Football is big business these days with viewing rights, in particular, fiercely fought over by sport’s biggest broadcasters. The upside to this relentless bunfight is that virtually every tournament in the world is shown, whilst the downside is that it comes at a pretty penny for fans.
Needless to say, this has forced fans to either dig deep into their pockets or find alternate ways of watching the action.
In many respects, this is what now drives sports streaming as supporters turn away from the age-old practice of watching the game on television to streaming it online in a bid to save money. Before we get into that, let’s look at who offers what currently.
This footage ?❤️ pic.twitter.com/pnig70dneA
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 23, 2022
NOW TV
At the moment, NOW TV offers the most complete streaming for football in the UK. Indeed, the company is owned by Sky and gives fans the chance to enjoy the Premier League on a month-to-month deal at a cost of £33.99 a month. Immediately, you can see the uphill battle that fans face when it comes to watching football and also, get a better idea of why they turn to Google on matchdays instead of shelling out huge amounts.
At least, this article on what drives sports streaming in the UK goes on to say that football is the most searched word on the search engine when it comes to streaming, with Liverpool taking the lead in searches. This tells us in no uncertain terms that there is a general reluctance to part with a hefty amount on a monthly basis.
With that said, if you’re put off by the commitment of a monthly membership then you can also access a day pass for the somewhat curious price of £11.98. It should be said that you can fly to cities in Europe for cheaper on a low-cost budget airline than pay for a day pass on NOW TV just so that you can watch a live viewing of Burnley vs Crystal Palace.
Irrespective of the price though, NOW TV will take care of all needs when it comes to the English top flight. With that said, what do you do when the weekend ends and the Champions League rolls into town? Find another £16 is the answer as BT Sport holds the official rights to Europe’s most glamorous club competition.
Obsessed.
Gareth Bale ? pic.twitter.com/tAAfRiofVg
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 27, 2018
Big Sport
There is, however, a way to get both Sky and BT on the NOW TV app after the two companies recently teamed up to combine their offerings. Indeed, it’s called Big Sport and will set you back £41 a month as long as you commit to a 24-month contract whilst giving them £39.99 upfront.
Admittedly, this is the easiest way to keep abreast of the latest goings-on in the football world but at the same time, it’s a steep price to pay for a game that belongs to the fans. Yes, some may argue that it’s a price worth paying given the budget of the production and of course, the spectacle on show.
There is a large degree of truth to this sentiment but for all of its merits, the inescapable reality is that these subscription fees will ultimately price many fans out of the market still.
A rock and a hard place
This is where alternative streaming comes into it and of course, reliable VPNs that enable fans to watch games for a lot less.
When all is said and done, the fact of the matter is that fans are going to watch their team play, one way or another. To think otherwise would be naive and underestimate the pull of the beautiful game that is watched by millions of people worldwide. Yes, it is the prerogative of broadcasters to set their own prices but if they end up excluding others, then by hook or by crook, a way will be found.
