NESN announces new streaming plan for fans to watch the Red Sox and Bruins
NESN becomes the first regional sports network to offer stand-alone streaming service for games
NESN announced this week that they will offer a brand new streaming plan for fans to watch the Red Sox and Bruins. The new app that will be called NESN 360 launched on Wednesday and will allow subscribers to watch live games without paying for a cable subscription.
NESN now joins the likes of other streaming services to provide their own content in a one stop shop. What makes NESN 360 different from the likes of Hulu or Netflix is the price. The cost of the new NESN 360 app is steep and the fan reaction has been a mixed bag.
NESN will charge $29.99 a month for streaming access to its network’s programming, which includes live games featuring the Red Sox and Bruins. The first month will cost $1 as a promotional price. An annual subscription costs $329.99 and includes eight tickets to any Red Sox game in 2022. The offer for the free Red Sox tickets are while supplies last according to NESN.
While the new app is the beginning of a new era of how fans can consume the Red Sox and Bruins, it will only be available to people in the New England area. Now, before you blame John Henry for not making the app available to anybody, anywhere, he can’t. MLB owns out-of-market streaming rights for MLB TV.
The market is becoming incredibly competitive and expensive. Regional sports markets are trying to find viable ways to remain competitive and offer their content to fans within their respective markets. The issue is it will come at a hefty price - which Red Sox fans will need to pay if they want the new NESN 360 app.
NESN is beginning to move themselves into this new space and it makes sense. The cost doesn't and fans will feel alienated in the process. NESN 360 will need to offer fresh premium content to make it worth the cost.
As of right now, you can find NESN exclusives on the app that features DraftKings content creator Jared Carrabis and his Beyond Fenway show. There’s a David Ortiz that offers his memories and comments as he watches his best moments from the Red Sox 2013 World Series.
NESN 360 is new and as in it goes in life, people struggle with change. If NESN 360 offers premium local and Boston sports content and documentary style programs it will be worth it.
Please leave your thoughts and comments below on the new NESN 360 app.
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