The Tampa Bay Rays will broadcast 10 select games for free across Florida through a new partnership with Hearst Television, beginning with their home opener at Tropicana Field on April 6. The games will air on WMOR-TV in Tampa, WESH 2 and CW 18 in Orlando, and stations in West Palm Beach and Fort Myers and Naples. This marks the first time Hearst Television is including the Fort Myers/Naples media market in a regional sports package in Florida.
“Providing Tampa Bay Rays games on free, over-the-air television gives fans a new way to connect with their team,” said John Soapes, President and General Manager of WESH 2, CW18 and WMOR. “This is certainly great news for those in the Tampa Bay area, but over the years many across the Gulf Coast and Central Florida have embraced the Rays as their own. The connection to this team runs deep across the region, and this expanded access makes it easier for fans everywhere to be a part of it.”
The free broadcast agreement comes after the Rays moved their local television distribution to Major League Baseball’s new streaming model, Rays.TV, which requires a $100 seasonal subscription or $20 monthly fee. The Rays play 162 games in the regular season, making the 10 free games a small fraction of their total schedule. The streaming service allows subscribers to view games through their cable provider or online without local blackouts.
“Since our first days of taking ownership of the club, we’ve been committed to delivering a world‑class fan experience,” said Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby. “This transition reflects that commitment. With MLB’s best‑in‑class streaming platform, Rays fans in our home market will finally be able to stream games on the MLB App without local blackouts. And just as importantly, fans who prefer the tradition of watching Rays baseball on television will continue to find our games on cable and satellite. Every decision we make is done first and foremost with our fans in mind.”
The Rays announced changes to their media agreement in early February after terminating TV rights from FanDuel Sports Network, which is facing financial troubles. The team was among several MLB clubs to move their broadcasting deals to Major League Baseball, joining the Brewers, Cardinals, Marlins, Reds and Royals. Seven other teams had already made the transition to MLB’s distribution model.
The 10 free games include matchups against major market teams like the Chicago Cubs on April 6 at 4 p.m., the Minnesota Twins on April 24 at 7 p.m., and the New York Yankees on May 24 at 1:30 p.m. Other featured games include contests against the Boston Red Sox on May 8 and July 17, both at 7 p.m., and the Miami Marlins on June 5 at 7 p.m. The schedule concludes with games against the Seattle Mariners on August 9 at 4 p.m. and the Athletics on August 12 at 3 p.m.
Fans can also access Rays games through various cable and satellite providers on specific channels. DirecTV/DTV Stream carries games on Channel 652, while Comcast/Xfinity uses Channel 1262. Spectrum Digital broadcasts on Channel 400, AT&T U-verse on Channel 1719, and Cox on Channels 78 and 96. Different Spectrum set-top box channels serve various Florida markets, including Channel 236 for Blountstown and Chattahoochee, Channel 103/1152 for the Orlando market, and Channel 179/1152 for Gainesville and Tampa markets.
The Rays’ broadcast team will remain unchanged for the upcoming season, with play-by-play broadcaster Dewayne Staats, color analyst Brian Anderson and in-game reporter Ryan Bass returning. All 162 regular-season games will be available through either local distribution or MLB’s national broadcast partners. The streaming service offers a 7-day free trial and can be accessed through the MLB app on supported devices.