Now that we finally know the monthly cost of Venu Sports, it’s time to crunch some numbers. Despite executives’ claims to the contrary, this new streaming service, combining the sports rights of Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, could become more popular than initially anticipated. Let’s dive into the context. All three companies involved in Venu Sports have extensive media holdings. Disney owns the ESPN family of networks and ABC, both included in most cable and streaming subscriptions. They also own Hulu, which boasts the second-largest live streaming service in the U.S. Fox, on the other hand, hasn’t ventured into dedicated streaming services but owns the successful Tubi platform. Warner Bros. Discovery has a strong presence in traditional cable and streaming, owning Max. Therefore, the initial strategy wasn’t to steal subscribers from existing services like Comcast, Cox, YouTube TV, or Hulu with Live TV. This was the initial message from executives after Venu Sports’ announcement, despite facing a lawsuit from Fubo alleging unfair business practices due to the companies’ deals with competitors like Google TV.
As streaming prices have consistently increased over the years, resembling the inescapable cable bundles of the past, viewers are seeking better and more affordable options. For sports enthusiasts who don’t require numerous channels dedicated to MCU movies, Venu Sports presents a compelling alternative. The decision ultimately boils down to calculations and personal preference. Let’s use YouTube TV as an example, with over 8 million subscribers. YouTube TV costs $73 per month, which is $30 more than Venu Sports, or a total of $360 annually. YouTube TV includes your local broadcast channels, encompassing ABC and Fox (found on Venu Sports) as well as CBS and NBC (not on Venu Sports). The ESPN family of channels, FS1 and FS2, and Turner networks like TBS, TNT, and truTV are also part of YouTube TV, all of which are included in Venu Sports. There might be a few rare sporting events exclusive to Max, but these are exceptions, not the norm.
Let’s assume Venu Sports covers about 80% of what YouTube TV offers – this figure could be even higher. However, Venu Sports offers this content at a price that’s 41% lower each month. Canceling YouTube TV would mean losing access to CBS and NBC, but it would also save a significant amount of money. To bridge the gap, I would suggest investing in an over-the-air antenna. Theoretically, this will provide access to all your local broadcast channels, including CBS, NBC, and their live sporting events, for the cost of the antenna, a networked tuner like Tablo, and the time spent setting it up. Avoid simply placing the antenna in a window and hoping for the best. An OTA antenna is a one-time expense for hardware and installation, which isn’t overly complex if you have basic home repair skills. You can connect it directly to your TV for a simple setup, or use a device like Tablo (our current favorite) for multi-device viewing and recording capabilities. Broadcasts are free and will likely remain so. If you don’t need the extra 75 channels (at least) offered by cable or streaming services and prioritize sports, supplementing the free over-the-air feed with a sports-centric streaming service that’s 41% less expensive monthly becomes an attractive option. This, however, is not something executives are likely to emphasize anytime soon.
