Watching the Super Bowl online has become more complicated. FuboTV, previously one of the top cable TV alternatives, has dropped month-to-month billing and changed its pricing structure. This means that new Fubo members are now required to pay in three-month amounts per quarter of the calendar year.
Implications of Fubo TV's Changes on Online Viewers' Experience
According to Tom's Guide's story, Super Bowl mania and streaming services compete for users' attention. Fubo TV, one of the top cable TV alternatives, is making changes that could damage their online viewing experience.
First, Fubo has stopped offering monthly billing. New members will have to pay in three-month chunks for each quarter of the calendar year. This could make Fubo less attractive than its competitors, like YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV, which all offer monthly pricing.
The second change is the added regional sports fee. All Fubo subscribers (regardless of the package) will be charged this additional fee which ranges from $11-14 per month based on the number of regional sports networks available in their area, per Cord Cutters News. Unfortunately, these fees are non-negotiable and cannot be opted out.
A Look at Fubo TV's Changes to Service and Billing Structure
Between the three-month pay period and the regional sports fees, Fubo is really changing the services they offer. While their goal may be to provide their subscribers with the "best in sports programming," the changes make them look more like traditional cable companies.
With the excitement of the Super Bowl and the possibility of watching it online through Fubo TV, potential new members may encounter some unexpected road bumps in their sign-up process.
Fubo TV, which is otherwise well-regarded as one of the top cable TV alternatives due to its variety of channels and reasonable pricing, no longer offers monthly billing: new subscribers can only pay in increments of three months at a time.
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The Impact of Regional Sports Networks on Fubo Subscriptions
Making matters worse, regional sports networks are automatically included, adding an additional $11-14 to a user's bill each month, depending on which channels are available in their area, as explained further in an article by Fubo's support center.
These changes put Fubo in a difficult position regarding its competitors. YouTube TV has a monthly price of $65, SlingTV is $40, and Hulu + Live TV is $69. Sling is also raising the monthly price of its Sling Blue packages in select regions, adding the ABC Network for an additional $5.
Those who are looking to subscribe to the service, however, will find their options to be far more limited than one may expect. Competitors like YouTube TV, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV offer monthly billing plans without regional sports fees. They are likely more appealing to those interested in signing up to stream the Super Bowl.
With Sling charging an extra $5 per month in select regions for adding ABC to their channel lineup, Fubo may soon find themselves at an even greater disadvantage.
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