Footy broadcasting - What do we have?

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
I had to revisit my previous decision/post with La Liga resuming today. I'm going to give Fanatiz's free trial a shot before deciding whether I need Fubo/Sling.
 

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,673
Philadelphia
I had to revisit my previous decision/post with La Liga resuming today. I'm going to give Fanatiz's free trial a shot before deciding whether I need Fubo/Sling.
Thanks for posting this. Am I reading that Fanatiz costs $7.99 per month? If so, that's MUCH better than the $40+ that Fubo charges.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
Thanks for posting this. Am I reading that Fanatiz costs $7.99 per month? If so, that's MUCH better than the $40+ that Fubo charges.
Yup, I just signed up for their 7-day trial to see how it goes this weekend. Their website is somewhat unclear about time-shifting capabilities. Matches appear to be available VOD for 3 days after a match, but that this is not the same as DVR. That's what I'm most concerned about with Fanatiz. People say the UI and app are sucky, but when the alternatives are Sling (which has the same problems and terrible customer service) at $20/mo. (going off memory) or Fubo as a base package (really not the same service), then some wonky delayed watching is not a deal breaker IMO.
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,634
Somers, CT
What do folks think of the use of EA's FIFA crowd noise? I feel it's shockingly well done, though I'd prefer to hear the players and how they communicate.
 

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,673
Philadelphia
I had to revisit my previous decision/post with La Liga resuming today. I'm going to give Fanatiz's free trial a shot before deciding whether I need Fubo/Sling.
I tried Fanatiz this weekend and found that it worked well for live streaming matches. I don't use DVR or really care about anything else apart from live streaming, so I'm going to stick with the service for the remainder of La Liga.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
I tried Fanatiz this weekend and found that it worked well for live streaming matches. I don't use DVR or really care about anything else apart from live streaming, so I'm going to stick with the service for the remainder of La Liga.
Yep! Fanatiz is definitely a budget option that doesn't spend money where it doesn't need to (i.e. the UI is outdated and clunky). But, the livestream is fine and while VOD isn't quite as nice as DVR, I feel much better with this compared to Sling and it's less strings attached and cheaper than Fubo's Int'l package.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
Turner has opted out of its UEFA Champions League contract, effective immediately.

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/SB-Blogs/Newsletter-Media/2020/06/24.aspx
I'm inclined to celebrate because Turner has been shite, but unless one of the other majors like NBC, ESPN, or even Fox gets it back, there's no guarantee the next broadcaster will be better. I really hope NBCSN plunks down and gets it. Their EPL coverage is just outstanding, clunky Gold/PLP package notwithstanding.
 

Vinho Tinto

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 9, 2003
7,046
Auburn, MA
I'm inclined to celebrate because Turner has been shite, but unless one of the other majors like NBC, ESPN, or even Fox gets it back, there's no guarantee the next broadcaster will be better. I really hope NBCSN plunks down and gets it. Their EPL coverage is just outstanding, clunky Gold/PLP package notwithstanding.
CBS is the next broadcaster. It's just a question of who will serve as a bridge until that deal starts in 14 months. I think they should just jump on it now.
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,634
Somers, CT
The NBC Sports app is apparently dead on several platforms and nobody noticed. I wanted to try it out this weekend on my 4K Fire TV Stick and I got into an endless error loop. Apparently, I'm not alone, going all the way back to January.

My buddy is getting the same with his XBone.
 

Vinho Tinto

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 9, 2003
7,046
Auburn, MA
The NBC Sports app is apparently dead on several platforms and nobody noticed. I wanted to try it out this weekend on my 4K Fire TV Stick and I got into an endless error loop. Apparently, I'm not alone, going all the way back to January.

My buddy is getting the same with his XBone.
I've used it the last few days on Apple TV. It works, but there are glitches in the stream vs. NBCSN on Youtube.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
CBS is the next broadcaster. It's just a question of who will serve as a bridge until that deal starts in 14 months. I think they should just jump on it now.
So do we know if the matches will be on CBS and/or Fox since both are Viacom properties? I wonder about other production elements as well (i.e. is this going to be similar to Fox's presentation of Bundesliga or something different).
 

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,500
The NBC Sports app is apparently dead on several platforms and nobody noticed. I wanted to try it out this weekend on my 4K Fire TV Stick and I got into an endless error loop. Apparently, I'm not alone, going all the way back to January.

My buddy is getting the same with his XBone.
Premier League matches were never made available on the Xbone for some convoluted rights restriction.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,668
I’ll be rooting for NBC Sports just because they do a great job with the post-match extended highlights for the EPL. I’d love immediate 12-minute game recaps for UCL games.
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,634
Somers, CT
Premier League matches were never made available on the Xbone for some convoluted rights restriction.
Interesting.

Regardless, he was seeing an identical error preventing him from even opening the app, not just specific content. The app doesn't even load past an error message (identical on both platforms).
 

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,500
Interesting.

Regardless, he was seeing an identical error preventing him from even opening the app, not just specific content. The app doesn't even load past an error message (identical on both platforms).
I have it working on my phone with no issues, but I originally wanted to watch it on my laptop. I didn't realize NBC wants me to download a computer virus (Adobe Flash) in order to watch in a web browser.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
Tried watching the Barca match VOD yesterday thru Fanatiz and the service totally shat itself. I'm out on Fanatiz and in light of the YTTV rate increase, I'll figure out my subscriptions in a couple of months when the 2020-21 season is getting ready to start.
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,634
Somers, CT
I'm bailing on YouTubeTV as well due to the rate increase.

I need to figure out my next option. I'd like to have ESPN for Serie A and Formula 1.
 

Nick Kaufman

protector of human kind from spoilers
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 2, 2003
13,410
A Lost Time
Today. I realized that TNT had forfeited their rights to Champions League Football and CBS Sports now has them. In related news, for the first time in my life, I tuned to CBS sports.

first impression is great just because Drury is broadcasting the game.and based on YouTube highlights, CliveTyldesley did last nights game.

there’s just something about watching a soccer game with an English commentator.
 

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,016
Chelmsford, MA
I'm bailing on YouTubeTV as well due to the rate increase.

I need to figure out my next option. I'd like to have ESPN for Serie A and Formula 1.
I’ve been doing the same and enjoying fubo. It’s not cheaper but YTTV has really annoyed me with the price hikes. I think I can send some sort of referral code if you’re still looking and fubo makes sense
 

Marceline

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2002
6,441
Canton, MA
I’ve been doing the same and enjoying fubo. It’s not cheaper but YTTV has really annoyed me with the price hikes. I think I can send some sort of referral code if you’re still looking and fubo makes sense
I'll be doing fubo for the next 3 months (getting $20/off through an Amex offer), so if you've got a referral code I'd be glad to use if it'll get you something.
 

rguilmar

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
1,610
I'm bailing on YouTubeTV as well due to the rate increase.

I need to figure out my next option. I'd like to have ESPN for Serie A and Formula 1.
Can't you just do ESPN+? It's been $4.99 a month but I got a message saying that new accounts would be $5.99 a month. I imagine your issue is having a login to ESPN through a cable provider. Sling solves that for me. Right now I just have Sling and ESPN+, which gives me pretty much every game in the big 4 leagues.

I hadn't really gotten into Serie A until I got ESPN+ a few years back. I'm glad I did as I really enjoyed that Samp team with Torreira/Quaglierella/Duvan and Atalanta the past two seasons (maybe I just like Zapata a lot). Despite Juve's dominance, I've found it really interesting to watch.
 

Zomp

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 28, 2006
13,942
The Slums of Shaolin
So for us YouTube tv subscribers they just announced for $10.99 per month you can get red zone, goltv, and fox soccer plus.

what leagues would I be getting with gol tv and fox soccer plus?
I already have champions league (cbs stream), premier league (peacock), and serie a (espn plus).
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,634
Somers, CT
FSP is somewhat misnamed these days. They don’t have a lot of footy content, but it adds rugby and such. It does have exclusive Bundesliga rights and you’ll get some random internationals. I didn’t realize the price came down- it’s been $15 by itself for as long as I can remember.

GolTV is Portugal and some Latin/South American stuff as I recall.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
NBC is moving a lot of EPL matches off cable and onto their Peacock streaming service. And not just the 10 am Saturday matches or other matches in the same timeslot with a match on NBCSN, which they had put on the Gold package before. This weekend they have the main late Sunday morning match only on Peacock.

While Peacock has subscription tiers, It looks like the EPL is currently on the free version, but I don't know how long that will last.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
NBC is moving a lot of EPL matches off cable and onto their Peacock streaming service. And not just the 10 am Saturday matches or other matches in the same timeslot with a match on NBCSN, which they had put on the Gold package before. This weekend they have the main late Sunday morning match only on Peacock.

While Peacock has subscription tiers, It looks like the EPL is currently on the free version, but I don't know how long that will last.
Thanks for the heads up. Does the free tier allow for time-shifting (i.e. pause, rewind)?
 

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 3, 2005
15,568
California. Duh.
Thanks for the heads up. Does the free tier allow for time-shifting (i.e. pause, rewind)?
From what I've read, those features are coming, but won't be ready for the start of the season.

The bigger problem for me is not being able to access Peacock through Roku.
 

swiftaw

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2009
3,434
NBC is moving a lot of EPL matches off cable and onto their Peacock streaming service. And not just the 10 am Saturday matches or other matches in the same timeslot with a match on NBCSN, which they had put on the Gold package before. This weekend they have the main late Sunday morning match only on Peacock.

While Peacock has subscription tiers, It looks like the EPL is currently on the free version, but I don't know how long that will last.
I thought that EPL was only available on the Premium (i.e. not free) tier: https://www.peacocktv.com/premierleague
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
From what I've read, those features are coming, but won't be ready for the start of the season.

The bigger problem for me is not being able to access Peacock through Roku.
I only did it once, but I accessed a Spurs match on Peacock thru Roku IIRC. I had to do it so quickly though, that I may have used my Chromecast.
 

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 3, 2005
15,568
California. Duh.
I only did it once, but I accessed a Spurs match on Peacock thru Roku IIRC. I had to do it so quickly though, that I may have used my Chromecast.
Yeah, I think Chromecast is going to be my method, or just watch it straight on my computer.

Also, I discovered that through Comcast I get the $4.99 Peacock (Premium with ads) for free, so go here to link your Peacock account, if applicable.

https://www.peacocktv.com/xfinity
 

Warning Track Speed

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
1,547
astride the divide
Looks like they are going all-in on the Peacock. According to livesoccertv.com, which has long been reliable to help me find games, of eight EPL games Saturday and Sunday, six are on Peacock. Grrrrrrr....
 
Before my time, but noted: Soccer Made In Germany comes to ESPN+
That was definitely the first soccer I ever watched on TV - I was six or seven years old, I think, which would have been circa 1980 or 1981. (The first specific match I remember watching on TV was Italy vs. Brazil in the 1982 World Cup - I had a short spell there when I wanted to be Paolo Rossi. Am I right in thinking that Bob Ley presented that match from ESPN's studio in Bristol?)
 

Jimy Hendrix

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2002
5,846
If *all* games wind up on Peacock, then fine. The part that's irritated me is not having all games in one place, both for the double-dip of "you need to pay for the network and the app" and just not knowing which thing's on what when.
 

Pesky Pole

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2001
2,464
Phoenixville, PA
Premier League contract looks to run through 21/22 season so we'll see how far this one goes. You'd imagine that contract gets done later this year so it will be interesting if they even bid on its renewal. I'd have guess that full Peacock in the fall could be a trial balloon but they probably won't even get there unless "end of year" is "end of season".
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
If *all* games wind up on Peacock, then fine. The part that's irritated me is not having all games in one place, both for the double-dip of "you need to pay for the network and the app" and just not knowing which thing's on what when.
Agreed whole-heartedly.

I'm very curious as to the numbers behind each competition. IOW, the relative number of eyeballs in the US on UCL, EPL, Liga, Bundesliga, FA Cup, etc. I wish it wasn't relevant, but with separate rightsholders for domestic leagues and cups, these things are being sold separately. For me, it's an easy decision not to pay ESPN extra for FA Cup (or is it EFL Cup, I honestly don't know and don't care) and Copa del Rey. If I'm interested enough in the semis, I'll pay for one month. The finals are usually on the main channels (ESPN, NBC, etc.) anyway.
 

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 3, 2005
15,568
California. Duh.
If *all* games wind up on Peacock, then fine. The part that's irritated me is not having all games in one place, both for the double-dip of "you need to pay for the network and the app" and just not knowing which thing's on what when.
Yup, I'm happy to pay for 4 or 5 different streaming services if I don't have to pay for cable on top of that to see everything.
 

the1andonly3003

New Member
Jul 15, 2005
4,371
Chicago
I'm pretty happy that Peacock carries the 24/7 Premier League channel, which is much more shoulder programming that other streaming services would allow. NBC probably has figured out that they're losing out on monetizing on the fanbase they built up on EPL since 2013 in the way that CBS All Access and ESPN+ has been able to capitalize. In the end, it'll be the power of the bundle of content that each service offers to compete for customer choice. Pure play sports in ESPN+ vs entertainment+ sports of CBSAA/Peacock.
 

Nick Kaufman

protector of human kind from spoilers
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 2, 2003
13,410
A Lost Time
Can I say something? I am so disoriented with all this movement of leagues and competitions in various channels that I don't know which is where; I am more of a casual viewer who will watch a game if it's on TV, but I don't have the time to say that I am going to watch this game on that date.

Moreover, I get a headache with the idea of paying 4-5 different streaming services in order to catch all the football I want to. Conversely, I was very happy to pay for the cable service and know I am getting the EPL. La Liga, Champions League, the Bundesliga and Serie A in that package.

What all those providers have accomplished is lose me as a customer.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
The providers of these streaming channels/apps - Peacock, ESPN+, Fubo etc- are gradually taking us in the direction where almost everyone would like to go- having a la carte choice over what you pay for, rather than subscribing to tiered cable at a cost of $100-150/mo or more, when you never watch at least 3/4 of the channels (although of course it’s a different group of channels for everyone).

You still are paying for Monk and Parks and Recreation if you get Peacock for PL although the cost is far less onerous.

The short term problem is that you have to pay for these on top of cable
 

Vinho Tinto

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 9, 2003
7,046
Auburn, MA
The short term problem is that you have to pay for these on top of cable
Also, we are now at the point where home 5G wireless is a real option. You can choose who your ISP is vs having to hope DSL/Fiber is available to not give cable a monopoly in your city/town.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,203
The providers of these streaming channels/apps - Peacock, ESPN+, Fubo etc- are gradually taking us in the direction where almost everyone would like to go- having a la carte choice over what you pay for, rather than subscribing to tiered cable at a cost of $100-150/mo or more, when you never watch at least 3/4 of the channels (although of course it’s a different group of channels for everyone).

You still are paying for Monk and Parks and Recreation if you get Peacock for PL although the cost is far less onerous.

The short term problem is that you have to pay for these on top of cable
No they're not. They're gradually bringing you to an a la carte where you're paying $150-200 for less content than you had access to before and a more fragmented user experience.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,203
I am watching far less EPL and FA Cup this year due to Peacock and ESPN+, and it's quite unfortunate. Due to the nature of young kids, I'm up early and Saturday/Sunday morning soccer is/was one of my favorite things, but the inability to pause/DVR skip through stuff on top of essentially being double charged if I'm paying for Peacock and ESPN+ has kept me away from adding those services. As people in the Cord Cutting thread have found out with YouTubeTV dropping NESN, it's very difficult to find packages with everything you want.