Is it just me or does anyone else think that the NFL’s new subscription service, NFL+, is kind of…pointless? How is this seriously any different to NFL Game Pass (aside from the new name)?
Ever since Netflix, Disney, and HBO released their “Big 3” of streaming, Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, respectively, every company and their mother has been desperate to launch their own streaming service. Sadly, with each new incarnation, the quality just gets worse and worse. NFL+ seems to follow this unfortunate trend.
From what I’ve read on this new NFL streaming service, users will have two tiers to choose subscriptions from: NFL+ and NFL+ Premium. The first tier is $4.99/month and the second is $9.99/month. Obviously, both allow you to watch your local games and the primetime games throughout the year. Oh, and you can watch some old NFL films content that NFL+ has the rights too (I’ll get to more about that in a minute).
The only major difference between both tiers is that you get “ad free” content in tier two and you can watch game replays.
Yeah, very underwhelming.
The reason why this $60-$80/year streaming service is so underwhelming is because the NFL doesn’t actually have the rights to distribute their own games in this manner. DirecTV does. If you want to watch live out-of-market games, then you need to buy NFL Sunday Ticket (aka: DirecTV’s subscription service). NFL+ is basically pointless if you want to watch other teams that are not from your local area or are not in primetime.
Oh, and if you want to watch Monday Night Football games, then you need to buy ESPN+ to stream it (aka: ESPN’s subscription service). Also, if you just happen to be a fan of Thursday Night Football, then you need to buy Amazon Prime to stream it (aka: Amazon’s subscription service).
Do you see what I mean when I say this streaming service trend is getting old really fast?
You could be spending close to $500/year if you buy NFL Sunday Ticket, ESPN+, Amazon Prime, and NFL+ just to watch football games. That is just plain predatory by these major companies. It is a good thing cable is still around, or I don’t know how people would be able to watch football anymore.
Now, if you are one of the select few who thinks this streaming service trend is coming to an end…think again. With DirecTV’s partnership with the NFL coming to a close, every major streaming/entertainment company, such as Apple, Amazon, Disney, etc., are ready to break the bank to acquire the rights to distribute the games.
I fear this trend will only get worse before it gets better.
Images Source: Featured Images:
Other Sources: (CNBC) (National Football League’s new streaming service NFL+ launches at $4.99 per month (cnbc.com))
