Rise in sports streaming packages

Another day, another new streaming package.

The pace of service repackaging isn't actually that fast, but it's also not that far off, causing growing confusion among fans and subscribers.

Comcast announced that it will now bundle its Peacock with rival services Netflix and Apple TV+ in a single package called StreamSaver, which it will offer to its customers starting later this month, at a reduced price compared to the total cost of purchasing it individually of the three. The offer comes just days after Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to bundle its Max along with Disney+ and Hulu into a single package set to launch this summer.

These packages now follow the previously announced sports-focused package, commonly referred to as “Spulu” (or “Hulu for Sports”), which includes WBD, ESPN and Fox; the separate Disney-specific combination that includes Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu and debuted in 2019; and a discounted Max and Netflix combo for Verizon subscribers.

“We have been successfully and creatively aggregating video for 60 years,” Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said at the MoffettNathanson Media, Internet & Communications Conference. “And this is the latest version of it, and I think it's going to be a pretty compelling package.”

There are many pitfalls

Roberts' comments aren't that surprising. But in each of these cases, the packages fail to bring fans much closer to a truly comprehensive set of sports content – which is already a challenging task as many leagues continue to break up their rights into smaller chunks to reach consumers additionally places. The shortcomings of the various packages include:

• StreamSaver: It offers the Premier League, the Olympics, a wide range of collegiate sports, MLS, Football on Sunday evenings, and maybe even more NFL in the future. But it leaves out everything that ESPN, CBS Sports, Amazon, Fox Sports, WBD and many smaller networks offer.
• Max-Disney+-Hulu: This package is one of the weaker ones on the market when it comes to sports and could see even more success in that area if TNT Sports doesn't retain its NBA rights.
• “Spulu”: It leaves out about half of the NFL and significant portions of college sports, as well as football, golf, tennis and horse racing, among others, leading to widespread criticism of its perceived usefulness.
• Disney: Unsurprisingly, this package is by far the most integrated and sophisticated offering and will be expanded later this year with the development of an ESPN tile within Disney+. But it's all the work of just one company.

And regional sports networks – which, despite the challenges in the sector, still represent a significant portion of overall sports consumption, whether on cable or over-the-air platforms – are not found in any of the new streaming packages.

However, the more extensive offering around Peacock could mean a boost for this service. Its current subscriber count of 34 million – far fewer than most of its main competitors – arguably still makes it something of an underperformer given the range of sports it offers.

With the start of the football season – a key driver of sports consumption – just over three months away, many of these services will need to finalize pricing and availability details in the coming weeks.

The Professional Women's Hockey League is seeing more success at its ticket windows during the playoffs after a groundbreaking first regular season that drew more than 392,000 fans through 72 games. The first five games of the postseason drew nearly 40,000 spectators – nearly 32% more than the regular season per game average.

“The crowd support was tremendous,” said Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield (above) told Front Office Sports. “And that is obviously not a given. You have to earn it.” Schofield, also president of the PWHL Players Association and former captain of the US women's national ice hockey team. The three-time Olympian was also a key leader of the PWHPA, which merged with the Premier Hockey Federation last summer after receiving major financial backing from Mark Walter, the Dodgers' controlling owner.

Schofield led Minnesota in the PWHL's inaugural campaign shortly after giving birth to her first child – the subject of a new documentary in which she stars. Hockey mom. Your team will try to avoid elimination on Wednesday night against Toronto.

About expansion, NHL and media rights…

The 31-year-old outstanding hockey player caught up FOS to talk about the league's development off the ice and what might lie ahead. Some quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

If the PWHL expands, which city should it go to first?

Detroit. We must go. Start the engines. Let's go to Detroit because I have every confidence that this market is wanting, willing, able and will do an incredible job.

How effective was the support from men's professional ice hockey?

There was no financial contribution from the NHL, but at the same time I don't think we need it. I think we've proven that we don't need it, but I have to say that the support from the teams in the market, especially for the teams in the market that we have, has been huge. The PWHPA would receive a donation from the NHLPA each year. I think we are hopeful that we will receive another donation from the NHLPA to our new union, the PWHLPA, but we are not there yet.

The first season of the PWHL was broadcast on various regional sports channels and streaming options. What do you hope to see next?

I expect they can strike a pretty lucrative media rights deal in the coming years. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. The league has done an incredible job knowing that they have to spend money today to get a return on their investment tomorrow, which we often haven't had to then look at it as a return, but all the more cope to go against the mindset of one to fight another day.