The Sports-Streaming Mess Is Just Starting
There are many symbiotic relationships between streaming and soccer fans. Premier League has helped Peacock grow its subscriber base. Paramount+ spent $1.5 billion to secure matches through 2030. ESPN+ has seen success with various soccer licenses. NHL moved to Hulu in hopes of finding a younger audience for hockey. NBA League Pass saw 30 percent growth in global subscribers during the past season. Hulu’s live offering grew 10 percent year over year through Disney”s fourth quarter. YouTube TV has grown from 3 million to more than 5 million customers in two years.
Streaming services are investing in sports. The World Cup is broadcast on Fox Sports in the U.S. and on Telemundo in Spanish. Online, fans need to choose between a plethora of streaming services and multi-channel video programming distributors. Peacock is the only true cord-cutting option that costs less than $40 a month. The final match will be available to Premium subscribers.
There are three C's when it comes to streaming and sports: cost, convenience, and community. Peacock and Paramount+ have gained market share because they are cheap alternatives to broadcast and cable. Amazon made its football broadcast “free” to existing customers. YouTube TV, Sling TV and Hulu with Live TV are fantastic products, but more difficult purchases for younger or more budget-conscious households. Fragmentation is an issue that will continue to grow as rights are divided amongst different companies with different streaming platforms. The nature of community on streaming is changing too. FIFA+ will stream all 64 World Cup matches for free in Brazil.
