OT: Cutting the Cord 2.0 - ESPN/Fox/Warner Launching Combined Sports Streamer

[Ryan5UW]

I'm assuming Bally's will never be on YouTube or any other streaming service since they are launching their own streaming service. The main reason I stick with cable is for Bucks/Brewers games.

If I didn't have "alternative means" for accessing the Ballys app, I'd do the same. My internet service is the last string between me and Charter, and I'm so anxious to cut it. But doesn't that stuff go by your IP address for determining what market you're in and what games you get? Or do they have a different way to determine your location?

[skones]

Bally is so damn bad. The app is clunky, streams skip and glitch regularly, no 4k support and their niche is sports. It's just absolutely ridiculous that you go from a bad Fox Sports app, to something much worse. They had 18 months to figure out the brand switch, and it all reverted back to like 2015.

I spent like 2.5 months earlier this season telling them there was an issue with their app, that I should have access, but the locality wasn't kicking in and it was keeping me on the national version where I couldn't stream our games. 13 different people insisted the issue was on my internet providers end. It wasn't. 2.5 months to get someone to, in all likelihood, check a box to re-map. Absurd.

[BradMKE]

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2022/06/20/Insiders/Sports-media.aspx?ana=mk_sbj_jo_emjo

Bally Sports+ launching in 5 markets including Milwaukee on June 23.

[MickeyDavis]

A few thoughts on Bally's streaming service.

Their current app is terrible. Really terrible. If this service uses the same platform it will sink.

I currently keep cable mostly for Bucks/Brewers games. If I could stream those I could switch to YouTube TV or something else and save some cash.

But if I can't record, pause or rewind the streaming service I'm unlikely to switch anyway.

[crkone]

Cancelled YouTube TV a couple weeks ago. I just don't watch cable TV anymore.

[MickeyDavis]

I posted this on the Packer thread too. Amazon had their first football game live broadcast last week and I checked it out. When I first went on it gave me the option to join live or to start from the beginning. Great. When I was watching live I could pause, rewind, just like I can do now on cable. Great Supposedly games are available after the broadcast is over as well. So while you can't "record" a game as you can with a DVR you can watch it later if you missed it. I was impressed. I wish it was in 4K but it wasn't.

From what I understand the Bally's app overall sucks and you can't do any of the things I mentioned above.

With more and more sports being streaming only this is good news. I've watched some Brewers games on AppleTV and YouTube and you couldn't do any of that. I did see that Apple would be adding that functionality sometime, which is good news since they will probably getting into the football business at some point.

[WeekapaugGroove]

If I wanted to buy league pass but avoid local blackouts could I just install a VPN on a Roku to prime fire stick?

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[ReasonablySober]

Related, in case you guys weren't aware, League Pass prices are being slashed.

Rejoice, NBA fans: League Pass is slated to be much cheaper this upcoming season. In a recent renewal email, League Pass announced its premium service, which enables users to view games on multiple devices free of commercials, will cost $129.99. Last season, it ran folks $280. Meanwhile, a standard subscription cost $230 in 2021-22 and has been slashed to $99.99 for the 2022-23 season, according to Sportico. A monthly subscription for the standard service will cost $15.

[MoreTrife]

Related, in case you guys weren't aware, League Pass prices are being slashed.

Rejoice, NBA fans: League Pass is slated to be much cheaper this upcoming season. In a recent renewal email, League Pass announced its premium service, which enables users to view games on multiple devices free of commercials, will cost $129.99. Last season, it ran folks $280. Meanwhile, a standard subscription cost $230 in 2021-22 and has been slashed to $99.99 for the 2022-23 season, according to Sportico. A monthly subscription for the standard service will cost $15.

Wonder what brought that about

[GrandAdmiralDan]

Related, in case you guys weren't aware, League Pass prices are being slashed.

Rejoice, NBA fans: League Pass is slated to be much cheaper this upcoming season. In a recent renewal email, League Pass announced its premium service, which enables users to view games on multiple devices free of commercials, will cost $129.99. Last season, it ran folks $280. Meanwhile, a standard subscription cost $230 in 2021-22 and has been slashed to $99.99 for the 2022-23 season, according to Sportico. A monthly subscription for the standard service will cost $15.

Wonder what brought that about

Probably because there are so many ges already on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBATV.

When I first got League Pass in 2005, there weren't nearly that many games on without it. Stopped getting League Pass a long time ago for that reason.

Starting this season, it comes included with my full season ticket holder package. I wonder which of those tiers we get...

[emunney]

For the most part, I think the NBA has done a great job pushing in the direction of more fan engagement for a while now. They probably have research indicating they'll realize a net gain or be roughly neutral but with more subscriptions, which theoretically would promote growth.

[KidA24]

Alright, so what's my best bet to sign up for to watch all the playoff games? I have an antenna for ABC games.

Is it sling? I haven't used sling before.... but it seems like I can get 2 months for $60 (first month 1/2 off) which is less than one month of Hulu or Youtube.tv.

[MickeyDavis]

Alright, so what's my best bet to sign up for to watch all the playoff games? I have an antenna for ABC games.

Is it sling? I haven't used sling before.... but it seems like I can get 2 months for $60 (first month 1/2 off) which is less than one month of Hulu or Youtube.tv.

Sling Orange gets you ESPN and TNT. There are still a handful of games on NBATV (not included in Orange) but those go away in a few days. That's probably your best short-term bet.

[MickeyDavis]

Read on Twitter

[Badgerlander]

https://tv.youtube.com/learn/nflsundayticket/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nfl_st_june_23_V2

$100 off Sunday ticket + YouTube tv

[Matches Malone]

I remember Edens and Lasry talking about something similar a few years back. Wonder if more teams will start to go solo.

Read on Twitter

[MickeyDavis]

I imagine as Diamond/Bally's misses more payments more teams will take over themselves. Padres took over recently and also did the free TV thing along with streaming. All I want is something with a great picture (would love 4K) and to be able to record and pause if watching live. And if I can't record it give me the option to start from the beginning like Prime and Apple do. Whether that's streaming or TV I don't really care. I don't know how long the Bucks contract runs but if they keep getting paid they will have to wait unless there is an out clause of some kind.

[WeekapaugGroove]

The Suns are currently in court with Bally Sports trying to get out of that deal and broadcast over the air.

From what I've read Bally was paying around $25mil per year for the rights. I'm sure every deal is different but that should give some perspective on what teams make on these regional rights deals.

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[MickeyDavis]

The Bucks and Brewers are near/at the bottom, easier for Diamond to stay current.

[WiscoKing13]

Would leave only Fubo if DirecTV pulls the plug. Also would think if DirecTV deal falls through Bally would cease operating within 90 days.

https://cordcuttersnews.com/directv-directv-stream-may-lose-bally-sports-rsns-this-year-if-a-lower-deal-cant-be-reached/

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