Saving on ‘cord cutting’ to watch sports is over. The price of streaming is outrageous

You may have cut the cord, but the “steal” that was your couch to watch all of your favorite games is increasingly becoming less of a deal, and now looks like a gouge that you don’t know how to eliminate.

The cost of watching a “big game” in person has always been, and always will be, pricey. The “end around” has been TV. Sports is doing a nice job of cutting that cord now, too.

The 2024 NFL and NCAA football seasons begins this later this month, followed by the NBA, NHL as MLB rolls to its October finale.

If you are committed, which all of the data suggests you are, and you want access to all of these games on your TV, smart phone or other tablet device, this is going to cost you. Cost you a lot more than you realize. All of the major networks have embraced streaming, and whatever your cable bill used to be has likely been doubled or tripled by “bundling” all of these deals to save you $4.99 from a 149 percent markup.

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and you want to be able to watch “all of the games” through your internet connection, this is what you are potentially contemplating. Start with a monthly fixed cost of $30 for a WiFi signal to your device, and go from there.

NFL

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told a select group of invited reporters before the Super Bowl in Las Vegas that the reason the league is putting select games on streaming-exclusive platforms is because, he said, “We have to fish where the fish are and we have a lot of consumers that are on those platforms. And the Peacock (playoff game between the Chiefs and Dolphins) game showed that.”

The NFL through its broadcast partners, helped build a pond that is now a Great Lake where you must pay more “to fish.” The reason the NFL is “streaming” crazy is because rights holders, such as NBC and Amazon, will overpay to broadcast a game knowing it will drive subscriptions.

The plan works so well that this season that some NFL games will be carried on Netflix, Amazon, Peacock and ESPN +. (Note all prices listed here are monthly, and do not include taxes).

Amazon Prime: $14.99

Netflix: $15.49

Peacock: $7.99

ESPN +: $10.99

Or, NFL Sunday Ticket: $379 (only available through YouTubeTV).

NCAA Football

The expansion of the Big 10 and the SEC, and the dismantling of the Pac-12, has again changed your viewing needs on fall Saturdays. This consolidation of “power teams” means more “big on big” games, which is the value of college football.

To watch all of the major college football games will require a viewer to have NBC, CBS, ABC/ESPN, Fox Sports, and ... its legion of other offspring networks. That includes the SEC Network, the Big 10 Network, the ACC Network and the Big 12’s myriad of network partners for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 games.

If this labyrinth of spending hasn’t convinced you to throw away your TV in favor of a library card, the best alternative for streamers is via an “app.” YouTubeTV, Spectrum, and a few others are the most popular options. Those selections will cover most, not all, of your needs.

YouTubeTV: $72.99

Spectrum: $79.99 (approximate; to access the Spectrum app you must be a Spectrum internet subscriber)

FuboTV: $115

Hulu TV: $76.99

Dallas Stars/NHL

Earlier this summer, the Stars ended its contract with Bally Sports one year early in favor of a “free” app.

Viewers/fans will need to download the “VICTORY +” app to their device to watch Dallas Stars games. The Stars are the first major North American sports franchise to embrace this route, and nearly every other team will watch this situation closely.

Texas Rangers & MLB

The Rangers’ TV situation remains where it’s been for the last few years: Not ideal.

According to the Texas Rangers, “Bally Sports Southwest is available in the Rangers home television territory on DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, and the Bally SportsApp.

“Rangers games are only available to stream on the Bally Sports app by logging in with your existing TV provider. The Bally Sports+ streaming service does not carry Texas Rangers games. If you signed up for Bally Sports+ hoping to watch Rangers games, your subscription can be canceled at help.ballysports.com.”

Got all that?

Dallas Mavericks & NBA

After the 2024-’25 season, the NBA will end its 40-year partnership with Turner Sports. The league recently announced an 11-year agreement with Disney (ABC/ESPN), Amazon Prime and NBC. What does this mean for you? After the upcoming season, the NBA’s slate of “national” games will stream on Amazon Prime, and NBC’s Peacock.

If you are the cord-cutting Mavericks fan, and you want to watch the team’s regular-season games, your best option is likely the Spectrum app. Bally Sports is a part of the Spectrum package, at least for now.

FC Dallas & MLS

Fox and Fox Sports 1 carry select MLS matches, both available through standard packages via Spectrum, etc. Currently the only way to watch all of the FC Dallas matches is through the MLS’ exclusive partnership with Apple TV. The network carries all of the MLS matches.

Apple TV subscription: $9.99

Apple TV MLS season subscription: $49.99

The future of sports on TV

For those who want to just “have their sports,” and consolidate all of these channels, that ambition hit a block; this week, a federal judge ruled in favor of FuboTV against “Venue Sports,” a potential startup channel started by ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery.

A channel like that is likely coming, but for the time being a judge ruled it is violation of anti trust laws.

Much like a “wall phone,” expect the “box” on your TV to go away in the next few years. You will have a myriad options how to watch sports, but the “deal” of the game on your TV has been cut.