Latest news with #SNLA
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
ESPN Could Create Downward Pressure For Sports Streaming Prices
ESPN's forthcoming streaming service will cost $29.99 – which is both a high price for a sports-only service, but also a relative bargain compared to the larger landscape of its competitors in the sports streaming space. For instance, the Gotham Sports App, which combines YES and MSG+, also costs $29.99 per month with an annual subscription ($41 per month if you opt for a monthly plan) but doesn't include games that appear on New York's third regional sports network, SNY (which costs another $139.99 annually). Marquee Sports Network's app costs $19.99 per month for audiences to watch live Chicago Cubs games, and get coverage around other Chicago teams. But it doesn't include live games for the Blackhawks, Bulls or White Sox, which all appear on the CHSN app (another $29.99 per month if you want to watch all three teams and $19.99 if you only want one). In Los Angeles, the Dodgers' newer SNLA+ app costs $199.99 for the year (averages out to $16.67 monthly), but doesn't include any of the other local teams, who have their own streamers with their own pricing included. And notably, for all of these apps, you have to be in the coverage areas for these services in order to subscribe at all. Otherwise, out-of-market audiences are subscribing via ESPN+ or MLB/NBA/NHL-specific services, which all come with their respective own costs in a similar range. At this point, it's easy to ask: How can these prices stay where they are, when the largest provider of live sporting events (ESPN) is offering its network as a standalone service for the same price (and even less, when you figure in the $36.99 ad-supported Disney bundle price)? Simply put, they can't. Despite the market's shift toward every-game viewing for audiences' favorite teams – those fans also need access to national games. And many of those national games appear on ESPN's family of networks. So a fan of the Cubs and Bulls is paying $70 per month just to watch those two teams and only national games that appear on ESPN. Fan of the Bears, too? Well, they'll need access to Fox and CBS for afternoon NFL games, plus NBC for Sunday Night Football, and potentially Amazon Prime Video for Thursday Night Football as well. If that consumer also has interests outside of sports, they may have Netflix or another streamer, and suddenly, the entertainment bill is climbing well over $120 per month. This is not the first time that a la carte streaming's escalating costs have come under scrutiny, and those concerns will continue. But ESPN's app may be the one that actually spurs pricing and/or behavioral change. For consumers without a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) – Comcast Xfinity, DirecTV, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, etc. – subscription, the soaring prices of a la carte streaming could send them back to 'cable' bundles. For these sports streaming services, the consumer math may be a wake-up call on pricing. DirecTV and other carriers have RSN add-ons for as little as $14.99 per month, and that price usually includes ALL of the local RSNs. ESPN's value at $29.99 per month is worth a debate (even if the Disney bundle price is a steal as long as you use Disney+ and Hulu) when weighing it against larger entertainment streamers like Peacock and Paramount+. But when comparing what consumers receive for that price versus what they get through any of the standalone sports streamers, it's clearly night and day. The economics of those RSNs launching and supporting streaming services may have necessitated $20-30 per month price points given how much NBA, NHL and MLB clubs have relied on payouts from those networks. ESPN's existence at the same price level stands in stark contrast, though, and is almost certain to drive down those rates as budget-conscious cord-cutters start assessing value. Will the RSNs be able to sustain price decreases? Perhaps not. They're going to be forced to figure it out, though, within months of ESPN's streaming launch.
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Dodgers Manager Hints at Roster Move After Brutal Loss to Cubs
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Dodgers were on the wrong end of a wild game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night, losing 11-10 in 10 innings. The Cubs hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, down to their last out. They then won the game on the first pitch of the bottom of the 10th inning. More news: Blockbuster Trade Ideas for Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs to Fix Biggest Weaknesses After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted at the team potentially making a roster move ahead of Wednesday's second and final game of the series. "There might be a pending move for some length potentially," Roberts said to reporters after Tuesday night's game. "But I'm gonna talk to the pitching guys here shortly and figure out where we're at." Roberts on the plan for tomorrow's game: "There might be a pending move for some length." Don't forget to catch all the action on SNLA+ at no extra cost for Spectrum customers with both Internet and Mobile services. 🔗: — SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) April 23, 2025 The Dodgers were planning on utilizing a bullpen game on Wednesday, with an off-day on Thursday. The Dodgers also had a day off on Monday, giving them extra rest this week. However, the Dodgers were forced to use seven pitchers on Tuesday night after starter Dustin May struggled through five innings. The Dodgers used most of their high-leverage arms on Tuesday, meaning Wednesday would likely have to be pieced together with the likes of right-handers Evan Phillips, Ben Casparius, and Noah Davis, and left-hander Jack Dreyer. Thus, the Dodgers could look to Triple-A to get some length for Wednesday's game — and they have a few options. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 6: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers stands with infielders after making a pitching change in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens... PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 6: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers stands with infielders after making a pitching change in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 6, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MoreThe Dodgers could elect to reinstate right-hander Tony Gonsolin from the injured list. The Dodgers wanted him to make at least one more start in Triple-A, and he was scheduled to pitch on Wednesday. However, the team could instead use him at the Major League level, where he could try to give them up to five innings. The Dodgers could also recall right-hander Matt Sauer, who has a 1.54 ERA across 11.2 innings at Triple-A this season. He last pitched on April 18 in Triple-A — throwing 3.2 innings — so he would be able to give the team some length. More news: Dodgers Not Best in West, Braves in Trouble, and the Biggest Surprises of the 2025 MLB Season Thus Far The Dodgers are not yet able to recall any of Justin Wrobleski, Landon Knack, or Bobby Miller as they were sent down within the last 15 days, unless the team is placing someone on the injured list. The Dodgers and Cubs play at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on Wednesday night, so a roster move would be announced before then. For more MLB news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spectrum is finally offering a streaming-only subscription for Dodgers
For the first time this season, Dodgers fans can stream SportsNet LA without needing to buy something else they might not want. Spectrum is offering a streaming-only subscription to the Dodgers' television channel for $29.99 per month or $199.99 per year, the company is expected to announce Monday. The service will be in place when the Dodgers open their season Tuesday in Japan (3 a.m. PDT). The streaming service will be called SNLA+ and will be offered in partnership with Major League Baseball, which will provide the technology and carry the service on and the MLB app. SNLA+ subscriptions are only available in the Dodgers' local television market. The streaming subscription includes live and archived games; pregame, postgame, postseason and offseason coverage; and additional programs such as 'Backstage Dodgers,' although SportsNet LA cut back on such programming last year. Read more: 'Paint Japan blue': How the Dodgers' vision of Japanese prominence became reality For years, Charter Communications — the parent company of Spectrum — had resisted streaming. Charter had long considered exclusivity as the key to minimizing its losses in the record $8.35-billion local broadcasting contract with the Dodgers, inherited in its 2016 takeover of Time Warner Cable. So, if you wanted to watch the Dodgers, the only way to do so was to buy a Spectrum television bundle that included SportsNet LA. However, as cable and satellite audiences shrink and streaming audiences expand, Charter opted to pursue incremental income. In 2024, Charter provided SportsNet LA streaming for fans that bought broadband and cellphone service from Spectrum. That option remains for this season, and Charter plans to evaluate all its SportsNet LA options after the season. Fans also continue to get free streaming with any Spectrum television bundle that includes SportsNet LA. The $29.99 monthly price ranks at the high end for streaming subscriptions among MLB teams. NESN offers a $29.99 monthly subscription; the channel carries the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins. YES offers a $24.99 monthly subscription; the channel carries the New York Yankees and New Jersey Nets. FanDuel Sports West, formerly Bally Sports West, offers the Angels and Kings for a $19.99 monthly rate. Sports Net LA carries only the Dodgers. MLB runs streams for three of the Dodgers' National League West rivals — the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies — and offers each at $19.99 per month. Read more: Dodgers' Mookie Betts ruled out of Tokyo Series vs. Cubs because of stomach virus According to the league, 23 of its 30 teams have announced streaming subscriptions this season. Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes to package the streaming rights of as many teams as possible and sell them to a high bidder in 2028. The pitch to fans: Watch your team wherever you are, with none of the blackouts designed to protect cable and satellite providers. In theory, that would generate increased national broadcast revenue that teams could split equally. In reality, Manfred would have to persuade the owners of marquee teams such as the Dodgers and Yankees to assign their streaming rights to the league for what might be less money than they make now, perhaps by providing unrelated financial incentives or opportunities. The Dodgers did not assign their streaming rights to MLB as part of the SNLA+ deal, according to a person briefed on the deal but not authorized to comment publicly. Read more: 'Paint Japan blue': How the Dodgers' vision of Japanese prominence became reality Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
