The Royals are bringing baseball back to free TV in Kansas City-at least for ten games this season. The team announced it will once again partner with Gray Media to air ten home games on KCTV5, including a marquee matchup: the home opener on March 30 against the Minnesota Twins.
That game, set for a 3:10 p.m. CT first pitch, marks the first time since 2007 that the Royals' home opener will be available on over-the-air television.
For fans who’ve been following the team’s evolving broadcast strategy, this move continues a trend that started last year, when ten games were also made available on free TV via KCTV5 and KSMO-62. This year’s slate sticks with that formula, offering Kansas City fans a chance to catch some of the action without a cable or streaming subscription.
These broadcasts won’t be watered down, either-they’ll be full simulcasts of the Royals.TV feed, complete with familiar voices Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler on the call. So whether you're watching on a smart TV, a laptop, or an old-school antenna, you're getting the same in-game insight and energy.
For fans outside the Kansas City metro, those same games will remain accessible through Royals.TV or MLB.TV, so no one’s missing out. The team’s broader broadcast plan continues to lean into its new streaming-first model, following last year’s decision to part ways with Main Street Sports, the group behind FanDuel Sports Kansas City. Now, games are available through a direct-to-consumer streaming option, with additional distribution through select cable and satellite providers expected to be announced soon.
Cullen Maxey, Royals President of Business Operations, emphasized the importance of accessibility and fan connection in the team’s media strategy. “We know that KCTV5 helped bring the personalities and talents of our exciting team to a broader audience, so we’re thrilled to continue and grow our partnership,” Maxey said in a statement. “We want to build those connections with fans, and we’re thrilled they can continue to access our games on cable, streaming, and local TV.”
In a media landscape that’s rapidly shifting toward streaming, the Royals are striking a balance-embracing digital innovation while making sure fans can still catch a game the old-fashioned way. And with the home opener back on free TV for the first time in nearly two decades, it’s clear the team is serious about reconnecting with its local fanbase.