The sports streaming mess, free MLB TV on T-Mobile
This week on TechHive: Cleaning up the sports streaming mess
Now that streaming TV has made a fragmented mess of televised sports coverage, the race is on to help users pick up the pieces. Apple and Roku have already created central hubs where you can find games from across different services, and ESPN reportedly wants to build one of its own.
But just like existing universal guides for movies and shows, these sports menus have limitations. None of them list all the available options for watching your favorite team, and they might even steer you toward extra subscriptions you don’t need. That means figuring out where to watch a particular basketball or baseball game will still take some effort.
Read the full column on TechHive →
Weekly rewind
Roku OS 12: While I hinted at it in this week’s TechHive column, Roku’s next operating system upgrade is largely about making content easier to find. A quick rundown:
- Amazon Prime Video, Freevee, and Discovery+ will support Roku’s “Continue Watching” row, which gives you one place to pick up where you left off from across different services. You’ll find this feature in the “What to Watch” section of Roku’s home screen. (Netflix, Paramount+, and HBO Max support the feature already.)
- More sources will soon appear in Sports section of Roku’s home screen, including MLB TV, NBA League Pass, NBC Sports, and CBS Sports. The section will also support golf and additional soccer leagues.
- The Roku Channel app’s live TV guide will add local news (great) and a section to upsell you on premium channel add-ons (ugh).
- Roku’s mobile app is getting a revamp that spotlights the aforementioned Continue Watching and Sports sections. It’ll also add more account management options and make photo uploads easier.
Roku says OS 12 will arrive in the “coming weeks,” though some of the features above may take longer roll out. In the meantime, have a look at my ultimate Roku tips and tricks guide over at TechHive.
T-Mobile’s MLB TV freebie: T-Mobile is bringing back free MLB TV for wireless customers, but you’ll only have from March 28 to April 4 to redeem it. Once you do, it’ll give you access to out-of-market baseball on any streaming device. The offer will be redeemable through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app, and I’ll be sure to post a reminder in this newsletter once it’s available.
Not a T-Mobile customer? Read about how you can save $50 on MLB TV instead.
YouTube banner ads begone: YouTube’s desktop website will stop showing banner ads on top of videos from next month onward, “as engagement shifts to other ad formats.” In other words, get ready for even more unskippable commercials instead.
More catch-up
- Netflix adds more closed caption options to its TV apps.
- Disney’s new plan: Less content on Disney+, more licensed elsewhere.
- A new Apple TV update fixes remote control connection bugs.
- Roku-branded TVs are now for sale, but wait for the inevitable discounts before buying. (And read my past coverage at TechHive.)
Save more money
T-Mobile customers: It’s your last chance to get a free year of MLS Season Pass through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app. If you don’t redeem the offer by March 14—that’s four days from now—you’ll have to pay for American soccer like the rest of us.
Verizon customers: The carrier will once again give away a year of Netflix through its +Play billing system starting March 12, but with a catch: You’ll also have to sign up for another eligible service along with it. You can choose from AMC+, Calm, MasterClass, Paramount+, the Peloton App, Starz, or Super Duolingo, most of which are still cheaper than Netflix alone. Verizon says this is a limited-time deal, but hasn’t specified an end date.
Other notable deals:
- The latest Paramount+ codes are SCHOOLSPIRITS, FBITRUE, and PICARD. Learn how to get Paramount+ (and Showtime) free on a month-by-month basis.
- New Starz subscribers can get three months for $3 per month.
- See more ways to save on the Cord Cutter Weekly website.
Thanks for reading!
Question for Roku users: Has a “Showtime on Roku” app been added to your home screen without permission lately? I’ve heard from a couple readers about this and am wondering if it’s happening to anyone else. If so, just email me!
Of course, you’re welcome to email me with any other cord cutting questions you might have as well.
Until next week,
Jared