Max to Stream Pro Sports Starting in October
The New York Times Media companies are racing to figure out how to merge live sporting events with their popular but still cash-bleeding streaming services.
Sports continues to make its march to streaming.
Warner Bros. Discovery announced on Tuesday that it would begin adding live sporting events from the companys cable networks to the Max streaming service in October. The streaming service will now include access to Major League Baseball playoff games, as well as regular season games from the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League.
For several months, the sporting events will be free for all Max subscribers. But in late February just as college basketballs March Madness is about to get underway, and several weeks before professional basketball and hockey playoffs begin access to the games will cost $10 a month on top of the standard Max subscription price, the company said. Currently, Max without commercials costs $16 a month, and the advertising-supported plan is $10 a month.
Media companies are racing to figure out how to fold in live sporting events with their popular but still cash-bleeding streaming services. The rights to the sporting events are often expensive, and are one of the last main drivers to broadcast and cable channels. (Warner Bros. Discovery carries live sports on its Turner cable networks.)
