Millions of TV Customers Could Soon Lose ESPN

welcome to coure cutting today where we break down some of the biggest stories happening in the road of Court cutting including today there could be a massive blackout of ESPN on not just streaming but traditional pay TV also we'll tell you what's happening there and how this could be another big fight between Disney and a major TV provider tub's viewership is growing it's now tied with Disney plus to be the fifth largest streaming service in the United States this is one more sign of how people are really paying more attention to free sported streaming I encourage you to do it also and YouTube TV is once again bringing back its steel for free H or now just max almost call it HBO Max some habits die hard we'll tell you how to get that deal and how there may be a little glitch with it right now these stories and a whole lot more come up in a quick second if you want to learn more about any of them I'll put a link to every story I'm about to talk about in the first pin comment and in the show notes down below hey if you like what I do here did you know I have a second YouTube channel that breaks down everything happening in the world of cord cutting and everything tech-wise reviews the breakdown with Luke It's kind of my general technology Channel I review products both technology and not sometimes and all kinds of other great things check it out over um at the breakdown with Luke on YouTube link in the showes and in the first pin comment lastly if you like what we do here just hit that subscribe button hit that thumbs up we would really appreciate it really does help us all right let's dive into it starting off with Direct TV and Direct TV stream could soon lose ESPN channels now 5 years ago in 2019 they did um in September of 2019 well they didn't but they did come down to the wire they was supposed to go dark um on a Saturday of college football they ended up kicking it back pushing the um deal back geter to extension and finally worked out a deal it was rather hilarious because both companies would put banners on the screen about potential blackout and they were constantly moving them because the other company was trying to block them and you know uh ESPN would put a bar up and Direct TV would put a bar over it and then ESPN would move it or Dre TV would pull up a bar and ESP would try to cover it it was kind of comical but with this they had a 5-year deal now according to a report from Puck news that deal is coming up for Renewal and no contract has been reached yet so keep that in mind no contract yet Corner reports have been reached we still could be a couple weeks out from this potential blackout but we week zero college football is this weekend uh next weekend is the full or next week I should say because it starts on Thursday is the full start of the college football season and it won't be long until NFL is here just in a couple weeks with NFL Monday Night Football and ESPN losing Direct TV would be a massive blow to ESPN but Direct TV has come out today with a post on their site um or today when I'm recording this about how they need to change the dynamic of how they offer um TV basically saying they need the flexibility to offer smaller more flexible packages at a cheaper price point they've also previously talked about how they like what spectrum did and they want a similar deal to what spectrum got where their customers get access to like Disney plus and ESP and plus as a part of the cost of their TV package from Spectrum drag TV wants to do the same this all has the writings of a major fight coming up here it's very possible both sides will once again reach a deal before blackout actually happens but Direct TV seems to be digging in their heels and this raises a question will Disney be willing to work with them now Disney was willing to work with Spectrum it did result in a short-term blackout of Disney own channels on Spectrum TV also resulted in a handful of um some very popular Disney own channels been removed like Disney Jr uh uh the free form Channel FXX and others being permanently removed from Spectrum but in exchange they got things like Disney plus and ESPN plus will the same thing be about to happen on uh Dre TV if it does do not be surprised to see some of these smaller channels go by the wayside you know spectrum is the number one TV provider I can't remember where Direct TV Falls I think they're number three right now I think it goes Spectrum Comcast DirecTV somebody qu correct me if I'm wrong if Disney would lose these channels on the number one and number three largest TV provider in the United States it definitely puts the future of those channels in doubt so this is a major moment for both sides Disney very well could agree to a similar deal like they did with Spectrum but that would definitely put some of their smaller channels in danger we'll wait and see no deals reached Direct TV could be in danger and a long-term extended blackout which I do not expect to happen would definitely be very negative for Dre TV you leave me a comment you let me know what you think who's going to win here will we see a blackout will Disney cave will Direct TV cave leave me a comment let me know all right neon this week came out with their gauge report which looks at the most popular viewed programs and streaming services out there and tub according to the report is the largest free at sport streaming service not counting YouTube regular YouTube like what you're watching here but of another streaming one well it's now grown to represent 2.1% of the TV Market which is tied with Disney plus making tub the fifth most popular streaming service including YouTube TV now goes uh or YouTube excuse me not YouTube TV now Goes YouTube Netflix P or Prime video Hulu Disney plus Tob tight at fifth slowly but surely we're seeing free at sports streaming services grow in their demand um and get more and more popular like the Roku channels now represents 1.6% of all viewing and Pluto tv. 7% of all viewing that puts those in the top 11 most popular streaming services in the United States very interesting numbers here keep a close eye on this I fully expect to see these numbers continue to crawl up now you you know I've talked about free atbo streaming if you've tried that in the past it's much different now the quality of the content dramatically improved which has made it much more attractive to people and I think a lot of people have said hey I'm paying too much for other streaming services it's probably time I go and now pay check out these free ones even if I'm not getting rid of all paid services but maybe to supplement the services I am paying for you leave me a comment you let me know does it surprise you to see this so high you does surprise you that tub is tied with Disney according to neelon in average daily viewership counting for over 2% of all viewership in the United States 2% of its own doesn't sound like much we consider that's of everything out there it does now YouTube is the most watched thing 10.4% of all Americans viewing is now happening on YouTube I be honest YouTube is increasingly becoming a place I watch a lot of my TV are you the same leave me a comment let me know hopefully you're watching this a lot all right YouTube TV is bringing back a popular offer from last year if you subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket and you have not had U Max recently you can get four months of Max for free with um a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket again this is a limited time offer currently available emails went out to eligible customers recently though I did notice some people on Reddit complain that it was not available to them because when they tried to redeem it it didn't work hopefully they fixed that I've seen other people say they've now successfully claimed it if you're unable to claim it it may mean you've um had Max recently if not contact YouTube customer support for more info I have a complete guide in our story step-by-step instructions on how to claim this offer and activate it all right Paramount is getting ready for fall Sports and they have a limited time offer which brings the price of it's um Paramount plus with Showtime down to just $5 a month if you prepay for a year you can get it um the standard plan 2 this is a pretty good deal if you've been thinking about Paramount plus if you prepaid for a year five bucks a month pretty decent deal cuz it also comes with adree and Showtime with that leave me a comment Paramount plus subscribers here I do but only as kind of a rotational Service uh when the new and sadly final season of lower deck comes it will definitely be one I will be subscribing to the rumored Star Trek Legacy show the continuation of the Star Trek peard series ever becomes a reality I'll I'll definitely subscribe to that I was very very impressed with the final season of Star Trek bicard and I'm excited to see what what happen happens with season um the final season of lower deck I've really enjoyed that and hopefully the final uh or return to this era with Star Trek Legacy or whatever they may call it I'll be honest though the new um section 33 I think they call it a movie the trailer was not impressive it was kind of I don't know it didn't it was kind of not what I was expecting to be honest with you what do you think leave me a comment let me know I'm going check it out but definitely wasn't what I was expecting all right if you want to see everything that came to Hulu this week and is coming to Hulu this week we have a post breaking that all down over at cor cars news in the show notes well that's it for today have a fantastic day I will be back tomorrow with another video Until Then I posted a special look at TLC's TV's new free ad streaming service now TLC TV plus is what it's called much like all the other AD supported streaming services like Plex local now and more has over 350 live channels and a bunch of on demand content Link in the show notes if you want to check that out well that's it for today take care be safe I'll talk to you all again real soon