It would make sense for each streaming service to have a "tentpole" European League. ESPN+ - Bundesliga Paramount+ - Serie A Peacock - EPL
I guess. But it would just be another example of the splintered, fragmented new world of streaming. And so far that effect has not lead to a better or cheaper experience for the customer. p.s. I was like "Paramount+ who the hell are they?" and then I looked up that it seems to be a rebranding of CBS All Access, and then some. I guess kind of like Peacock.
If you were to get the main 4 soccer streaming services, ESPN+ ($6), Peacock ($5), Paramount+($10, $5 option coming), Fanatiz ($8), it would be about $25. People used to pay a minimum of $10 cover to see 1 closed circuit match and $15/month for Setanta Sports USA
I probably could have done the "$50 for a year" or whatever it was for Paramount Plus, but since I obviously don't know my schedule that far out AND (barring a channel dispute) since I get the games in Spanish, it was probably an easy decision to save the money. But if I decide to spend the $5 later on, I figure they'll have the bugs worked out. I just can't wait until Comcast dumps their share of Hulu and Disney+ hopefully ends up with Star. I've heard it could happen this year, but probably won't until 2024. At least my Disney+ is paid up until late 2023.
OK, but the Comparisons you cite Are really circa late 1990’s not circa 2010’s. Still, I will admit that maybe at the moment aggregated streaming costs (for both sports & general content) could be lower than a full blown cable package, But I am pretty sure it’s not gonna end up that way. We are already seeing signs of dramatic price hikes in this nascent industry, e.g. Netflix. That said, my main point in all of the posts I've made is nothing to do with costs. It has all to do with functionality, reliability, quality, ease of use, UI, etc, etc.
I'm all for Paramount getting Serie A, as like Peacock (and Sling) but unlike ESPN, they remember where you left off in a replay across different devices and usually have it under a "continue watching" tab.
What people want: Pay for what they want such as broadcast, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, but not for ESPNU, Disney Channel or FS2. Honestly, I'm not sure this will ever happen. The contracts between channel owners and providers won't allow it. Channel owners want to use their big channels (ESPN) to push out their niche channels (Disney XD). If it were possible for them to sell channels direct to consumer, I'm sure they'd be doing already. We've also seen channels like Fox Soccer Plus (in some cases), HBO and Showtime charge out the schnoz. It was the same with Fox Soccer Plus. They can't charge all subscribers the fees, so they charge some of the subscribers...the same amount of fees they need to carry that programming. Instead, we get things like the ESPN app and Discovery Plus that have exclusive shows and archives of prior shows. Sometimes, the ESPN app will have alternate angles, but that's obviously not every game. For a lot of their live programming, you need a TV subscription. What the channel owners are doing is considering their streaming services to be additional programming that doesn't "fit" on their linear channels. I suppose I sort of win out because I have multiple uses for Peacock and the ESPN app. When it comes to USMNT away games, it seems like most of them will be on TUDN or Univision. I guess I'm turning the music up for those games.
I don't think ESPN gonna miss the Serie A if they lose it to P+. I mean ESPN has a lot of properties and only so much time of the day to show them on regular cable TV, the streaming is key, the die-hard Eurosnob soccer fans just need to realize that soccer most of the time on American tv on the English speaking end isn't very profitable and streaming makes the best since.
i don't know if you guys have a problem with this but i do so i watched bvb bayern game and every time goal happened taylor tweelman was basicly writing a book how haaland or whom ever got to play he did what defender did wrong why he choose that angle and what goalie did worng and then i switched to juve lazio now lazio scores there no analyzing how he did it he scored and moved on why do they have american comentators for euro leagues this is not nfl where i need hear life story of a player for 45 seconds down time play moved move on too
I'd rather listen to Arlo and Co. than anyone else who peaked in MLS. American commentators should stick to MLS unless they agree to not make a caricature whenever watching Ronaldo or in the more recent example, Bayern/BVB. I'm not saying the Queen's English is required for commentary, but give footy the respect it deserves. Otherwise more people will resort to watching Telemundo on mute while listening to TalkSport like the recent WC.
ESPN picked up the (non-exclusive) NHL rights on a seven year deal (in other news) (they get four Stanley Cup FInals, no word on who they're teaming with)
The smart money may say NBC is out, unless: NBC takes Sunday and select playoff games, as they have been. NHL on Peacock? Now when would ESPN have time for NHL on ESPN or ESPN2? Sundays and Mondays seem the most likely. Fridays?
I wouldn't think Fox or CBS would take it... (neither really have the infrastructure built up for it), which kinda leaves NBC/Peacock/USA as a default. (remember, the other 3 stanley cup finals will be on whoever the other partner is)
The big news out of the ESPN-NHL deal is that nhl.tv, the out of market streaming package, will be rolled into ESPN+. This will save me the $100+ I've been paying for nhl.tv, so good news.
I've read that as they're doing it like how they've done with UFC. If you subscribe to ESPN+, you have the option of adding NHL out-of-market games for an additional fee. Yes, some games will be included with ESPN+, but only a handful. The rest of the NHL deal isn't much different than it was with NBC. Maybe they pick up a few more TVs being on ESPN, but I can't imagine the difference between ESPN and NBCSN is that many...maybe some hotel rooms, if that still matters, but with people having logins and laptops/streaming devices, I'd imagine the days of tuning into a hotel room TV are rapidly fading. The last time I was on the road, it was at an Airbnb and I took my streaming stick. I usually have a laptop or tablet with me that I can watch when the TV doesn't suffice. The last time I was in a hotel, it was just for one night. I'd still prefer to watch on a TV, but can do the tablet in a pinch or if it's something like ESPN+. Still, I'd imagine the days of figuring out the channel lineup for a TV in another city are almost over. I can't imagine anyone watches hotel PPV anymore.
Yeah, Paramount and ESPN are good deals. Not so sure about Peacock because you don't exactly know what you're paying for ahead of time. "Random EPL matches" is the only way to describe their content.
Looks like it's almost official with Serie A going to CBS https://worldsoccertalk.com/2021/03...rie-a-for-next-3-seasons-according-to-report/ I'm not paying for another streaming service, and I'm not dumping ESPN+, so I guess I'll follow Serie A on scores only.
That's a principled position on holding the line on how many fragmented streaming subscriptions you're willing to do. And I can totally relate... so far I've avoided a CBS subscription and have watched my team's Europa matches in Spanish on Unimas. But it's sad that you'd be prevented from watching (legally anyway) Serie A play. And I have a sneaking suspicion that this new delivery model will wear people like us down sooner or later, and we'll end up paying the piper.
It's a little easier on the wallet (IMO) to take one of the long-term offers. I've done that a few times and I always put a note on my phone's calendar to remind myself to cancel. I probably wouldn't have gone into Disney+ if I couldn't get three years for the price of two. The Verizon deal (extra year for switching to unlimited data) was a nice bonus. It certainly helps that there's other stuff I watch on Peacock and ESPN+. In terms of soccer, if you follow teams or players from all over the world, ouch. It's really at the point where if you're not a casual fan or a fan of 1-2 teams, good luck. I'll watch an EPL game if it's on, but I don't live and die with any team.