Are you a die-hard fan of the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants, or just a baseball aficionado eager to watch one of the most exciting rivalries in the National League West? The question of where to watch Padres vs. San Francisco Giants games is a common one, and with the ever-evolving landscape of sports broadcasting, the answer can be complex. From regional sports networks to national broadcasts, streaming services, and even free options, navigating the various platforms can feel like a game in itself.
The Modern Challenge of Watching MLB: An Introduction to Broadcast Rights
Before we dive into the specifics, it’s crucial to understand why finding a game can be tricky. Major League Baseball’s broadcasting model is a multi-faceted system built around a mix of local and national rights. Each team has a regional sports network (RSN) that broadcasts the vast majority of their games. For the Padres, that’s Padres.TV (or its previous RSN affiliation), and for the Giants, it’s NBC Sports Bay Area and the new GIANTS.TV streaming service.
These local broadcasts are subject to “blackout rules” for fans who live outside the team’s designated market. This system, while financially beneficial for the league and teams, often frustrates fans trying to watch their favorite clubs from a different city or state.
In addition to local RSNs, a select number of games are broadcast nationally on networks like FOX, ESPN, FS1, TBS, and streaming-only services like Apple TV+ and Peacock. When a game is picked up for a national broadcast, it is typically blacked out on the local RSN in that market, further adding to the complexity.
In-Market Viewing: The Best Options for Local Fans
If you live in the San Diego Padres’ or San Francisco Giants’ designated broadcast territory, your primary viewing options are tied to the teams’ respective regional broadcast partners.
San Diego Padres In-Market Broadcasts (2025)
For Padres fans residing in the team’s home territory (which includes parts of California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Hawaii), the primary broadcast partner for the 2025 season is Padres.TV. This is a new development aimed at directly addressing fan frustration with blackouts and providing a more streamlined viewing experience.
Padres.TV: This is the flagship streaming service for in-market Padres fans. For a monthly or yearly subscription fee, you can stream all live Padres games that are not subject to national blackouts. According to recent reports, a Padres.TV subscription is available for around $19.99 per month or a full season price of $99.99. This service is a game-changer for local fans, as it essentially lifts the traditional blackouts that previously made it difficult to watch with services like MLB.TV.
Cable and Satellite Providers: For those who prefer a traditional TV experience, Padres games are still available through major cable and satellite providers within the home territory. You can find Padres games on channels like DirecTV (channel 694-3), AT&T U-Verse, Cox, and Spectrum. It’s important to check your specific provider’s channel lineup, but these are the mainstays.
Over-the-Air Broadcasts: As a trend for the 2025 season, the Padres are also making a number of their games available on local over-the-air channels. For instance, reports indicate that 10 regular-season Saturday games will be simulcast for free on CBS 8 (KFMB) and the CW in the San Diego area. This is a great, free option for local fans.
San Francisco Giants In-Market Broadcasts (2025)
Similarly, Giants fans in the Bay Area and the broader Giants’ home territory have dedicated local options.
NBC Sports Bay Area & GIANTS.TV: The primary home for Giants broadcasts remains NBC Sports Bay Area. This RSN can be accessed through a variety of cable, satellite, and live TV streaming services (see below). Additionally, for the 2025 season, the Giants have launched GIANTS.TV, a new in-market streaming option in partnership with NBC Sports Bay Area. GIANTS.TV offers live games, along with pre- and post-game shows, without the traditional blackouts, making it a very appealing option for local fans who have cut the cord.
Live TV Streaming Services: A number of popular streaming services carry NBC Sports Bay Area. These are an excellent alternative to traditional cable. Your options include:
Hulu + Live TV: A comprehensive package that includes NBC Sports Bay Area in many regions.
YouTube TV: Known for its extensive channel lineup and excellent DVR, YouTube TV also carries NBC Sports Bay Area.
Fubo: A top-tier choice for sports fans, Fubo has a robust lineup of RSNs, including NBC Sports Bay Area, in relevant markets.
DIRECTV STREAM: This service is often praised for its RSN coverage and is a solid choice for local sports.
Peacock: As a new development for the 2025 season, Peacock has partnered with NBC Sports Bay Area to make in-market Giants games available. This is another key streaming option, allowing fans to add NBC Sports Bay Area to their Peacock subscription to stream live games.
Out-of-Market Viewing: The Solution for Non-Local Fans
If you’re a Padres fan living in San Francisco (or anywhere outside the Padres’ territory) or a Giants fan living in San Diego (or outside the Giants’ territory), your best bet is a subscription to a service that specializes in out-of-market games.
MLB.TV: The Gold Standard for Out-of-Market Baseball
MLB.TV is the most comprehensive and popular choice for baseball fans who want to watch games outside of their home market. It is the official streaming service of Major League Baseball and offers a variety of packages.
MLB.TV Yearly Subscription: This package gives you access to every out-of-market regular season game, live and on-demand. This is the perfect option for fans who follow a team from a different city.
MLB.TV Single Team: If you only want to follow one specific team, this more affordable package gives you all their out-of-market games. This is ideal for a Padres fan in Seattle, for example, who wants to see every game but doesn’t care about other teams.
Blackout Rules and Recent Trends (2025)
It is critical to remember that MLB.TV is subject to blackout restrictions. While it’s perfect for watching out-of-market games, it will not allow you to watch your local team’s games. For example, if you live in San Diego, you will be blacked out from watching the Padres on MLB.TV, even if the game is being played on the road. The new in-market streaming services like Padres.TV and GIANTS.TV are a direct response to this frustration, offering a way for local fans to cut the cord without losing access. However, these services do not help fans who are trying to watch the opposing team from their own market.
For the 2025 Padres vs. Giants series, a Padres fan in San Francisco could watch the game on MLB.TV (as the Padres are the “out-of-market” team for them), but a Giants fan in the same city would need to use NBC Sports Bay Area or GIANTS.TV.
National Broadcasts: The Big Stage
Throughout the 2025 season, some Padres vs. Giants matchups will be featured on national TV. These games are a great way to watch for free (with a digital antenna) or as part of a standard cable package.
FOX and FS1: The FOX family of networks holds a major national broadcasting contract with MLB. Games on FOX are typically on Saturdays and are often the “Game of the Week,” while FS1 broadcasts a variety of regular-season matchups.
ESPN and TBS: ESPN features games on Sunday nights, and TBS broadcasts games on Tuesday nights. If the Padres and Giants are scheduled for one of these exclusive slots, you can watch on these networks.
Apple TV+ and Peacock: The trend of streaming-exclusive national broadcasts continues in 2025. Apple TV+ has exclusive rights to “Friday Night Baseball” games, and Peacock broadcasts games on Sunday mornings. It’s very possible that a Padres-Giants game will be featured on one of these platforms, requiring a subscription to watch.
A key point to remember: when a game is on a national broadcast, it is typically blacked out on both teams’ local RSNs and on MLB.TV. This is why it’s so important to check the day’s broadcast schedule.
Other Ways to Watch: Practical Tips and Examples
Beyond the major broadcast deals, there are a few other ways to catch the action.
Listen on the Radio: If you can’t watch, listening is a fantastic alternative. Both teams have strong radio broadcast partners.
San Diego Padres: The English radio flagship station is 97.3 The Fan. Spanish broadcasts are available on XEMO-AM La Poderosa 860.
San Francisco Giants: KNBR 680 AM & 104.5 FM is the English-language flagship station. Spanish broadcasts are available on KSFN 1510 AM & KXZM 93.7 FM.
Example: You’re driving home from work in San Francisco and the Giants are playing the Padres. You can tune into KNBR 680 AM to listen to the home broadcast, or you can use the MLB At Bat app (with a subscription) to listen to the Padres’ broadcast.
MLB At Bat App: This is a must-have for any baseball fan. While the video component is subject to the same blackout rules as MLB.TV, the audio broadcast is always available for all games, even those that are blacked out on video. A subscription is required for live game audio.
Sports Bars and Restaurants: For the social experience, a local sports bar with MLB Extra Innings can be a great way to watch. They often have access to all out-of-market games and are a lively environment for a big game.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Find the Game Right Now
Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s a simple, step-by-step process to follow on game day to find where to watch Padres vs. San Francisco Giants:
Check the Official Schedule: Go to the official MLB.com schedule page. Find the Padres vs. Giants game and look for the broadcast information. This is the most reliable source for which network is carrying the game.
Identify the Broadcast Type:
Is it a national broadcast? Look for networks like FOX, ESPN, FS1, TBS, Apple TV+, or Peacock. If so, go to that channel or streaming service to watch.
Is it a local broadcast? Look for SDPA (Padres.TV/local RSN) or NBCS-BA (NBC Sports Bay Area/GIANTS.TV).
Determine Your Location:
Are you in the Padres or Giants’ home market? Use your cable, satellite, or local streaming service (Padres.TV/GIANTS.TV) to watch the game on the local RSN.
Are you outside of both teams’ home markets? If the game is not on a national broadcast, your best option is an MLB.TV subscription.
Consider Free Options: If you’re a local fan, check if the game is being simulcast on a local over-the-air channel like CBS 8 or the CW.
Still can’t watch? Turn on the radio. Tune into the teams’ flagship radio stations or use the MLB At Bat app to listen to the live audio broadcast.
FAQs
Can I watch Padres vs. Giants games for free?
Yes, but with limitations. If you live in a specific market (e.g., San Diego), some games may be simulcast on local over-the-air channels (like CBS 8) as part of a new 2025 broadcast trend. Nationally televised games on FOX can also be watched for free with a digital antenna. Beyond these, free trials for streaming services like Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV can be used to watch a limited number of games.
What are the blackout rules for Padres and Giants games in 2025?
Blackout rules for the 2025 season are primarily about protecting a team’s in-market rights. If you live in the Padres’ or Giants’ designated broadcast territory, MLB.TV will not show you that team’s games. Conversely, if a game is a national exclusive broadcast (on FOX, ESPN, Apple TV+, etc.), it will be blacked out on both the local RSNs and MLB.TV.
Is MLB.TV worth it for a fan of a single team?
Yes, absolutely. For fans who live outside their favorite team’s broadcast territory, MLB.TV is the most reliable way to watch every game. The “Single Team” package is a more affordable alternative to the full “All Teams” package, making it a great value for dedicated fans.
What is the new GIANTS.TV and Padres.TV, and how does it work?
GIANTS.TV and Padres.TV are new direct-to-consumer streaming services launched for the 2025 season. They are designed to allow in-market fans to watch their local team’s games without a traditional cable subscription, effectively lifting the blackout rules that previously applied to services like MLB.TV for local broadcasts.
Can I watch Padres vs. Giants games on YouTube TV or Hulu?
Yes, but it depends on your location. Both YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV carry national channels like FOX, FS1, and ESPN. More importantly, in the Bay Area and San Diego-area markets, they carry the respective RSNs (NBC Sports Bay Area and Padres.TV-affiliated networks). If you’re in the right market and the game is on the local RSN, you can watch it live on one of these services.
Final Thoughts
The rivalry between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants is one of the most compelling in baseball, defined by high-stakes divisional clashes and electrifying moments. The 2025 season presents more options than ever for fans to tune in, but it also requires a bit of homework to navigate the broadcasting landscape.
By understanding the difference between in-market and out-of-market options, leveraging streaming services, and knowing when to look for national broadcasts, you can ensure you’re always ready for game time.
Whether you’re cheering for the Friars from the Petco Park stands or rooting for the Giants from your couch, the information in this guide will help you connect with the action. So, pull up your favorite chair, grab a snack, and get ready to watch one of baseball’s most exciting rivalries unfold, pitch by pitch, all season long.
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