ABEMA Review (2026): Free MLB, Grand Sumo, Bundesliga & Sports Plans in Japan
Compare ABEMA monthly plans, live sports channels, regional blackout rules, and supported devices.
ABEMA Review: Verdict, Cost & Sports Coverage
WhereSports Editorial Desk • Audited October 2026
The Verdict
Our Verdict: ABEMA is Japan's most versatile free-to-start sports and live TV streaming platform, offering free live MLB games featuring Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers, all six annual Grand Sumo tournaments, weekly German Bundesliga matches, and combat sports without even requiring an account login. Upgrading to ABEMA Premium (¥680 to ¥1,180/mo) unlocks Premium-only MLB fixtures, live start-over playback, and full match replays, while standalone add-ons like ABEMA de DAZN, ABEMA de J SPORTS, and ABEMA de WOWSPO let fans watch J.League, Champions League, F1, and NPB baseball inside the same app.
Best For
- Fans following live games across Baseball All-Star Games, BWF World Tour, DDT Pro, NJPW.
- Viewers watching live coverage in our Boxing, Pro Wrestling, Baseball TV schedule hubs.
- Baseball fans in Japan following Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the Los Angeles Dodgers across 324+ live MLB broadcasts
- Sumo and combat sports fans watching all 6 annual Grand Sumo (Honbasho) tournaments, RISE Kickboxing, K-1, Krush, and Pro-Wrestling NOAH for free
- Football supporters watching weekly free German Bundesliga matches featuring Japanese players, or adding ABEMA de DAZN and WOWSPO for J.League, La Liga, Serie A, and UEFA Champions League
- Viewers who love watching live sports with ABEMA's real-time fan comment feed alongside smooth 1080p 60fps video
- Cord-cutters who want 25+ free 24/7 live channels covering news, anime, shogi, and M-League mahjong with zero registration
Pricing Reality
ABEMA revised its subscription pricing in April 2026 and separates its core entertainment tiers from optional standalone sports packs and PPV events:
- ABEMA Basic (¥0/mo): 100% free with no account sign-up required. Includes 25+ live channels, all 6 Grand Sumo tournaments, selected free MLB and Bundesliga games, combat sports, shogi, and M-League mahjong.
- ABEMA Premium with Ads (¥680/mo) & Ad-Free ABEMA Premium (¥1,180/mo): Unlocks Premium-exclusive MLB live games, full missed-match replays, live start-over ('Oikake Playback' on the ¥1,180 tier), and 2 simultaneous streams.
- Standalone Sports Add-On Packs (No ABEMA Premium Required): You can subscribe directly to ABEMA de DAZN (¥4,200/mo or ¥32,000/yr for J.League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, F1), ABEMA de J SPORTS (¥2,840/mo for NPB Carp/Dragons/BayStars, Rugby League One, Super GT), or ABEMA de WOWSPO (¥1,980/mo for UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Tennis).
- ABEMA PPV & Premier League Note: Marquee combat cards (such as RIZIN or world title boxing/kickboxing superfights) require separate ABEMA PPV tickets, and English Premier League matches now stream exclusively on U-NEXT in Japan.
Devices & Account Features
- Supported Devices: Available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV / Chromecast, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV.
- Simultaneous Streams: Up to 2 concurrent streams per account (depending on tier).
- Cloud DVR & Replays: VOD Replays.
- Subscription Model: Direct digital sign-up with online account cancellation.
In-Depth Platform Analysis & Coverage
ABEMA (formerly AbemaTV) is a Japanese live television and on-demand streaming service operated as a joint venture between CyberAgent and TV Asahi. Unlike traditional subscription platforms that lock everything behind a paywall, ABEMA runs more than 25 always-on live channels that anyone in Japan can open and watch immediately for free without creating an account.
For sports fans, ABEMA's free and Premium tiers cover a massive slate of domestic and international action in crisp 1080p Full HD at 60 frames per second (60fps). During the baseball season, ABEMA broadcasts 324+ regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) games with Japanese commentary, centering on the Los Angeles Dodgers and Japanese stars across the league (split between free broadcasts and ABEMA Premium exclusives). In European football, ABEMA streams selected German Bundesliga fixtures every matchweek featuring Japanese internationals, while Grand Sumo fans get complete live coverage of all six 15-day Honbasho tournaments from the earliest lower-division bouts through the top Makuuchi division. Combat sports and mind sports are also cornerstones of the platform, including RISE Kickboxing, K-1, Krush, Shooto, Pro-Wrestling NOAH, DDT, Super Formula, professional Shogi title matches, and M-League professional mahjong.
In addition to its own rights, ABEMA acts as a unified sports hub through three standalone partner plans that do not require an ABEMA Premium subscription: ABEMA de DAZN (¥4,200/mo), ABEMA de J SPORTS (¥2,840/mo), and ABEMA de WOWSPO (¥1,980/mo), allowing fans to watch J.League, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Formula 1, NPB baseball, and Japan Rugby League One using ABEMA's signature interface and live comment bar.
What We Like (Pros)
- Generous ¥0/mo free tier with instant access to live MLB, Grand Sumo, Bundesliga, and combat sports without signing up
- Smooth 1080p 60fps video playback across Smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire TV, Nintendo Switch, and mobile apps
- Optional ABEMA de DAZN, J SPORTS, and WOWSPO plans consolidate European football, J.League, F1, and rugby in one app
- Full-match replays and live start-over ('Oikake Playback') available on the ¥1,180/mo Ad-Free Premium tier
- Dedicated multi-angle and commentary options on major MLB, Sumo, and Shogi broadcasts
What to Consider (Cons)
- April 2026 price increase raised Premium with Ads to ¥680/mo and Ad-Free Premium to ¥1,180/mo (with the 14-day free trial discontinued)
- English Premier League is no longer on ABEMA in Japan (requires U-NEXT Soccer Pack)
- Major MMA and boxing superfights require separate Pay-Per-View (ABEMA PPV) tickets
- Strictly geo-blocked outside Japan for almost all live sports channels
Subscription Packages & Pricing
Instant free access to 25+ live channels, all 6 Grand Sumo tournaments, selected live MLB and Bundesliga games, combat sports, shogi, and mahjong with no login required.
- 25+ continuous live channels including Sports, Sumo, Martial Arts & News
- Free live MLB games (selected fixtures) & weekly German Bundesliga matches
- Complete live coverage of all 6 annual Grand Sumo tournaments
- 1080p 60fps live sports streaming on 1 screen
Updated April 2026 entry-level paid tier unlocking Premium-only live MLB broadcasts and full missed-match replays with limited commercial breaks.
- Unlocks ABEMA Premium-exclusive live MLB games & sports specials
- Full on-demand catch-up replays of missed games and shows
- Includes limited commercial breaks during on-demand playback
- Stream on up to 2 devices simultaneously
Full-featured subscription removing on-demand video ads and adding live start-over ('Oikake Playback'), offline mobile downloads, and PPV ticket discounts.
- All Premium-exclusive MLB games + zero ads on on-demand replays
- Live Start-Over ('Oikake Playback') to rewind live games to the start
- Offline mobile downloads & discounts on select ABEMA PPV events
- Stream on up to 2 devices simultaneously
Add WOWSPO (¥1,980/mo), J SPORTS (¥2,840/mo), or DAZN (¥4,200/mo or ¥32,000/yr) directly inside ABEMA without needing an ABEMA Premium plan.
- ABEMA de DAZN (¥4,200/mo): J.League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga & F1
- ABEMA de J SPORTS (¥2,840/mo): NPB (Carp/Dragons/BayStars), Rugby & Super GT
- ABEMA de WOWSPO (¥1,980/mo): UEFA Champions League, Europa League & Tennis
- Watch in 1080p 60fps with ABEMA's live comment feed and catch-up replays
What Leagues & Sports Can You Watch on ABEMA?
Official broadcasting rights and live competition schedules carried by ABEMA.
Recently Aired Matches on ABEMA
Recent sports matches and tournament games previously broadcasted across ABEMA channels.
Live TV Channels & Station Lineup
Official television networks and sports broadcast feeds carried by ABEMA.
Where ABEMA is Available
Select your regional sports TV hub to browse local channels and schedules.
Supported Devices & Streaming Apps
Native applications and verified hardware compatibility for ABEMA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ABEMA Premium cost in 2026?
Following ABEMA's April 1, 2026 price update, ABEMA offers three core tiers: ABEMA Basic is completely free (¥0/mo), ABEMA Premium with Ads costs ¥680/mo (tax included), and Ad-Free ABEMA Premium costs ¥1,180/mo (tax included). You can also subscribe to standalone sports packages like ABEMA de WOWSPO (¥1,980/mo), ABEMA de J SPORTS (¥2,840/mo), and ABEMA de DAZN (¥4,200/mo).
What sports can I watch for free on ABEMA without paying?
On the free ABEMA Basic tier, you can watch all six annual Grand Sumo (Honbasho) tournaments live from start to finish, selected weekly MLB games featuring Japanese stars like Shohei Ohtani, selected weekly German Bundesliga matches, RISE and K-1 kickboxing events, Pro-Wrestling NOAH/DDT cards, Super Formula, Shogi title matches, and M-League mahjong.
What is the difference between ABEMA Premium with Ads (¥680) and Ad-Free Premium (¥1,180)?
Both paid tiers unlock Premium-only live MLB games and full missed-program catch-up replays on up to 2 simultaneous devices. However, only the ¥1,180/mo Ad-Free ABEMA Premium tier removes on-demand video ads, unlocks 'Oikake Playback' (restarting a live broadcast from the beginning while it is still airing), enables offline mobile downloads, and offers member discounts on select PPV events.
Can I watch the English Premier League or UEFA Champions League on ABEMA?
The English Premier League now streams exclusively on U-NEXT in Japan and is no longer carried on ABEMA. However, you can watch the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League inside ABEMA by adding the ABEMA de WOWSPO plan (¥1,980/mo), and watch La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, J.League, and all Bundesliga matches by adding ABEMA de DAZN (¥4,200/mo).
Does ABEMA require an account or credit card to watch free live sports?
No. You can open the ABEMA app or website and immediately watch any free live channel, free MLB game, or Grand Sumo tournament without creating an account or entering payment details.