Streaming's High-Cost Patchwork Rewriting Live Sports

Streaming has fractured live sports rights into a patchwork of platforms and prices, as MLB and other leagues divvy games across Apple TV, Amazon, Netflix, Roku and more, with blackouts and channel churn for fans. An all-in Yankees viewing could run about $800 across 10 networks; across the industry, exclusivity deals shift between traditional broadcasters and tech platforms, while MLB aims to centralize local rights by 2028 and the NFL remains the richest prize but increasingly sells boutique bundles. The result is higher costs and more ads, aided by data-driven, AI-targeted advertising and the rise of shoppable streaming, pushing toward cheaper, personalized, ad-supported models even as audiences seek simpler, more digestible viewing.