If you’re trying to figure out how to watch pickleball live on TV, the short answer is this: the APP Tour streams full tournaments free on YouTube, the PPA Tour’s Championship Court is free at pickleballtv.com, and major events air on ESPN, CBS, and Amazon Prime Video. For the most complete coverage, PickleballTV runs $5.99/month. This guide breaks down every option so you’re never scrambling on game day.
Free
YouTube Channels
The easiest way to watch pickleball for free is through YouTube. The APP Tour streams full tournaments — start to finish, no paywall — through the APPTV channel. Pickleball Channel also broadcasts major events like the US Open live and free, making it one of the most reliable no-cost options available.
The PPA Tour still posts highlights and delayed replays on YouTube, but live tournament coverage has mostly moved to PickleballTV. That said, you can stream the Championship Court live at pickleballtv.com with no subscription — one court, completely free.
Broadcast TV
If you already have cable or a live TV streaming service, pickleball coverage comes with it at no extra cost. ESPN, ESPN2, CBS Sports, and Tennis Channel all carry live PPA and APP Tour events throughout the season
- ESPN and ESPN2 air select PPA Tour events
- CBS Sports broadcasts APP Tour matches and major MLP Finals
- Tennis Channel carries PPA Tour coverage regularly throughout 2026
- Peacock (NBC) streams select MLP events
These networks are included in most standard cable packages, so you may already have access without realizing it.
Paid
Dedicated App
PickleballTV is the only 24/7 network built entirely around the sport. Launched in early 2025 as a joint venture between Tennis Channel and the United Pickleball Association, it serves as the central streaming home for both the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball.
Subscriptions run $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year, and a 30-day free trial is available. That price covers a lot of ground:
- Live PPA Tour and MLP matches on multiple courts
- Over 3,000 hours of archived match content
- Multi-court viewing — watch up to six courts at once
- HD streaming with DVR-style pause and rewind
- Original programming, instructionals, and lifestyle content
The app works on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and has been available on YouTube TV since October 2025.
Cable Bundles
Amazon Prime Video entered the picture through a multi-year deal with the PPA Tour, giving existing Prime subscribers access to four live PPA events per year at no additional cost. It’s worth checking the sports section in the Prime app before each event season.
YouTube TV includes PickleballTV as part of its base plan ($82.99/month) as of October 2025, so subscribers already have full pickleball coverage built in. Fubo TV is another solid option if you want Tennis Channel and other sports networks bundled together.
Tours
It helps to understand which tour lives on which platform — PPA, APP, and MLP don’t all stream from the same place, and that trips a lot of people up.
PPA Coverage
The Professional Pickleball Association is the premier singles and doubles tour, featuring the sport’s top-ranked players. PickleballTV is the primary streaming home, with select events simulcast on CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, and Amazon Prime Video.
APP Coverage
The Association of Pickleball Players streams all its tournaments free on YouTube through APPTV, making it the most accessible professional tour to follow. CBS Sports and ESPN also broadcast APP Tour matches as part of ongoing media rights agreements.
MLP Coverage
Major League Pickleball uses a team-based format that runs alongside the individual tours. MLP events air primarily on PickleballTV and CBS. The 2025 MLP Finals on CBS averaged nearly 500,000 viewers, signaling growing mainstream reach for the sport.
Schedule
The most efficient way to track what’s airing and when is pickleball.com/watch-now, which aggregates PPA and MLP schedules across platforms in one place. For the APP Tour, the APPTV YouTube channel lists all upcoming live streams directly on the channel homepage.
PickleballTV subscribers also have access to a full on-demand library, which makes it easy to catch any matches missed during a tournament week.
FAQs
Is PickleballTV really free to try?
Yes — PickleballTV offers a 30-day free trial before any charge. After that, it’s $5.99/month or $59.99/year for full access to PPA Tour and MLP content.
Does Amazon Prime Video show pickleball at no extra cost?
Yes, for some events. The PPA Tour signed a multi-year deal with Amazon giving Prime subscribers access to four live PPA events per year at no extra charge beyond a standard Prime membership.
What’s the difference between PPA, APP, and MLP?
The PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) and APP (Association of Pickleball Players) are individual player tours. MLP (Major League Pickleball) is a separate team-based format. All three run their own events and streaming arrangements.
Is there a free way to watch PPA Tour matches?
Partially. The Championship Court at PPA Tour events streams free on pickleballtv.com without a subscription. Secondary courts and earlier rounds require a paid PickleballTV account. Some PPA events also air on free cable networks like CBS Sports.
