Streaming Soccer Simplified

August 09, 2022

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IN THIS ISSUE:

  • ⚽ Streaming services and Big Tech love soccer

  • ⚾ More free baseball from Apple TV

  • 📯 Hit the horns before Edwin Diaz hits the mound

The Main Event: Streaming Soccer Simplified

Soccer fans in the U.S. can watch more games than ever before, especially international matches. Streaming is a big part of that change, with more and more services carrying games.

Big Tech companies are putting big money behind streaming soccer now too.

There is even interest in streaming soccer from unexpected places like video game makers.

If you want a simple answer on how to stream the most soccer this year, the best combination is ESPN+, Paramount+ and Peacock.

For just over $20, these three services will give fans almost every game from the best leagues in North America and around the world. There will be a few games that will be on a cable channel like USA or ESPN, but you’ll have more soccer than ever without a big bundle.

Are you into one specific league? Here’s a rundown of how to stream games from the most popular leagues around the world and here in the U.S.

Premier League (U.K.)

La Liga (Spain)

  • 2022-23 Season: August 12, 2022 - June 4, 2023

  • Available on ESPN and ESPN+

  • Defending Champions: Real Madrid

  • ESPN+ available for $7 a month (Increases to $10 a month Aug 23)

Serie A (Italy)

  • 2022-23 Season: August 13, 2022 - June 4, 2023

  • Available on Paramount+, with select games on CBS Sports Network.

  • Defending Champions: AC Milan

  • Paramount+ available for $10 a month

Bundesliga (Germany)

Ligue 1 (France)

UEFA Champions League (Europe)

MLS (U.S.)

  • 2022 Season: February 26, 2022 - October 9, 2022

  • Available on ABC, ESPN, Fox, FS1 and ESPN+

  • Defending Champions: Atlanta United FC

  • ESPN+ available for $7 a month

Liga MX (Mexico)

  • 2022-23 Season: July 1, 2022 - October 30, 2022; January 2023 - May 2023

  • Available on FS1, FS2, Univision and ESPN+

  • Defending Champions: Atlas

  • ESPN+ available for $7 a month

NWSL (U.S.)

FA Women's Super League (Europe)

The Fast Break:

🏈 Thursday Night Football deal near for bars

After last week’s note about the confusing situation of streaming Thursday Night Football in bars or restaurants, there is news of a deal that should fix the problem. John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that Amazon and DirecTV are close to a deal for DirecTV to provide TNF games to commercial establishments.

  • Bars and restaurants will use existing equipment

  • No special upgrades needed

  • No syncing issues

Assuming this becomes official, expect DirecTV to be in the running for a similar deal when NFL Sunday Ticket switches to a streaming service for the 2023 season.

⚾Eight more weeks of free baseball on AppleTV

Apple is extending their free MLB Friday Night baseball games through the end of the 2022 season. As noted by TVAnswerMan Phillip Swann, the free games were originally running through the end of August, but now are set through September 23.

Apple has a habit of offering extended free service for Apple TV+ in the past. Dave Zatz of Zatz Not Funny shared that he hasn’t paid for the service in years, and he now has free Apple TV+ through Fall of 2023.

This makes me wonder how long Apple will keep these Friday Night games free. This will be something to monitor headed into the 2023 baseball season.

👨‍🎓 More Universities are majoring in streaming services

The trend of official University streaming sports continues this week with two big schools launching their own services.

Back in a June issue, I noted when a half dozen major Universities launched official streaming services. With all the changes in college sports, expect many more of these services coming very soon.

Watch. Learn. Stream.

I Watched:

  • Orioles baseball games, because it’s great traveling outside of the MLB.tv blackout zone.

  • CITI Open tennis, although less once the big names cashed their checks and lost in early matches.

  • The Vergil Ortiz vs. Michael McKinson boxing event on DAZN. Ortiz had quite the impressive knockout.

I Learned:

That Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz has the best intro in baseball right now. When the horns kick in, look out!

I’ll Be Streaming: 

  • More Orioles Magic, even though I’m back to just highlights due to blackouts.

  • NFL Preseason football, because I am an addict

  • Some Premier League soccer to get in the spirit of the new season

Gratitude

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

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