Can you get the MLB Playoffs with an antenna?

I get it. Some of you have already moved on to football. But, for me and many others, it’s still time for baseball. We’re rounding the corner into the postseason, coming close to the 162 regular-season games we see every year.

Playoff berths are getting close to being set, which is great news I suppose unless you’re a Detroit Tigers fan like our Solid Signal family is. Oh well, local baseball is great no matter what, right? The only question left is how you can watch the playoffs.

Sadly, over-the-air isn’t an option this year.

The playoffs are being split between MLB network, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and TBS. While these are available in satellite-delivered and streaming form, unfortunately the one place you won’t see any playoff action is your local TV channel. Those days, my friends, are behind us.

MLB has led the sporting world in embracing pay TV. Starting in the 80s and 90s with channels like NESN and YES, regional sports networks have taken over broadcasting local games. If you have nothing but a TV antenna you know that in most cities that’s not going to be enough for baseball. You’ll need a regional sports networks, and if you’re a long-suffering Dodgers fan even that might not be enough. Sadly that team’s station, Spectrum Sportsnet LA, still isn’t available on the nation’s top three pay-TV providers.

At least there’s no blackout rule in the playoffs.

Unlike the regular season, you’ll find there’s no blackout rule in the playoffs. MLB embraces the blackout rule. That means in the regular season you’ll usually only see home games if the stadium isn’t full. That goes out the window, happily, with the playoffs. You’ll be able to watch every playoff game, as long as you have pay TV or streaming.

The world series is still on broadcast TV.

You’ll still be able to watch the World Series on Fox. The company has an exclusive on the fall classic until 2021. If your local TV market has a Fox affiliate, and most do, an antenna is all you’ll need in order to get the best quality broadcast of the World Series this year.

Here’s the playoff schedule (as far as we know so far.)

Thanks to SportsMediaWatch for compiling this playoff schedule.

Wild Card round

Tuesday, October 1

Wednesday, October 2

Division Series

Thursday, October 3

Friday, October 4

Saturday, October 5

Sunday, October 6

Monday, October 7

Monday, October 7

Wednesday, October 9

Thursday, October 10

League Championship Series

Friday, October 11

Saturday, October 12

Sunday, October 13

Monday, October 14

Tuesday, October 15

Wednesday, October 16

Thursday, October 17

Friday, October 18

Saturday, October 19

Sunday, October 20