How to watch Cincinnati Reds without cable in 2025
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The Cincinnati Reds concluded their 2024 MLB season with a 77-85 record, finishing fourth in the National League Central division. The season's end was marked by a managerial change, as David Bell was relieved of his duties after six seasons, with bench coach Freddie Benavides stepping in as interim manager for the final games.
In October 2024, the Reds appointed Terry Francona as the new manager on a three-year contract. Francona brings a wealth of experience, having previously managed the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Guardians, amassing a career record of 1,950–1,672. Notably, he led the Red Sox to two World Series titles in 2004 and 2007.
As the 2025 season approaches, fans are exploring flexible and cost-effective streaming options to follow the Reds. Several services offer access to nationally broadcasted games and in-market events, ensuring supporters can catch all the action without traditional cable subscriptions.
How to watch Cincinnati Reds without cable in 2025?
There are three ways to stream Cincinnati Reds games online. It all depends on whether you live in or outside of the Reds market:
- Live TV streaming service subscription. Many live TV streaming services, such as FuboTV, offer access to channels like FOX, FS1, and ESPN, which broadcast MLB games nationally. Plus, these services often include regional sports networks (RSNs), which allows you to watch Cincinnati Reds in-market games on the team's designated RSN, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio.
- MLB.TV. This streaming service provides access to regular-season MLB games. However, note that it only lets you stream Cincinnati Reds out-of-market games. If you live within the Reds' RSN coverage area (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina), the games will be blacked out on MLB.TV. To bypass MLB.TV blackouts, you can use a VPN service.
- FanDuel Sports Network app subscription. For the 2025 season, fans can purchase a direct-to-consumer subscription through the FanDuel Sports Network app or website, which allows streaming without local blackouts. This option is available for $19.99 per month, $105.99 for a season pass (starting March 20), or $189.99 for an annual pass.
Best streaming services to watch Cincinnati Reds games in 2025
To provide you with the best cable alternatives for MLB, we've carefully analyzed various streaming services based on the national and in-market TV channels they offer. Let's look at the top 3 streaming services to watch Cincinnati Reds games online:
1. FuboTV – best streaming service for watching the Cincinnati Reds
| TV channels for MLB: | FOX, FS1, ESPN, MLB Network |
| RSN (FanDuel Sports Network Ohio): | ✅ Yes |
| Free trial: | ✅ Yes, 5-day free trial |
| Price: | From $84.99/month + Regional Sports Fee ($12-16/month) |
FuboTV's Pro plan is the top choice for streaming Cincinnati Reds games in the 2025 MLB season.
National coverage. FuboTV lets you stream Cincinnati Reds nationally broadcasted games, with games offered on FOX and FS1. Although TBS is not included, you can get the MLB Network with the Pro plan.
Regional coverage. FuboTV offers regional coverage as well, including the Reds' regional sports network, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, which will broadcast most of the team's games this season.
| Channel | Available | Notable games |
| FOX | ✅ Yes | 2 |
| FS1 | ✅ Yes | 3 |
| TBS | ❌ No | – |
| MLB Network | ✅ Yes | – |
| RSN (FanDuel Sports Network Ohio) | ✅ Yes | Most in-market games |
FuboTV's Pro plan is available at $84.99/month plus a Regional Sports Fee of $12-16/month and comes with a 5-day free trial. The Pro plan includes over 216 channels and regional sports networks.
In addition to baseball, FuboTV also offers a host of other sports, including NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS, and more. To easily stream games on your TV, use the FuboTV app on a Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Chromecast device. FuboTV supports up to 4K resolution on certain plans and devices, and offers unlimited cloud DVR storage.
2. DirectTV Stream – extensive streaming service for Cincinnati Reds games
| TV channels for MLB: | ESPN, FOX, FS1, TBS, MLB Network |
| RSN (FanDuel Sports Network Ohio): | ✅ Yes |
| Free trial: | ✅ Yes, 5-day free trial |
| Price: | From $74.99/month (Choice package required for RSN - $79.99/month) |
DirectTV Stream is a good choice if you're looking for a streaming service with an extensive list of channels.
National coverage. DirectTV's national coverage is thorough, with games offered on FOX and FS1, as well as TBS and ESPN. The MLB Network is available in higher-tier packages.
Regional coverage. You can watch Cincinnati Reds in-market games via FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, which is included in the Choice package or higher.
| Channel | Available | Notable games |
| FOX | ✅ Yes | 2 |
| FS1 | ✅ Yes | 3 |
| TBS | ✅ Yes | – |
| MLB Network | ✅ Yes (in higher-tier packages) | – |
| RSN (FanDuel Sports Network Ohio) | ✅ Yes (needs Choice package) | Most in-market games |
Apart from sports, DirectTV Stream also offers a wide variety of entertainment options on top of unlimited DVR. You can simultaneously stream on all compatible devices on your home network and use up to three streams while on the move. Device compatibility includes Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Chromecast for easy home viewing.
DirectTV doesn't limit itself to MLB. Enjoy wide-ranging sports content, including NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, and MLS, plus majors in golf and tennis, college sports, and high-profile events like the Super Bowl, World Series, and Olympics.
DirectTV's Entertainment package starts at $74.99/month, but you'll need the Choice package at $79.99/month to get FanDuel Sports Network Ohio. All packages come with a 5-day free trial.
3. Hulu + Live TV – comprehensive streaming package for Cincinnati Reds fans
| TV channels for MLB: | ESPN, FOX, FS1, TBS, MLB Network |
| RSN (FanDuel Sports Network Ohio): | ✅ Yes |
| Free trial: | ✅ Yes, 3-day free trial |
| Price: | From $81.99/month |
Hulu + Live TV offers a robust variety of options for watching Cincinnati Reds games during the 2025 MLB season.
National coverage. Hulu + Live TV provides national coverage with games broadcasted on FOX and FS1, as well as TBS and ESPN. It also includes the MLB Network in its channel lineup.
Regional coverage. Unlike the Cubs article example, the Reds' regional sports network, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, is available on Hulu + Live TV. This means that you can watch Cincinnati Reds in-market games.
| Channel | Available | Notable games |
| FOX | ✅ Yes | 2 |
| FS1 | ✅ Yes | 3 |
| TBS | ✅ Yes | – |
| MLB Network | ✅ Yes | – |
| RSN (FanDuel Sports Network Ohio) | ✅ Yes | Most in-market games |
Hulu + Live TV offers more than just live sports programs. It features over 90 live TV channels, an extensive library of on-demand content, and bundle options that include Disney+ and ESPN+. The service also offers unlimited DVR storage with a 9-month expiration period for recorded content.
Hulu + Live TV is compatible with Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, gaming consoles, and other devices. Pricing starts at $81.99/month for Hulu + Live TV only, with bundle options including Disney+ and ESPN+ starting at $82.99/month.
How to watch Cincinnati Reds on MLB.TV
MLB.TV only shows out-of-market MLB games – games that are not available through your local regional sports networks. If you're located within the FanDuel Sports Network Ohio's coverage area, which includes portions of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, MLB.TV will not allow you to watch Cincinnati Reds in-market games. This is meant to encourage local viewers to support their regional sports networks.
However, you can use a VPN to bypass MLB.TV blackouts and stream games from anywhere.
Direct-to-consumer option via FanDuel Sports Network
For the 2025 season, fans within the Reds territory can stream games without local blackouts using the FanDuel Sports Network app. This direct-to-consumer subscription is available for:
- $19.99 per month
- $105.99 for a season pass (starting March 20)
- $189.99 for an annual pass
This provides a flexible option for dedicated Reds fans who want to watch games without subscribing to a full live TV streaming service.
MLB.TV and VPN device compatibility guide
If you're experiencing blackouts on MLB.TV for Cincinnati Reds games, using a VPN can help bypass these restrictions. However, not all devices support VPNs in the same way. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you understand your options.
MLB.TV is officially available on the following platforms:
- Streaming devices: Amazon Fire TV/Stick/Cube, Android TV, Apple TV (4th gen/4K), Chromecast, Roku
- Gaming consoles: PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S
- Smart TVs: Samsung, LG, Android TV-based models
- Set-top boxes: Xfinity X1
- Mobile devices: iOS and Android phones/tablets
- Computers: Windows PC and Mac
MLB.TV device availability and VPN compatibility
MLB.TV is available across many platforms, but VPN support varies significantly. Here's a quick reference table comparing MLB.TV compatible devices and their native VPN app support:
| Device type | MLB.TV available | Native VPN support | Best Solution if unsupported |
| iOS (iPhone/iPad) | ✅ | ✅ | - |
| Android Phones/Tablets | ✅ | ✅ | - |
| Windows/Mac Computers | ✅ | ✅ | - |
| Fire TV/Android TV | ✅ | ✅ | - |
| Apple TV 4K (tvOS 17+) | ✅ | ✅ | - |
| Apple TV (older models) | ✅ | ❌ | Smart DNS or Router |
| Roku (all models) | ✅ | ❌ | Router |
| Chromecast with Google TV | ✅ | ✅ | - |
| Standard Chromecast | ✅ | ❌ | Router |
| PlayStation 4/5 | ✅ | ❌ | Router |
| Xbox One/Series X | ✅ | ❌ | Router |
| Samsung Smart TVs | ✅ | ❌ | Smart DNS,Router, HDMI |
| LG Smart TVs | ✅ | ❌ | Smart DNS,Router, HDMI |
| Android TV-based Smart TVs | ✅ | ✅ | - |
By understanding these device limitations and workarounds, you can ensure you're able to watch every Chicago Cubs game this season, regardless of blackout restrictions.
If your device does not support VPN
If your device doesn't support VPN apps directly, consider these alternatives:
- VPN-enabled router - configure VPN on your home router (requires compatible router) Learn more about VPN routers
- Smart DNS - change DNS settings in your device's network configuration
- Device connection - use HDMI, casting, or mirroring from VPN-enabled devices, or check our guide on how to share a VPN to connect with a device that doesn’t support a VPN.
Final thoughts
Streaming services with live TV are becoming more popular than cable subscriptions, and baseball broadcasting is no exception. While there are several options for watching MLB games this season, not all of them cover all events.
To stream Cincinnati Reds games online, we recommend FuboTV for its comprehensive coverage of both national and regional games. DirectTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV are also excellent alternatives, each with their own advantages. For fans who only want to watch Reds games, the direct-to-consumer FanDuel Sports Network subscription offers the most cost-effective solution.
With these options, you can enjoy the 2025 MLB season and cheer on the Cincinnati Reds without being tied to a traditional cable subscription.
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