Every game on the same channel? How might MLB sway Dodgers to go along?

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As a huge Dodgers fan, it looks like keeping up with every game in 2026 is going to take a lot of subscriptions! From what I understand, we’ll probably need SportsNet LA, Fox, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, *and* Apple TV just to make sure we don’t miss anything.

That is not, shall we say, fan-friendly.

Baseball fans have always dreamed of a single place to stream every game, for every team, no matter where they are. This ideal service would have a simple, affordable price and wouldn’t block local games. You wouldn’t have to worry about paying for a subscription to a service you might not use after the season is over.

Rob Manfred, the baseball commissioner, doesn’t need to convince fans, but he does need to convince the owners of all 30 teams.

Rob Manfred wants to launch a 24/7 baseball channel by 2029, so he needs to get the owners on board. He’s discussed this idea for a long time, and I recently asked him if he’s confident it will actually happen.

Before Monday’s game between the Dodgers and Phillies, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred explained that the league increasingly recognizes the need to focus more on a national audience, considering recent changes in how people consume media.

People are excited about the possibility of having all games in one central place, easily accessible nationally. We still have some things we can do to make it happen, and I’m hopeful we can achieve it.

So does Stan Kasten, the president of the Dodgers.

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We want all fans, no matter where they are, to be able to watch any game without restrictions like blackouts,” Kasten explained. “Making that happen is complicated and each team has unique challenges to address.

We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but the ultimate aim is truly worthwhile, and that’s what matters most – benefiting the fans.

Everything seems promising, but the Dodgers aren’t willing to give up their biggest strength – their financial resources – which many fans see as a major edge over other teams.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers are currently expected to compete for the National League Championship. Sports Business Journal reports that the Brewers will earn approximately $35 million this year from local television broadcasts.

The Dodgers are earning roughly ten times that amount this year from Charter Communications, which owns Spectrum, and their yearly deal with Charter will exceed $500 million by 2038. Plus, the Dodgers also have full ownership of SportsNet LA.

Manfred thinks if all 30 MLB teams combined their broadcasting rights, they could attract interest from both regular TV networks and streaming services like Apple, Peacock, Paramount, and Netflix. League officials are confident that offering one exclusive broadcast package would bring in more money overall than if each team made its own deals.

So, if all the teams shared the revenue equally, the Brewers could potentially make well over $35 million a year – that’s the idea, anyway. The Dodgers, though, would get a smaller piece of the pie, likely a *much* smaller one. It makes me wonder if the Commissioner, Manfred, would just pressure the Dodgers to agree to it, you know, for the sake of baseball?

Dodgers

The Dodgers need to finish their series against the Phillies and then win the NL Championship. However, they are expected to do both.

According to Manfred, changes shouldn’t be made simply because fans believe they’re good for the game. Instead, decisions should be based on understanding what fans are willing to spend money on, and then creating changes that balance costs and revenue.

Does staying financially stable – meaning not losing money – for teams like the Dodgers, New York teams, Red Sox, and Cubs matter, considering they’re still making a lot of money even with regional sports networks failing in many areas?

“Yeah, and there are a whole lot of ways to get there,” Manfred said.

He hasn’t fully explained his plans yet, but one thing is certain: contract negotiations will begin next year, and there’s a real possibility of a work stoppage after the 2026 season.

If team owners agree to a salary cap – and the players’ union says they will – then owners in smaller markets could be assured a fixed share of the league’s income. This financial stability, combined with the possibility of higher earnings from a new television deal with 30 teams, would likely convince those owners to support the plan.

This could be a significant issue, as team owners currently earn substantial income through revenue sharing. This system pools money from sources like ticket, food, and local media sales, and distributes it equally among all teams. However, Commissioner Manfred might allow financially strong teams like the Dodgers to keep a larger portion – or even all – of that revenue for themselves.

The league might also consider purchasing channels like SportsNet LA, which would give the Dodgers more revenue. While the Dodgers’ current owners don’t seem to want a salary cap, implementing one would lower player costs and boost team profits.

The Dodgers have a unique advantage with players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Because of their international stars, the team could negotiate for a larger share of the money earned from broadcasting games internationally, which is currently split evenly among all Major League Baseball teams.

Manfred has a lot on his plate right now. And Kasten wouldn’t say what the Dodgers are hoping for.

He explained that it’s too early to talk about specifics, but confirmed they support the overall objective. He added that achieving this goal would be positive for baseball.

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2025-10-08 14:31