US viewers will need to pony up extra $50 this season

Tuesday, 27 June, 2017 13comments | Jump to most recent

NBC Sports, the carrier of sole rights to stream and broadcast Premier League matches in the United States, are introducing a new subscription service for the upcoming season.

Previously, the network had made all 380 games available live via cable, satellite or streaming but with the new Premier League Pass, which will cost $50 a year, some of that content is moving away from the old Extra Time Live service to NBC Sports Gold.

As Awful Announcing explains, it's a move that keeps the full spectrum of games available to American audiences but being sure of seeing all of your club's matches will require a cable or satellite subscription or a steaming equivalent like Sling if desired plus $50 a season for the new service.

"Cord cutters" will not be able to see all 380 games online without a standard subscription service while existing cable and satellite viewers will need to pay for the new service on top of their existing TV subscription.

» Read the full article at Awful Announcing

Reader Comments (13)

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Mike Gaynes
1 Posted 28/06/2017 at 00:08:05

Aw, shit, I guess I'll just watch MLS instead.

Huh?

WHAT AM I SAYING???

Michael Kenrick
2 Posted 28/06/2017 at 03:22:45

I was thinking only recently it was too good to last. I mean, for the cost of the digital cable selection you want anyway, we got to watch every single Everton game in the Premier League at no additional cost. A hell of a deal compared to some of the convoluted machinations of years past, with the big satellite dish, a special Setanta subscription, and the special decoder box.

David Barks
3 Posted 28/06/2017 at 03:56:25

If you had the channels through your subscription you still have them. It's the online access that has changed, Mike.

James Flynn
4 Posted 28/06/2017 at 04:24:22

This is an attempt to block all those exchanging free links to watch the games. Something happens all the time in here; "Anyone have a good link?"

I already pay the money. NBC on XFlinity still gives me access to all 38 Everton games.

Good luck to NBC or any other network on stopping "free" access.

Michael Kenrick
5 Posted 28/06/2017 at 06:55:11

Think of all the games we watched for free on NBC Extra Time last season. It's access to those that is now going to cost Extra Money – $49.99 this upcoming season.

I didn't keep track but it seemed at least half our Premier League games were on Extra Time and therefor not on any of the NBC cable channels.

If there's on average 10,000 fans in the US of A who will pick this up for each Premier League team... that's $10 Million.

Scott Goin
6 Posted 28/06/2017 at 14:45:01

Like Michael, I'm surprised our free access to all games lasted so long. I remember I used to have to pay $25 a month when Fox Sports had the EPL and they only showed a few games live. The rest I had to wait and catch later in the day on replay. Considering the MLB package costs almost $250 and NFL costs almost $400, I guess $50 isn't too bad.

With my DirecTV, it sounds like the Extra Time matches (channels 491-495) will not be available without this extra package. Like Mike said, that was probably 40-50% of Everton's games. I wonder if someone who is a Man Utd fan will ever need this package. They're always on the main channels.

Ian Bennett
7 Posted 28/06/2017 at 16:12:36

Extremely short-sighted.

The Premier League should have continued working with partners in the US and China to provide free subscription to increase the popularity. Get them all hooked, and then start subscription in 5 to 10 years time. In the grand scheme of things, this wouldn't dent current club income – but would offer huge upside tomorrow.

Iain Thomson
8 Posted 29/06/2017 at 23:47:55

Moving to the States before the start of the season and looking for advice on the best way to see the Premier League, obviously, but also the Europa League and Champions League.

Any advice gratefully received.

Mike Gaynes
9 Posted 30/06/2017 at 00:56:11

Iain... you should sign up with the satellite service DirecTV. Their soccer package offers every Premier League game in HD (at an extra cost) plus NBC Sports Network, Fox Sports 1 and 2, Fox Soccer Plus and BeIN Sports, which bring in the Champions League and Europa Leagues and many FA and League Cup games.

The competitors are Dish Network and Comcast/XFinity. They lack the EPL bonus package... they offer most of the other channels but you'd see Everton only if one of those channels like NBCSN is carrying us. The only way to be sure you get every Everton game is DirecTV.

Welcome to the Far Side Of The Pond! Where will you be?

Iain Thomson
10 Posted 30/06/2017 at 00:59:51

Mike

Cheers for taking the time to give such a complete answer; I will be in Houston.

Is that a "stick a dish on the house" job or conventional cable?

Mike Gaynes
11 Posted 30/06/2017 at 01:36:52

For DirecTV, it's mounting a dish on the house.

Iain Thomson
12 Posted 30/06/2017 at 01:53:22

Oh ok... might be tricky initially. but hopefully I can get it sorted.

Mike Gaynes
13 Posted 30/06/2017 at 07:16:36

It won't be tricky at all, Iain. Their installation guys are experts and local to you, and I've found their service to be very responsive.

You won't have to do a thing as far as installation – never have to touch the dish yourself – and the learning curve on using the service and learning how to record stuff is pretty easy. For example, you can pre-set the recorder in advance to pick up every Everton game.

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