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How to Watch the Cincinnati Reds Live Without Cable in 2023

Written by John O'Connor

Last updated on

New for 2023, Reds fans can now live stream games on Bally Sports Ohio with Bally Sports+ and fuboTV in addition to DIRECTV STREAM “Choice.”

How to watch the Reds live without cable
Table of Contents
  1. The most important channels for Reds fans
  2. For local Cinci fans
  3. If you don’t live in Ohio
  4. When the Reds are on national TV
  5. More MLB Teams

MLB fans in southern Ohio can live stream Reds baseball on a range of devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TVs, mobile phones, and Samsung Smart TV. There is only one live TV streaming provider that carries Bally Sports Ohio with unlimited DVR; DIRECTV STREAM “Choice.”

DIRECTV STREAM – Choice

For in-market Reds fans. Carries Bally Sports Ohio, plus WKRC-TV, CBS local 12 for Bengals games.

$99.99 / month

5 Day Free Trial

MLB.TV

For out-of-market Reds fans (all 8 of you).

$24.99 / month

Sign Up for MLB.TV

The most important channels for Reds fans

For local fans, most Reds regular season games will be carried on Bally Sports Ohio. When the Reds are on national TV, ESPN, FS1, FOX, MLB Network, or TBS will have the game.

MLB fans also need to be aware of the new trend in baseball, the exclusive live stream broadcast. Both Apple and Peacock own the rights to broadcast about 18 platform exclusive games each season, and when the Reds are featured, Bally Sports Ohio will be blacked out.

DIRECTV STREAM – ChoiceFuboTV Sports LiteFuboHulu + Live TVOrange & Blue Sports ExtraYouTube TV
ESPN ESPN
ESPN2 ESPN2
FOX FOX
FS1 FS1
MLB Network MLB Network
Bally Sports Ohio Bally Sports Ohio
TBS TBS

For local Cinci fans

If you can order a Skyline Chili, you can stream the Reds on Bally Sports Ohio. Unfortunately, due to contract disputes with Sinclair Broadcasting, there is only one option: DirecTV Stream “Choice.”

DirecTV Stream “Choice” carries Bally Sports Ohio, and as an added bonus, Cincinnati fans can also stream Bengals NFL games on WKRC-TV, CBS local 12 in Cinci.

Bally Sports Ohio is the sister network to Bally Sports Great Lakes, which broadcasts Guardians baseball.

In addition to the Reds, Bally Sports Ohio will get Cincinnati sports fans Cavs basketball and Blue Jackets hockey.


If you don’t live in Ohio

MLB.TV – watch every game

Remember, most MLB regular season games are broadcast regionally. As such, outside of Northern Kentucky, and Southern Ohio, Bally Sports Ohio Reds coverage won’t be available. If you moved away from home and want to still watch the Reds, MLB.TV is the play.

MLB.TV is the premium out-of-market option for MLB fans. With MLB.TV fans can circumvent the regional broadcast rules and watch any game they like, including Reds games. If you want to follow just one team all summer, the rate drops to a one time annual fee of $109.99.


ESPN+ – occasional coverage

ESPN+ carries one out-of-market MLB game per day during the regular season. While adding ESPN+ won’t allow you to follow the Reds all season, you will get a diverse lineup of teams, and may get treated to a Reds game once in a blue moon.

Read our ESPN+ review.


When the Reds are on national TV

When the Reds take the big stage, like ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, Bally Sports Ohio will be blacked out. Here is how to watch the Reds on a national broadcast.

More MLB Teams

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