Red Sox broadcaster becomes first regional sports network to offer stand-alone streaming service for games

The native cable network that airs Boston’s Major League Baseball and National Hockey League games is launching a stand-alone streaming subscription, marking a first for regional sports networks.

The possibility from NESN will likely be accessible beginning Wednesday and can permit subscribers to watch dwell games with out paying for a cable subscription. The first deal of its kind comes as tens of millions of Americans are canceling pay TV subscriptions annually amid the rising reputation of streaming providers like Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max.

NESN will cost $29.99 a month for streaming entry to its network’s programming, which incorporates dwell games that includes MLB’s Red Sox and the Bruins of the NHL. The first month will value $1 as a promotional worth. An annual subscription prices $329.99 and consists of eight tickets to any Red Sox recreation in 2022.

The service, NESN 360, will solely be accessible to individuals within the New England space. MLB owns out-of-market streaming rights for MLB TV.

“We imagine the direct subscription possibility will construct on NESN’s attain within the area,” stated Sean McGrail, NESN’s president and chief government officer, in an announcement.

NESN, which is majority owned by Boston Red Sox proprietor Fenway Sports Group, is searching for to win over a youthful viewers by providing a digital streaming different for Red Sox and Bruins games. But the service will likely be dear relative to present streaming providers. Netflix and HBO Max, the costliest international streaming providers, have normal plans that value about $15 monthly within the U.S.

Regional sports networks have to charge a significantly higher price for an out-of-cable service due to their agreements with cable TV suppliers, corresponding to Comcast, Charter and DirecTV. Cable suppliers have agreed to pay NESN a flat month-to-month charge primarily based on estimates about viewership.

Disclosure: Comcast is the dad or mum firm of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC.

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