Bucks Media Thread (Discussion of Bucks & Sports Media)

[MickeyDavis]

I am thinking about getting rid of DirecTV. What streaming services carry Bucks and Brewers games?

Fubo is the only other one that carries Fan Duel. Otherwise you can buy Fan Duel separately for $20 a month. Either through Amazon or on its own. I have the app and access it on my TV, phone and tablet and it works great. Others access it through Amazon

[GoldenAntlers]

I am thinking about getting rid of DirecTV. What streaming services carry Bucks and Brewers games?

Fubo is the only other one that carries Fan Duel. Otherwise you can buy Fan Duel separately for $20 a month. Either through Amazon or on its own. I have the app and access it on my TV, phone and tablet and it works great. Others access it through Amazon

Fan Duel via Amazon is probably what I will do. Is it added to the same Amazon prime bill or separate?

[ReasonablySober]

I have Fan Duel through Prime but TBH's it can get a little glitchy and for some reason the quality of the broadcasts has gone to hell over the last couple weeks and I don't really know why.

That said I think it's better than watching on Fan Duel's standalone service. I would regularly have to refresh the feeds in between innings, and they limit the number of streams that can be used per account at the same time. I think it's down to two now.

[BUCKnation]

I haven't had too many issues on fanduel's app for brewers games. I couldn't stand the Bally's app, that thing was a POS and I would have constant issues with Bucks/Brewers games.

[MickeyDavis]

YMMV, the app works flawlessly for me on all 3 devices. The picture looks great on my big screen. I guess there have been a couple of times where it freezes for a few seconds but that's rare.

I'm curious what the Bucks deal is with FD, when does it expire and what are their plans. The Brewers had planned to dump FD and do their own thing and then reversed course. MLB wants to control all local broadcasts at some point.

[Siefer]

I hate FD's web app, and had a lot of problems with it on Roku, but it's been generally fine on my Apple TV.

[Ron Swanson]

Bally's was an absolute pile of garbage that would straight up not even work on web browser or mobile every other game. At least FanDuel has generally fixed the technical issues, at least for me.

[MickeyDavis]

I hate FD's web app, and had a lot of problems with it on Roku, but it's been generally fine on my Apple TV.

That's so interesting. I access it via Roku and it's great.

[Reddeye]

I was checking into Fan Duel and they have $20 a month or $190 for a year. It also says you can pause your subscription during the off season.

[ReasonablySober]

I was checking into Fan Duel and they have $20 a month or $190 for a year. It also says you can pause your subscription during the off season.

This is definitely the way to go and it's what I was considering before MLB season so I'd get the Brewers and most of the Bucks games. It was only the uncertainty regarding Fanduel/Ballys/RSN/Leagues/etc. that kept me from doing it.

[Siefer]

I hate FD's web app, and had a lot of problems with it on Roku, but it's been generally fine on my Apple TV.

That's so interesting. I access it via Roku and it's great.

Roku is an OS that gets installed on a variety of different devices (like Android, or Windows), so I'm not surprised that a particular app can be awful on one device and good on another.

[MickeyDavis]

I hate FD's web app, and had a lot of problems with it on Roku, but it's been generally fine on my Apple TV.

That's so interesting. I access it via Roku and it's great.

Roku is an OS that gets installed on a variety of different devices (like Android, or Windows), so I'm not surprised that a particular app can be awful on one device and good on another.

I'm not sure what the difference would be for you and I though, same device. I have a Roku attached to my TV and access FD through that. So do you. I've had no problems and you've had a lot of problems.

[Siefer]

That's so interesting. I access it via Roku and it's great.

Roku is an OS that gets installed on a variety of different devices (like Android, or Windows), so I'm not surprised that a particular app can be awful on one device and good on another.

I'm not sure what the difference would be for you and I though, same device. I have a Roku attached to my TV and access FD through that. So do you. I've had no problems and you've had a lot of problems.

Mine is a 5 year old TCL TV with Roku installed on it. Unless you have the same model of TV, they're different devices.

[MickeyDavis]

Roku is an OS that gets installed on a variety of different devices (like Android, or Windows), so I'm not surprised that a particular app can be awful on one device and good on another.

I'm not sure what the difference would be for you and I though, same device. I have a Roku attached to my TV and access FD through that. So do you. I've had no problems and you've had a lot of problems.

Mine is a 5 year old TCL TV with Roku installed on it. Unless you have the same model of TV, they're different devices.

Ah ok. I have a standalone 4k Roku that plugs in the back.

[raferfenix]

So when do these almost-deals start making their way to reporters? Cuban explained that it usually happens when talks expand beyond just front offices.

“When you talk to the agents or the players, yeah, because the agents have their interests. The players have their interests,” Cuban continued. “That’s when it really starts to leak out.”

That’s when you get calls from the Adrian Wojnarowskis and the Shams Charanias of the world.

“On my end, it was Shams,” added Cuban. “Shams was my guy. He would know. I would tell him, ‘I can’t give you details, but I’ll give you something else at some point in the future.’ But the flip side of it was, he would help educate me about other things happening around the league. So, we had a great relationship. He knew when not to ask, and I knew when not to ask about other teams because he wouldn’t tell me. But there was certain things he would tell me as it related to players and what their interests were.

“He was big help with us getting Kyrie [Irving], when we traded for Kyrie. And for us extending him when we extended, because he had a great relationship with Kyrie’s agent (Shetellia Riley Irving, his stepmother).”

That just goes to show how these reporter-executive relationships actually work in practice. It’s not a secret conspiracy, but rather a business built on mutual benefit.

Cuban needed information about players and their interests; Shams needed access and scoops. Both sides got what they needed, and Cuban was transparent enough to explain how it all worked. The relationship helped facilitate the Kyrie Irving trade, which worked out for everyone involved. That’s just how the NBA information economy operates. And it’s why only a select few break transactions, because you need Cuban’s relationship with Shams to get that kind of information.

https://awfulannouncing.com/nba/mark-cuban-shams-charania-kyrie-irving.html

[midranger]

Maybe this is why Shams keeps pushing his anti-Milwaukee Giannis narrative. He’s not getting enough scoops from us. Certainly, didn’t see the Dame stretch/Turner signing coming. Nor did anyone else in the “media”. Probably why they panned it so hard.

[Matches Malone]

Here's the video of the Cuban quote. Are we even surprised that Shams is compromised?

Read on Twitter

[MickeyDavis]

ESPN's direct to consumer platform debuts tomorrow. Very good article in the Athletic if you subscribe that explains everything.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6560777/2025/08/19/jimmy-pitaro-espn-streaming-app-launch-netflix/

$30 a month, it will be going up to $36 a month. They have bundling options with Disney and Hulu. It will have all content from all of the current ESPN channels and extra stuff (lots of gambling content). Stuff like NFL RedZone will be added once that deal is approved sometime next year.

If you currently have ESPN you will be able to access all of this extra content at no extra charge. The exception right now is YouTube TV, they are still negotiating with ESPN.

You can bet that ESPN, which already charges providers $15 per subscriber, will be upping that and it will be passed along to consumers.

One last thing not in this article but discussed on the Brewers board. MLB currently owns the local rights to 5 teams and starting next season those 5 teams local broadcasts will only be available at an additional charge through ESPN. So you have to have ESPN, either through an operator or the standalone service and then pay EXTRA for your local games. MLB has plans to have all teams on this platform as their deals expire with RSN.

For the Bucks and the NBA I've seen no such plans to have all teams local broadcasts under ESPN control so far. I don't know when the Bucks deal with FD expires but it's going to be real interesting to see what's next. The Suns started broadcasting games on a local channel and offering it on their own streaming service for those you can't access the local broadcast.

ETA, In the not too distant future Brewers and Bucks games will no longer be accessible via one platform. You'll have to pay for 2.

[ReasonablySober]

ESPN's direct to consumer platform debuts tomorrow. Very good article in the Athletic if you subscribe that explains everything.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6560777/2025/08/19/jimmy-pitaro-espn-streaming-app-launch-netflix/

$30 a month, it will be going up to $36 a month. They have bundling options with Disney and Hulu. It will have all content from all of the current ESPN channels and extra stuff (lots of gambling content). Stuff like NFL RedZone will be added once that deal is approved sometime next year.

If you currently have ESPN you will be able to access all of this extra content at no extra charge. The exception right now is YouTube TV, they are still negotiating with ESPN.

You can bet that ESPN, which already charges providers $15 per subscriber, will be upping that and it will be passed along to consumers.

One last thing not in this article but discussed on the Brewers board. MLB currently owns the local rights to 5 teams and starting next season those 5 teams local broadcasts will only be available at an additional charge through ESPN. So you have to have ESPN, either through an operator or the standalone service and then pay EXTRA for your local games. MLB has plans to have all teams on this platform as their deals expire with RSN.

For the Bucks and the NBA I've seen no such plans to have all teams local broadcasts under ESPN control so far. I don't know when the Bucks deal with FD expires but it's going to be real interesting to see what's next. The Suns started broadcasting games on a local channel and offering it on their own streaming service for those you can't access the local broadcast.

ETA, In the not too distant future Brewers and Bucks games will no longer be accessible via one platform. You'll have to pay for 2.

If you're a college football or NFL fan in the Huly/Disney+ ecosystem, it's probably worth picking up the ESPN Unlimited package (now or through January 5). For $30 you get the ad-supported ESPN networks, Disney+, and Hulu. For $39 you get the same services but Hulu and Disney are ad-free.

So basically buy the ESPN networks, get Disney and Hulu for free.

[MickeyDavis]

ESPN's direct to consumer platform debuts tomorrow. Very good article in the Athletic if you subscribe that explains everything.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6560777/2025/08/19/jimmy-pitaro-espn-streaming-app-launch-netflix/

$30 a month, it will be going up to $36 a month. They have bundling options with Disney and Hulu. It will have all content from all of the current ESPN channels and extra stuff (lots of gambling content). Stuff like NFL RedZone will be added once that deal is approved sometime next year.

If you currently have ESPN you will be able to access all of this extra content at no extra charge. The exception right now is YouTube TV, they are still negotiating with ESPN.

You can bet that ESPN, which already charges providers $15 per subscriber, will be upping that and it will be passed along to consumers.

One last thing not in this article but discussed on the Brewers board. MLB currently owns the local rights to 5 teams and starting next season those 5 teams local broadcasts will only be available at an additional charge through ESPN. So you have to have ESPN, either through an operator or the standalone service and then pay EXTRA for your local games. MLB has plans to have all teams on this platform as their deals expire with RSN.

For the Bucks and the NBA I've seen no such plans to have all teams local broadcasts under ESPN control so far. I don't know when the Bucks deal with FD expires but it's going to be real interesting to see what's next. The Suns started broadcasting games on a local channel and offering it on their own streaming service for those you can't access the local broadcast.

ETA, In the not too distant future Brewers and Bucks games will no longer be accessible via one platform. You'll have to pay for 2.

If you're a college football or NFL fan in the Huly/Disney+ ecosystem, it's probably worth picking up the ESPN Unlimited package (now or through January 5). For $30 you get the ad-supported ESPN networks, Disney+, and Hulu. For $39 you get the same services but Hulu and Disney are ad-free.

So basically buy the ESPN networks, get Disney and Hulu for free.

Interesting. Right now I have Hulu, Disney (both ad free) and ESPN+ for $29. This new service is supposed to replace ESPN+. Sounds like my cost is going to go up.