Skyrocketing Costs for Cord Cutters to Watch Sports – How High Will It Go?

1. In light of recent major developments in sports media, I find myself compelled to pen another column, seeking someone to justify the rationale behind ditching traditional cable if you’re an avid follower of multiple sports.

I have been vocal about this issue for what feels like an eternity, and as I’ve consistently maintained, the situation is only deteriorating. I hate to be the person who says, “I told you so,” but here we are.

If you don’t believe that the cost of being a sports enthusiast is spiraling out of hand, then I’m not sure what will convince you. Managing expenses might be feasible if you’re only into one or two sports. But if your interests are broader, you might find yourself needing a significant loan.

Imagine you’re someone who follows the NFL, college football, NBA, NHL, MLB, golf, tennis, soccer, and WWE. Now, assume you’ve decided to cut your cable subscription and switch entirely to streaming services. Here’s a breakdown of what you might need to shell out for these sports.

The upcoming ESPN direct-to-consumer app alone will cost $30, offering you an extensive range of content.

If you’re keen on catching Sunday Night Football, the NBA, and more, you’ll need a subscription to Peacock, which will set you back either $11 or $17 each month, depending on your chosen plan.

Netflix, which will showcase the NFL on Christmas Day and Monday Night Raw, charges $18 monthly.

Die-hard fans of baseball and MLS will need AppleTV, costing $10 a month.

Fox is set to launch an app on August 21 that includes the NFL, college football, Major League Baseball among other sports, costing $20 monthly.

If you’re a fan of both the NFL and soccer, Paramount+ is essential at $8 per month.

Just with these apps, your monthly expenditure is around $100.

I haven’t even included Amazon Prime, which at $139 annually, is crucial for accessing Thursday Night Football, and now the NBA. Whenever I mention this cost, the typical retort is, “EVERYONE HAS AMAZON PRIME, YOU IDIOT.”

Furthermore, you’ll need access to TNT for additional sports events, and consider ION if you enjoy watching Caitlin Clark.

And if you desire the NFL Sunday Ticket without YouTubeTV, that’s an additional $480 annually.

You’d also need to budget for the NFL Network, MLB Network, and NHL Network, which means more costs.

Again, I must ask: Can someone explain how cutting the cord is financially savvy for a serious sports fan?

2. Fox recently unveiled its NFL broadcasting teams for 2025.

Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady
Joe Davis and Greg Olsen
Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma
Kevin Kugler and Daryl Johnston
Adam Amin and Mark Sanchez
Chris Myers and Mark Schlereth

Burkhardt and Brady will commentate on the Giants-Commanders game at 1 p.m. ET in Week 1.

3. A recent episode of ESPN’s The Sports Reporters explored the challenges faced by sports insiders. Shams Charania, Adam Schefter, and Jeff Passan discussed the relentless nature of their jobs and its impact on their personal lives. Charania was particularly candid, admitting that his commitments often disrupted his social engagements and relationships.

Shams Charania discusses the demanding nature of a sports insider’s life.

4. Dan Patrick recently addressed the complexities of sports journalism in light of the NFL’s equity in ESPN.

Dan Patrick responds to criticism regarding his coverage of the NFL’s involvement with ESPN.

5. An intriguing tale about former NBA commissioner David Stern was shared.

For over two years, I consistently emailed Mr. David Stern, requesting a meeting to simply spend time and see what could transpire.

6. This week’s SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast featured two interviews. First, John Ourand from Puck delved into the details of the ESPN-NFL Media deal, discussing the strategic reasons behind it and its implications for the broadcasting of NFL content. Following Ourand, Katie Nolan talked about her new podcast Casuals and expressed her concerns over the current state of media accuracy and the excessive focus on gambling in sports broadcasting. Sal Licata also joined to discuss various topics including the Yankees’ performance and personal anecdotes.

You can tune into the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast on Apple and Spotify.

7. VIDEO HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: The trailer for The Paper, a new series on Peacock that builds on The Office, was released, with the show set to premiere on September 4.