Can Comcast’s Sports-Centric Skinny Bundle Compete in Crowded Market?

Another week, another sports-oriented skinny bundle from a major content distributor. 

Just nine days after DirecTV introduced its MySports streaming package, Comcast is rolling out its own competing bundle of channels designed to cater to sports fans. The new Sports & News TV offering from the country’s No. 2 cable distributor will combine more than 50 broadcast, sports, and cable news channels in a cheaper and more condensed selection than a traditional cable or satellite TV subscription. 

Like the DirecTV package, Sports & News TV will feature major networks such as ESPN and Fox—two of the key partners of the recently shuttered Venu Sports. Pricing will be essentially identical, with the $70 per month fee for the Comcast offering matching up with the non-promotional price of $69.99 per month for MySports. But like MySports, Sports & News TV omits many prominent sports outlets, with the absences here including Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT and TBS, regional sports networks not owned by Comcast, and key streaming entities such as Amazon, among others. 

There are some particular elements to Sports & News TV, however, including the addition of Comcast’s Peacock streaming service. NBA basketball will also be a more prominent part of the package this fall once NBC Sports begins its rights deal with the league.

Comcast is seeking to position the package as a more affordable alternative to Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, each starting at $82.99 per month after the latter’s price increase last month. 

Fubo, whose successful injunction against Venu Sports helped lead to that company never reaching a public debut, is another digital competitor in the same price range. Sling TV also offers streaming TV packages ranging from $45 to $61.

The Comcast bundle will be available through both streaming platforms and the company’s X1 TV box. 

The move also arrives in a period of corporate transition, as Comcast in November announced plans to spin off most of its cable network holdings.