Watching the NFL This Season? You’ll Need at Least 5 Streaming Services

[mike_usagisan]

Keep this in mind too

New Sunday network assignments shift 49 games between CBS and Fox

Last year, the NFL tore down the traditional formula that sent daytime games to CBS or Fox.

www.nbcsports.com

I used to subscribe to Paramount+ specifically because I knew I'd get the Pats on CBS almost every week. But the NFL has messed that all up now.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

Tell me more about this one, please. This is what I currently get NFL+ for.

Am I allowed? I'll post it but just don't want to break a rule.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Am I allowed? I'll post it but just don't want to break a rule.

I think it's ok. I've said Justin.tv on here back when that used to be a thing. Now everyone goes to the Reddit streams, right?

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

I think it's ok. I've said Justin.tv on here back when that used to be a thing. Now everyone goes to the Reddit streams, right?

Here ya go! Enjoy: https://nfl-video.com/

Remember to use a good ad blocker. In the Navigation menu on the left, you can choose the 2023 season. If you want 2022, just change the URL from https://nfl-video.com/2023 to https://nfl-video.com/2022. For a game, I usually just choose the first video they list, sometimes you have to go to an alternate, but rarely. There's also the condensed game video further down the page.

Addendum: I do want to stress that you need to use a good ad blocker. I use AdGuard. It is much more comprehensive and effective than browser ad blockers, and very reasonably priced, especially if you go for it on Black Friday. It has a lifetime license option, which I took. Great deal. I never see ads on nfl-video.com. I'm not trying to sell it (otherwise I'd give you an affiliate link), but I do want everyone to know what I am using to achieve an amazing, ad-free experience.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Here ya go! Enjoy: https://nfl-video.com/

Remember to use a good ad blocker. In the Navigation menu on the left, you can choose the 2023 season. If you want 2022, just change the URL from https://nfl-video.com/2023 to https://nfl-video.com/2022. For a game, I usually just choose the first video they list, sometimes you have to go to an alternate, but rarely. There's also the condensed game video further down the page.

Thanks. I'll give it a try during the season.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

Thanks. I'll give it a try during the season.

I'd watch a few over the next few days to see if the experience is acceptable you. And, you're welcome!

 

[mike_usagisan]

I'd watch a few over the next few days to see if the experience is acceptable you. And, you're welcome!

Well, I've been doing the NFL+ (and GameRewind before that) for a while, so I like the condensed games. I just have always hated having to go to NFL.com to watch them because it was almost impossible to not stumble over spoilers before I even started the game.

 

[patfanken]

The older among us will remember way back when people predicted the NFL would become a pay per view event. To which the NFL proudly announced to everyone who would listen 'NEVER '

Well slowly but surely that's the direction we're going to. But the NFLs HYPOCRACY on 'player safety, greed and uneven playing field, the only game I watch in full are the Pat's. I get my fill of. the rest of the league in all the follow up shows.

I agree with those who have espoused that it is getting harder and harder to watch the product the NFL is producing and when I have to Pay for it, I will stop.

For full disclosure, I do have Prime, but I got that mostly for the priority shipping and the free audio book I get each month.. Plus the content is pretty good as well.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

If the NFL was smart and wanted to get ahead of the curve, they'd start selling season passes for favorite teams. Find some median pricepoint that'll make what you want to make, that way you don't punish fans whose teams are good or reward fans whose teams are bad. Let's say, for sake of discussion, that that price is 100 bucks. That 100 bucks would let you watch any Patriots game throughout the whole season. Preseason, regular season, post season.

I don't know the full logistics, but I think that's where it almost HAS to go eventually.

 

[mgteich]

If you want to watch every NFL game this upcoming season, it'll cost you nearly a thousand dollars and require five different streaming services and apps. So much for cutting the cord; now it's a requirement. Watching the NFL This Season? You’ll Need at Least 5 Streaming Services

Okay guys, I try to block all the money out of my mind and just focus on football and enjoy it. But they are sure are making it difficult. Is there a point where we finally just say, forget it? I usually watch at a sports bar anyway, since I'm out of town. And we don't need to watch every game. BUT, the greed just really makes it so unpleasant, I'm thinking about just packing it in. How do y'all feel about this?

Obviously, those making the calculations failed arithmetic in grade school. But, I do have a couple of comments. First, this is ALMOST irrelevant to me. I use NFL plus and subscribe to all the streaming networks showing games.

COMMENTS
1) Are you one of the very few who watch TV on rabbit ears? Almost everyone pays something for games. It is a matter of how many and at what cost.
2) I would note most Americans subscribe to Netflix (60%). Most have Amazon Prime subscription (also about 60% but I have seen higher numbers).
3) I would note that less than half the country now has cable service.

BOTTOM LINE
I suppose there is something to be said for arguing for the 15% who watch their TV through rabbit ears. The rest of us make choices with regard to how to watch sports events and other TV.

I suppose that would be interesting to see how much folks are willing to pay pay for all the NFL games live. OH, we already have that choice in Sunday Ticket.

SO
I don't understand the issue that folks have with fans having many options. Should they just cancel all streaming and force us to back to cable or rabbit ears? Of course not.

NFL has a product to sell. The streaming networks will bid for the rights to show one or more of the games.

We all make different choices. We have different constraints. For many, money make all the difference. For others watching live makes all the difference. Some insist on great reliable picture quality. For others, the key is being able to watch games with lots of analytic tools. If your interest is having everything "free", you can come close by using an antenna and a VPN.

 

[mgteich]

If the NFL was smart and wanted to get ahead of the curve, they'd start selling season passes for favorite teams. Find some median pricepoint that'll make what you want to make, that way you don't punish fans whose teams are good or reward fans whose teams are bad. Let's say, for sake of discussion, that that price is 100 bucks. That 100 bucks would let you watch any Patriots game throughout the whole season. Preseason, regular season, post season.

I don't know the full logistics, but I think that's where it almost HAS to go eventually.

The NFL IS SMART and understands the market.

They understand that it is not direct payments from fans that drive their business. What matters for the big money is what bidders are willing to pay.

Free TV is an illusion, or at very least those folks are a non-issue with regard to revenue.. Almost everyone has cable or streaming.
==========
Perhaps we believe that the NFL should provide a free channel to fans to secure their loyalty. I presume that you all laughed. The NFL is wholly dependent on those who pay them to show the games.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

I discontinued basic cable and subscribed to a few popular streaming services a few months ago.
Now I receive ads for all of the streaming services daily on FaceBook.
The threads there are pure gold. A lot of people want a lot of service for free.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Obviously, those making the calculations failed arithmetic in grade school. But, I do have a couple of comments. First, this is ALMOST irrelevant to me. I use NFL plus and subscribe to all the streaming networks showing games.

COMMENTS
1) Are you one of the very few who watch TV on rabbit ears? Almost everyone pays something for games. It is a matter of how many and at what cost.
2) I would note most Americans subscribe to Netflix (60%). Most have Amazon Prime subscription (also about 60% but I have seen higher numbers).
3) I would note that less than half the country now has cable service.

BOTTOM LINE
I suppose there is something to be said for arguing for the 15% who watch their TV through rabbit ears. The rest of us make choices with regard to how to watch sports events and other TV.

I suppose that would be interesting to see how much folks are willing to pay pay for all the NFL games live. OH, we already have that choice in Sunday Ticket.

SO
I don't understand the issue that folks have with fans having many options. Should they just cancel all streaming and force us to back to cable or rabbit ears? Of course not.

NFL has a product to sell. The streaming networks will bid for the rights to show one or more of the games.

We all make different choices. We have different constraints. For many, money make all the difference. For others watching live makes all the difference. Some insist on great reliable picture quality. For others, the key is being able to watch games with lots of analytic tools. If your interest is having everything "free", you can come close by using an antenna and a VPN.

I forwarded your contact info to Roger Goodell .... he'll be in touch about doing a commercial. It's not about the money per se, it's the greediness that is offputting. It's cool that it doesn't bother you.

 

[Bill Lee]

Understood. I've been sailing the high seas as a man of fortune for years now. I am computer savvy and know how to protect myself (although the sites I am using are not honeypots), but it's not for everyone. I decided I was tired of being exploited. These media companies are really all one big company, and this strategy is by design. If Blackrock, Vanguard, and State Street (who own significant stakes in each other and all media companies) are going to shrink the middle class, make housing and groceries unaffordable, strip us of political power, and make meat expensive so we have to eat bugs, I feel justified in hoisting the Jolly Roger.

It's not that we can't feed the poor, it's because we can't satisfy the rich.

 

[Bill Lee]

I agree with those who have espoused that it is getting harder and harder to watch the product the NFL is producing and when I have to Pay for it, I will stop.

I do my best to tune out the off-field stuff when watching a game. To me the biggest problem is that the product itself is just laden with sooo many ads. Every time the play stops we get another ad read, so it seems, not to mention the artificial stoppages in play they use to make room for more ads. Compare/contrast to a sport with few ads such as F1 racing.

The reason why there are so many ads is that everyone involved is just so greedy, from the Commissioner on down, players too. They are enshittifying their product, thinking that no matter what they do people will keep watching, yet when push comes to shove people can and do find other things to do with their time.

This is symptomatic of our current era. Executive assholes are so proud of how much value they extract and pay themselves huge rewards for doing so, till the whole thing is such an awful product no one wants it any more and the whole thing collapses. No one gives a **** about the long term health of the game, they are all cashing in right now and the future is someone else's problem. Basically the NFL is the next Boeing.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

I do my best to tune out the off-field stuff when watching a game. To me the biggest problem is that the product itself is just laden with sooo many ads. Every time the play stops we get another ad read, so it seems, not to mention the artificial stoppages in play they use to make room for more ads. Compare/contrast to a sport with few ads such as F1 racing.

The reason why there are so many ads is that everyone involved is just so greedy, from the Commissioner on down, players too. They are enshittifying their product, thinking that no matter what they do people will keep watching, yet when push comes to shove people can and do find other things to do with their time.

This is symptomatic of our current era. Executive assholes are so proud of how much value they extract and pay themselves huge rewards for doing so, till the whole thing is such an awful product no one wants it any more and the whole thing collapses. No one gives a **** about the long term health of the game, they are all cashing in right now and the future is someone else's problem. Basically the NFL is the next Boeing.

Agreed, but I think we can and do block it out and have some fun with it anyway. At least we're aware we're being played

 

[Bill Lee]

If the NFL was smart and wanted to get ahead of the curve, they'd start selling season passes for favorite teams. Find some median pricepoint that'll make what you want to make, that way you don't punish fans whose teams are good or reward fans whose teams are bad. Let's say, for sake of discussion, that that price is 100 bucks. That 100 bucks would let you watch any Patriots game throughout the whole season. Preseason, regular season, post season.

I don't know the full logistics, but I think that's where it almost HAS to go eventually.

That's counter to most company's strategies. You are now paying for stuff you don't want (the rest of the games) to get stuff you do want (Patriots games). Doing this raises the value of all the games, and hides the fact that really only a third of games or less are of interest in a given week. Time will tell if the value of the good games can continue to prop up the value proposition or not.

This is how CMOs (collateralized mortgage obligations) that triggered the great financial crisis of 2008 work. You mix in the bad mortgages with the good mortgages and sell them at a price closer to the value of the good mortgages. Everything went OK till the people with the bad mortgages stopped paying. The point is that there is a misrepresentation of the product underlying it all.

Sports are lucky because they have traditional loyalties working in their favor. This means people are willing to pay full price for a sub-par product due to their sense of loyalty. In short, as Seinfeld suggested, people do root for laundry. Brand loyalty is true in other areas but it's really pronounced in sports.

Making you buy subscriptions is granting an annuity to corporate America since around 70% of people who subscribe to get an NFL game keep that subscription.

Having multiple streaming media outfits bid for the ability to offer streaming services only helps the NFL extract more money from them via the bidding process.

I think we'll only see such a consolidated offering you are suggesting once the current enshittification trend totally dominates and the only way the NFL can get people to pay for the games is to offer a more consumer friendly product. We are seeing some of this in MLB as the RSNs collapse. They've killed the goose that lays the golden eggs, now they are scrambling.

 

[Sorrynotsorry]

The nfl has a few good years to a decade or two left to squeeze the streaming services... as well as the consumer that just wants one team to watch.

Not to get political... but the "migrants" coming here by the millions already have their own "football".

Nfl better get it's money while it can.

 

[mgteich]

I forwarded your contact info to Roger Goodell .... he'll be in touch about doing a commercial. It's not about the money per se, it's the greediness that is offputting. It's cool that it doesn't bother you.

fair enough

You think that products should be provided for free. Of course, then the products wouldn't be available to anyone.

I've watched the NFL for 60 years. There have been many changes as the NFL AND THE PLAYERS negotiate with regard to how to continue to provide games to the public.

 

[mgteich]

It's not that we can't feed the poor, it's because we can't satisfy the rich.

We can afford to feed the poor. Instead, we give large tax DECREASES to the rich, who can well afford more. Certainly, they should be paying taxes at higher rate than their janitors.