Watching the Houston Astros used to be simple. You had cable, you had the regional sports network, you watched the game. Those days are gone, and navigating the current landscape of streaming services, blackout restrictions, and platform-exclusive broadcasts has become a sport unto itself.
Here’s your honest guide to watching the Astros this season.
Your Two Primary Options
For the vast majority of Astros games, you need access to Space City Home Network, the regional sports network owned by the Astros and the Houston Rockets. There are two reliable ways to get it.
The first is DirecTV, which carries SCHN as part of its channel lineup. If you are already a DirecTV subscriber, you are in good shape for most of the season.
The second is SCHN+, the direct-to-consumer streaming service launched by the Astros and Rockets in December 2025. SCHN+ runs $19.99 per month or $199 for a full year, a savings of about $40 if you commit upfront. It is available on most smart TVs and streaming devices, though some users have reported compatibility issues with certain platforms.
What to Avoid
This is where it gets important. If you are considering FuboTV or MLB.tv as a way to watch Astros games, save your money. Both services black out regional broadcasts for in-market fans, which means the vast majority of the Astros’ 162-game schedule will be unavailable to Houston-area viewers on either platform. It is a frustrating and counterintuitive restriction that catches a lot of fans off guard—and an expensive mistake to make.
The Cost of Going in Person
For context, here is what a night at Daikin Park runs. Tickets start as low as $37, parking can run as little as $10 if you are willing to walk about half a mile, and the Coca-Cola Ballpark Bundle, which includes your seat, a hot dog, a soda, and popcorn, runs between $29 and $66 depending on the game. Call it roughly $76 for a solo outing on the low end.
Families have good options too. Dollar Dog Tuesdays feature all-you-can-eat hot dogs, and sections 405 through 407 offer an all-you-can-eat deal for $25 per person that includes hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, and popcorn. A family of four on a Tuesday—four tickets, parking, and all-you-can-eat for everyone—could get out the door for around $258.
National Broadcasts
Even with SCHN+ or DirecTV, you will miss a handful of Astros games this season that air exclusively on national platforms. In 2026, Houston will appear on Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, ESPN, Fox/FS1, TBS, and Apple TV+. For ESPN, Fox/FS1, and TBS, YouTube TV with the sports plan is a reasonable bundled option. NBC/Peacock, Prime Video, and Apple TV+ each require separate subscriptions.
Apple TV+ deserves a special mention. The production quality of its Friday Night Baseball broadcasts is genuinely excellent, a step above the standard regional broadcast in terms of presentation. The Astros have two guaranteed Apple TV+ appearances in the first half of the season, with the first having aired March 26. More games may be added as the season progresses, so it is worth keeping an eye on the schedule.
What It’ll Cost You
If you want the option to watch every Astros game in 2026, here is a rough breakdown for a cord-cutter over six months:
SCHN+: $120 (or $199 for the full year) YouTube TV Sports Plan (ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS): $330 NBC/Peacock: $66 Prime Video: $90 Apple TV+: $78
Total: approximately $684 for the season, or about $57 per month.
That is a significant investment, and it assumes you are subscribing to everything. Most fans will pick and choose based on which national platforms they already have. If you are a DirecTV subscriber, you can subtract the SCHN+ cost entirely.
The Bottom Line
For Astros fans in Houston, the path of least resistance is DirecTV for SCHN coverage plus whatever national streaming services you already subscribe to. If you are cutting the cord, SCHN+ is your best bet for the bulk of the season. Just do not let anyone talk you into FuboTV or MLB.tv—you will be paying for games you cannot watch.
Baseball is still the best sport in the world. It just takes a little more work to find it these days.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check the Astros promotions schedule before your next game.