Saturdays are family movie night at my house.
Around 7:30, we all sit down and try to choose a movie that all three kids (ages 9, 6, and 3) can agree on and watch. Sometimes it’s easy. Sometimes it’s a journey through different streaming options and platforms.
What’s new on Netflix? What about Disney Plus? Hulu can be fun sometimes. If you want to rent something, Amazon Prime Video is always an option. Wait, didn’t you cancel your free trial of Paramount Plus? No, well, I guess you could pick something there.
We have different subscriptions for different reasons. Companies are trying to carve market share and keep us subscribed by delivering TV and movies we don’t want to miss.
None of these are exorbitant amounts on their own, but I refuse to calculate how much they all add up to. In this case, ignorance is bliss. At least that’s my way to rewatch the new (awesome) Spider-Verse movie on Netflix.
As I spoke with Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller on Thursday’s Daily Delivery podcast, the sport is heading in this direction and could be heading in that direction even faster soon.
So far, I’ve been buying loose packages, living off what I get through national channels, and watching a few local teams with a Bally Sports+ app subscription (when it’s working). I’ve mostly resisted it.
But Wednesday’s bankruptcy court ruling means the Timberwolves, and almost certainly the Wild if a similar ruling is reached in the NHL, will become free agents on local TV after this season. The Twins are already in that position, with their contract with Barrie Sports North expiring at the end of last season.
The way sports are watched in 2024 and beyond is likely to be very different from the moribund regional sports network model. Each team and the broader league will have to figure out the best path forward, with some (notably MLB and NBA) relying on their own production and cable/satellite/ There may be a trend to take over streaming distribution. specific games.
Neither the Twins, Timberwolves nor Wild have publicly announced their desired path forward, but as consumers we wonder if there’s still value in bundling teams in one market rather than one sport. I can’t help but think.
Even in a world without Bally Sports North, I think it would be much better to pay for a single streaming package for these three teams and the Lynx than to have them spread out across different locations and pay separate costs. Put another way, local consumers are much more likely to care about the Twins and Wolves than they are about the Twins and Padres or the Timberwolves and Hornets.
It may not matter as much if you’re a cable/satellite subscriber, but the declining numbers in that category are the reason we’re here in the first place.
We don’t know what the finances will be for an independent streaming bundle across the league, but then again, no one seems to be thinking about it at all in this new television world.
Short of making the game almost completely free over the air, like the Phoenix Suns did, the solution could be to find the easiest and most consumer-friendly way through bundles.
Here are four more things you need to know today.
*Before Wednesday’s heartbreaking loss to Phoenix, the Wolves were receiving a lot of national attention. However, it was destined for back-to-back losses after an emotional game at Golden State. I wasn’t too worried about that and more focused on the final game of a 3-1 road trip (so far) in New Orleans on Saturday.
*The Gophers women’s basketball team’s easy win over North Dakota State on Wednesday caught my attention. The men’s team will be able to do the same Thursday against Missouri State.
*Read more about how Joshua Dobbs quickly responded to the Vikings’ offense and check out the latest Access Vikings podcast.
*Friday’s daily guest is Star Tribune Wilde writer Sarah McClellan, all the way from Sweden.