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When I did the research to compile our Kansas City Royals viewing guide, I was surprised to learn just how popular Bally Sports Kansas City and Royals baseball are in their local markets. Even though the channel isn’t available outside of Kansas, the Royals games on Bally Sports Kansas City were ranked 4th in popularity for local viewership of MLB games in 2021. When you factor in that the Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes is a part owner of the Royals, the KC sports scene starts to look pretty hip.
The good news for Royals fans is that Bally Sports Kansas City is available for streaming live, but unfortunately, there is only one live TV streaming provider that has reached terms with the owner of the Bally Sports regional sports networks, Sinclair Broadcasting, on a carriage agreement, DirecTV Stream.
Which streaming services carry Bally Sports KC?
Currently, only one – DirecTV Stream.
| DIRECTV STREAM – Choice | DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo Sports Plus with NFL RedZone | Hulu + Live TV | Paramount+ | Orange & Blue Sports Extra | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| |||||||
| $99.99 / month | $74.99 / month | $80.98 / month | $69.99 / month | $5.99 / month | $65 / month | $72.99 / month |
The best option for local Kansas fans
DirecTV Stream
Unfortunately, the only way to get Bally Sports Kansas City live online is to live in the state of Kansas, and to subscribe to DirecTV Stream’s “Choice” package. The Choice package is pricey, but it will also get you access to an extensive lineup of sporting events beyond just in-market MLB. Although the interface isn’t fancy, and the DVR is limited relative to competitors, DirecTV Stream is a good option for NFL fans, and the service carries KCTV, CBS 5 in Kansas City which is the channel that will have the majority of Chiefs games on Sundays.
Read our DirecTV Stream review for sports fans.
Can I watch Chiefs games on Bally Sports Kansas City?
No. While Bally Sports Kansas City offers Chiefs commentary and coverage, none of the Bally Sports RSNs have the rights to broadcast actual NFL games.
Why is Bally Sports Kansas City blacked out?
Well, as a practical matter, this won’t happen often for a regional team like the Royals, however, when they do get featured on a national MLB broadcast, the local RSN will often be blacked out to protect lucrative TV contracts.
For example, let’s say the Royals are on Apple TV’s new Friday Night Baseball doubleheader. Since Apple paid for the exclusive rights to broadcast its slate of games, Bally Sports Kansas City would be blacked out in Kansas markets.