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Days before the April 7 opening of the 2022 Major League Baseball season, the New York Post reported that 21 New York Yankees baseball games would be broadcast exclusively on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service and solely available to Prime subscribers.
In the past those games likely would have aired for free on local television. The games won’t be shown on the YES regional sports network that broadcasts most other Yankees games on cable or satellite either, even though Amazon joined Sinclair Broadcast Group and others in taking an ownership stake in YES in 2019.
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These “lost” Yankees games became a hot topic on sports talk radio and in the local press.
“When the masses realize the change, that’s when the chaos begins,” wrote Bob Raissman, New York Daily News sports media columnist. “Will fans even know where to find a Yankee game this season?”
That question can be asked of other teams and across other sports. Indeed, the increasing availability of streaming video is not a New York-centric story. But because it can replace traditional ways of watching games outside the stadiums, die-hard fans across the country may have to chase games from one service to another — or pay to watch sports on TV that used to be free.
“Baseball on TV has never been more complicated, confounding and costly,” says Phillip Swann, editor and publisher of the TVAnswerman.com site devoted to helping people “navigate the increasingly complex world of television.”
Tough for older fans?
Older sports fans who collectively may be less tech-savvy than younger viewers — yes, it’s a stereotype — could find themselves disproportionately frustrated. Do they have the requisite smart TV, smartphone or set-top box that will let them watch? Can they set everything up?
Despite Amazon’s best efforts, at least some who spring for the annual $139 for Amazon Prime to get free shipping may not be aware that their additional benefits include access to Prime Video and other media content. That includes some of the sports they may love to watch.
Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive home of NFL Thursday Night Football this coming season with 15 regular season games beginning Sept. 15. Fortunately for fans, games still will be available on local broadcast TV channels in the teams' home markets.
Apple got onto the field with a string of live MLB Friday Night Baseball games that started April 8 on its Apple TV+ streaming service, which costs $4.99 a month. Apple is offering games at least through the end of July for free to anyone with internet access, regardless of whether they subscribe to the pay Apple TV+ service.
Apple announced June 14 that it has inked a 10-year deal with Major League Soccer to stream every MLS match through the Apple TV app starting in 2023. Fans will have to subscribe to a new MLS streaming service that will be available exclusively via the app. No word yet on pricing. There will not be any local blackouts or need to subscribe to a pay TV bundle, Apple says.
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