Is Amazon the next ESPN?

Please subscribe, share and reply to The Streaming Sports Newsletter.

IN THIS ISSUE:

  • 🏀 NBA streaming exclusive games coming soon?

  • 🏈 Free NFL RedZone streaming

  • 🦓 Referees gone wild

The Main Event: Is Amazon the next ESPN?

Amazon Prime has made several moves this week that shows that the company has plans to be the future of sports.

In 2013, Netflix goal was to become HBO faster than HBO could become Netflix. In 2022, I believe Amazon’s goal is to become a streaming ESPN before ESPN goes fully streaming.

In the past week:

Amazon Prime is already the home of the NFL, WNBA, ONE Championship MMA and UEFA Championship League soccer. They also offer add-ons for NBA League Pass, MLB TV, and sports through Paramount+ and Showtime.

With a mix of the biggest sports, studio shows, and big name sports broadcasters like Al Michaels and Hannah Storm, Amazon has the foundation and the money to build the streaming generation version of a worldwide leader in sports.

The Fast Break:

🏀 NBA considering some streaming exclusive games?

The NBA is expected to offer a package of streaming exclusive games with their new TV deals starting in 2025. Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports is reporting that Amazon, Apple and others are expected to bid on this package, and the price starts at $1 billion.

This potential deal could have a lot in common with the NFL streaming exclusive Thursday Night Football package on Amazon Prime. 

The NBA would still have traditional TV deals, and current channels ESPN and TNT have shown they want to stay partners with the league. But b-ball fans should be prepared to do more streaming soon.

⚽ More details of MLS streaming deal with Apple 

The Athletic has a big story detailing MLS challenges to prepare for their move to Apple TV streaming next year. 

The main part of the story is about all the production work that the league has to get done before the season starts in February. But it also has some juicy nuggets about how streaming games will be available in 2023.

  • Six (6) games of 14 available free on Apple TV each Wednesday

  • Six games of 14 available free on Apple TV each weekend

  • MLS-All Star game streaming exclusively to paid Apple TV+ subscribers

  • MLS Cup Championship free on Apple TV and a broadcast network

🏈Free NFL RedZone streaming this weekend

This weekend, three live TV streaming services are offering a free preview of NFL RedZone. According to Phillip Swann, fans can watch the NFL RedZone for free on Hulu Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV.

There are lots of ways to get NFL RedZone streaming, so if you already subscribe to one of these services, tune in. But it’s sad that you can’t get NFL RedZone on NFL+.

Extra Points:

Watch. Learn. Stream.

I Watched:

  • The anticlimactic World Series. I may have no affection for either the Phillies or Astros, but at least it’s not the Yankees.

  • More NBA basketball

  • NFL RedZone on the go. I can’t help it if that’s the only time I can get to the grocery store.

I Learned:

Nothing makes sports more frustrating than bad referees. This weekend I learned about two funny or awful examples of refs ruining games.

I’ll Be Streaming: 

  • One more game of the World Series. Maybe.

  • Bivol vs. Ramirez because it is an intriguing action fight.

  • Avengers: Infinity War with a very excited 10 year old who has zero clue what’s coming.

Gratitude

Thank you for reading this week’s Streaming Sports Newsletter.

Do you have any questions? Reach out with a reply email or on Twitter. Your questions and ideas could become part of the Streaming Sports Mailbag.

If you haven’t joined in the fun here, please subscribe to the Streaming Sports Newsletter so you won’t miss an issue. Also, take a moment to share this issue with anyone you think might enjoy it.

Remember that you can reach me on Twitter @royd77 or by replying to this email at [email protected]