

    Cite this page

    "How to watch the MLB postseason and NHL in 2026: prices compared." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/explain/how-to-watch-mlb-nhl-2026

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