Streaming Sports Aggregation: The Demise of Cable TV and Rise of Online Viewing

For about a decade, media execs have been investing heavily in live sports as the main reason for folks to keep shelling out for traditional pay TV. Even as millions of Americans have cut the cord in favor of streaming platforms, big-ticket sports, like ESPN, remained exclusive to cable subscribers. But, when ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service debuts (which might happen as soon as next month), it’ll mark the first time that Americans can get all major sports without needing a cable sub.

This shift in the pay TV landscape raises a big question: Will traditional cable eventually fade away, or will it stick around as a smaller, but still profitable, business? Well, Charter Communications recently shared some interesting news. While their numbers weren’t stellar, they did reveal a promising trend. Charter reported a decline of just 80,000 video customers last quarter, a significant improvement from the previous year. One reason for this could be that Charter offers “free” access to streaming services for cable customers. While customers are technically paying for it as part of their bundle, having Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and more included could be making them think twice about cancelling cable. Plus, with ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service about to drop, cable customers stand to lose even more if they cancel.

In a similar vein, Comcast just released their latest earnings report, showing a smaller decline in video customers compared to the year before. It’s possible that most U.S. households who were thinking about cutting the cord have already done so, and the ones left might be sticking around for a bit. If this pattern holds, cable TV could become the go-to spot for sports content.

Remember Venu, that sports streaming service from Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery that never quite got off the ground? It was slated to offer tons of sports content for $42.99 a month. But, with the upcoming launch of Fox One, a non-cable streaming service set to include all Fox’s pay TV programming, it’s clear that these services won’t come cheap. Fox’s CEO mentioned that pricing for Fox One will not be discounted, as they don’t want to lose traditional cable subscribers. Other pay TV providers, like DirecTV, are also offering sports-focused bundles, but at a higher cost than Venu’s proposed $42.99.

All in all, it’s an interesting time for the world of sports streaming, with cable TV possibly serving as a hub for sports content moving forward. As more streaming services emerge and the landscape evolves, one thing is for sure – sports fans will have plenty of options to catch their favorite games.