All articles tagged with #live sports
Netflix has acquired exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2030 FIFA World Cup in Spain and Andorra, covering all 104 matches. The deal includes provisions for free-to-air coverage of key games and marks a major expansion of the streamer's live sports portfolio.
Netflix has acquired exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2030 FIFA World Cup in Spain and Andorra, securing all 104 matches of the tournament. The deal, which remains financially undisclosed, marks a significant expansion of Netflix’s live sports portfolio and includes a provision for one free-to-air match per day in Spain. This agreement follows Netflix’s recent acquisitions of U.S. and Canadian rights for the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups and builds on existing collaborations with FIFA, including the documentary series 'Captains of the World' and the video game 'FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition.' The 2030 tournament, a centenary edition co-hosted by Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, will feature additional commemorative matches in South America, with the final scheduled for July 21.
Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria clarified the company's live sports strategy, emphasizing that it targets 'unmissable' cultural moments rather than broad league packages. Netflix is airing five NFL games in the 2026-27 season, including a historic regular-season match in Australia, and has expressed interest in bidding for the 2030 and 2034 Men's World Cup. Bajaria also indicated openness to ingesting content from other streamers, such as NBCUniversal, while maintaining a focus on long-form film and TV content.
ESPN Unlimited is now available on YouTube TV, expanding access to ESPN networks and thousands of live events after a Google-Disney deal; YouTube TV adds ESPN-focused navigation and a station picker, plus ESPN Fantasy Football integration, with coverage including U.S. Open tennis, NCAA football, PGA Tour golf, WWE events, LaLiga, NHL, and the ESPN 30 for 30 library, plus DVR, scores, stats and multiview. ESPN Unlimited pricing rises from $29.99 to $31.99/month starting Sept. 17, with other plan price hikes as well.
Starting in early 2027, YouTube Premium in the US will include Peacock Premium at no extra cost, expanding NBCUniversal’s partnership; some live events will stream on the NBC Sports YouTube channel, and Peacock Premium Plus remains upgradeable. YouTube Premium pricing has risen recently, and Peacock Premium can be added via Primetime Channels this summer, with more bundles planned for other markets.
NBCUniversal’s Peacock will be included in a new YouTube Premium bundle in the U.S. starting in early 2027, expanding Peacock’s reach to YouTube Premium subscribers while YouTube Premium’s core price stays the same. Peacock Premium (ads) and Peacock Premium Plus will be available as add-ons via YouTube Primetime Channels, NBCU will extend NBCU’s distribution on YouTube TV, and select NBC Sports events will stream on YouTube as part of the expanded deal and ad-tech collaboration, with Comcast planning to spin off NBCUniversal mid‑2027.
The 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring starts July 26 at 9 a.m. ET with Norris on pole and Leclerc second; in the U.S. the race streams exclusively on Apple TV (with a seven-day free trial) and can also be watched via Prime Video for the same price, giving subscribers access to the full F1 season and extras like Race in 30.
The 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone starts July 5 at 10 a.m. ET and streams exclusively on Apple TV in the U.S.; Apple TV subscribers get access to the full Formula 1 season at no extra cost, with a seven-day free trial and an ad-free plan for $12.99/month, and you can also subscribe via Prime Video for the same price. The race is 52 laps over 190.263 miles on a 3.66-mile, 18-corner circuit, featuring drivers like Hamilton and Norris among the entrants.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says Prime Video is growing, profitable, and still early, driven by a strong slate of original films and series, live sports rights (NFL Thursday Night Football, NBA, Masters, NASCAR), and partnerships with providers like HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Apple TV+, and Fox, fueling customer signups and engagement.
The CW just announced two streaming partnerships: a deal with ESPN to stream CW sports—including ACC, Pac-12 and Mountain West college games, WWE NXT, and NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series—on the ESPN app for subscribers to ESPN Unlimited (launching in summer) with no extra price tag beyond the bundle, and a Roku Channel pact to air CW’s entertainment programming the day after its network air, starting in fall, plus about 800 hours of CW library content—expanding the network’s reach by pairing live sports with broad, free-to-access streaming on Roku.
YouTube TV announced a fully customizable multiview feature that lets subscribers pick which channels to display and where, including add-ons like NFL Sunday Ticket. The update removes earlier layout limits and signals a stronger push into sports-focused viewing, with ESPN Unlimited content expected to be accessible within YouTube TV once launched.
Netflix reportedly paid about $50 million over three years to stream MLB’s opening-night game and related events, signaling a bold push into live sports. The exclusive deal promises a glossy, event-like broadcast but risks excluding non-subscribers and draws criticism over an overstuffed format and the price of access for fans.
YouTube TV is rolling out a temporary $20-per-month discount for select current subscribers, lasting 2–4 months to boost retention through spring and summer. Eligibility depends on factors like tenure, usage, and prior promos, and not all users will qualify. To claim, use a computer and navigate Profile > Settings > Your Plan > Manage on the YouTube TV site; eligible members will see an available offer. The promotion aims to reduce post-football churn amid seasonal viewing patterns and a competitive live-TV market, potentially signaling future dynamic pricing strategies in streaming.
Apple TV+ unveiled a sprawling 2026 lineup, including Imperfect Women, Outcome, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, a Cape Fear adaptation, and shows like Lucky, The Dink, Mayday, and Way of the Warrior Kid, plus new seasons of Criminal Records and For All Mankind and a Formula 1 live-sports deal—a bid to broaden its audience that also raises questions about maintaining quality across many projects.
A CNET reviewer watches a Lakers–Bucks game via Apple’s Vision Pro and finds the experience impressive in video quality and 3D immersion but lacking essential interactivity, multi-screen stats, and flexible viewing options; two years into Vision Pro’s life, the package remains expensive and not yet transformative enough to surpass traditional viewing for devoted fans.