The Boston Red Sox are an iconic MLB team that plays in the AL East Division. In this post, I will walk Red Sox fans through the best options for watching Boston Red Sox baseball live without cable, including the latest free trials offered by the major live TV streaming providers. Our top pick for live streaming Red Sox games is fuboTV because the platform carries NESN and NBC Sports Boston in the base package.
Watch NESN and NBC Sports Boston in the base package plus WBZ-TV CBS 4 for Patriots NFL games. | $74.99 / month | 7 Day Free Trial |
Watch NESN and NBC Sports Boston in the base package plus WBZ-TV CBS 4 for Patriots NFL games but at a higher price than fuboTV. | $99.99 / month | 5 Day Free Trial |
Table of Contents
The most important channels for Red Sox fans
Most MLB games are broadcast regionally on dedicated channels known as regional sports networks (RSNs). In Boston, the local RSNs are NBC Sports Boston and the New England Sports Network (“NESN”). NBC Sports Boston carries Celtics and Bruins games, but not the Red Sox. For Red Sox action, access to NESN is required.
I have also added in ESPN, FOX, FS1, and TBS, all channels that carry nationally televised MLB games, including the playoffs and World Series. In addition, MLB fans should be aware that Apple TV+ and Peacock are now carrying exclusive MLB games during the regular season.
| DIRECTV STREAM – Choice | fuboTV | Hulu + Live TV | Paramount+ | Orange & Blue Sports Extra | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
| $99.99 / month | $74.99 / month | $69.99 / month | $4.99 / month | $65 / month | $64.99 / month |
How to watch this week’s Red Sox game
Want to watch a specific Red Sox game? We carry the full schedule, current free trials, as well as the live TV streaming providers that carry the games, below.
Live TV streaming options for Boston sports fans
fuboTV – best choice
fuboTV carries the channels you need to watch the Red Sox, as well as the Bruins and Celtics, on NBC Sports Boston. Unlike DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV offers NESN and NBC Sports Boston as part of its less expensive base package. We aren’t as worried about fuboTV missing TBS because, as an AL team, the Boston playoff runs will be on ESPN, FS1, and FOX if they make the World Series.
fuboTV also carries WBZ-TV, Boston CBS, for Patriots action.
Read our full fuboTV sports review.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM “Choice” covers all the bases for Red Sox games, albeit at a hefty price. The platform carries TBS so Red Sox fans can watch Tuesday Night Baseball and the NL playoffs. NBC Sports Boston is also available, but sports fans have to pay for the Choice package to get RSN coverage.
CBS Boston, WBZ-TV, is also available on DIRECTV STREAM for New England Patriots fans.
Read our DIRECTV STREAM review.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is another streaming service that carries the national TV MLB channels (except for Apple TV+ and Peacock) as well as NBC Sports Boston. You can also watch CBS Boston on Hulu + Live TV. Their ESPN+ bundle will also get you one out-of-market game every day during the regular season if you want to keep an eye on the competition in the pennant race.
Read our Hulu + Live TV review.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV, one of our favorites for streaming sports, carries NBC Sports Boston, plus ESPN, TBS, FS1, and CBS Boston.
Read our YouTube TV review.
Outside of the Boston area
Let’s say you moved from Boston to the west coast but want to follow the Red Sox. NBC Sports Boston isn’t an option because you’re out-of-market, so you can watch the Sox on MLB.TV, pro baseball’s out-of-market premium product.
Nationally televised Red Sox games
The landscape for streaming nationally televised MLB games is becoming more fragmented as new streaming services have begun buying the exclusive rights to small bundles of games. To learn how to stream all national TV MLB games, including Red Sox games both regular season and playoffs, view our free watch guide.