Hey there! I’m Jared Newman, and this is Cord Cutter Weekly, my newsletter on how to save money on TV and make the most of streaming. Sign up here if someone shared this newsletter with you.
YouTube is eating TV, and Peacock is the next course
Jared Newman | 
YouTube Premium will look a lot different for subscribers next year, when it absorbs all of Peacock’s programming.
YouTube announced this week that all Premium subscribers will get Peacock Premium’s ad-supported movies, shows, and sports coverage starting in early 2027. This content will stream directly through the YouTube app and will not require a separate add-on subscription, a YouTube spokesperson confirmed. (Peacock Premium will still remain available through its own app, without YouTube Premium.)
While YouTube has made no secret of its plans to subsume traditional TV, until now it’s been missing the kind of original shows and live sports coverage that people typically seek out through paid streaming services. Adding Peacock’s catalog will transform YouTube Premium from a mere grab-bag of extra features into something more akin to Netflix or Hulu—though it might also raise prices.
(By the way, after mistakenly sending out the entire column earlier this week with an incorrect headline about Plex, a couple of you asked what the Plex story was about. Here it is from May.)
Weekly rewind
Roku price hikes: Roku is raising the suggested retail pricing for all of its streaming players, Matthew Keys reports. The Roku Streaming Stick now costs $40 ($10 increase), the Streaming Stick Plus costs $40 ($20 increase), the Streaming Stick 4K costs $80 ($30 increase), and the Roku Ultra costs $150 ($50 increase). This all stems from the RAM shortages that are wreaking havoc on the entire consumer electronics industry, as AI data centers hog the supply.
Should you actually pay those prices? Probably not, as discounts on Roku players are common, but the sale pricing may end up looking more like what the sticker prices used to be. (Amazon is still showing the same prices as before, at least for now.)
DAZN’s expanding sports coverage: DAZN is a sports-centric streaming service that’s been around for a decade, but until now has focused mainly on combat sports. (Here’s me covering its shady billing practices in 2023.) You’re about to hear a lot more about it, though, as it’s trying to snatch up NBA streaming rights and more.
In the New York area, DAZN is taking over streaming operations for both YES Network and MSG, which plan to wind down their joint Gotham Sports app. This will make DAZN the exclusive in-market streaming home for the Rangers (NHL), Islanders, Devils, Sabres, and Nets starting this fall. The Yankees will also move over to DAZN in 2027.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves are partnering with DAZN on a new direct-to-consumer streaming service, and it’s reportedly close to deals with six other NBA teams according to Sports Business Journal. As I wrote last week, I’ll help you sort through the coming basketball and hockey seasons once we have the full picture.
Maybe you should just listen to the game instead: On September 1, SiriusXM will launch a $5 per month “Sports Pass” with live radio feeds of every NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL broadcast, along with racing, tennis, soccer, and other sports coverage. It’ll be available through the SiriusXM app with no satellite or other subscriptions required. It’s obviously not the same as watching on TV, but it’s also not nearly as expensive or complicated as TV has become.
More catch-up
- YouTube TV subscribers can finally access ESPN Unlimited, as announced earlier this year. (Cancel your separate ESPN+ subscription if you have one.)
- Speaking of which, ESPN Unlimited now carries the NFL Network (including its seven exclusive regular season games) at no extra charge. (NFL Redzone still costs $10 per month extra.)
- CW’s sports programming starts streaming through the ESPN app next week.
- The Paramount-Warner merger is on hold, possibly until next June.
- CBS’s over-the-air broadcast switches to subchannels in some markets as broadcasters drop their affiliations.
Save more money
This part of the newsletter has some affiliate links, which earn me a commission if you wind up buying or subscribing to something.
Verizon is bringing back free NFL Sunday Ticket for eligible customers, but getting it will cost you:
- New wireless customers must activate a new phone on Verizon’s most expensive Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus plans.
- Existing wireless customers must upgrade a line to Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus while activating a new phone.
- New home internet customers can get it with Fios, 5G Home Ultimate, or Home Internet Lite Extra.
- Frontier home internet customers must switch to a plan with 1 Gbps or faster speeds.
For everyone else, Verizon’s offering a discounted Sunday Ticket price of $234, or $276 with Redzone. You can redeem that offer and see more details here.
Other notable deals:
- Paramount+ is half off two months of Premium with code SHO2MO.
- NFL Sunday Ticket is $240 for the season for new subscribers, no Verizon necessary.
- You can still get Roku’s 4K streamer for $25 at Walmart.
- Amazon’s Fire TV Stick deals are still available: 4K Plus for $25 with code STREAM4K, or the faster Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 with code FTVMAX.
As always, I keep a full list of active streaming deals on this page.
This week in Advisorator: I wrote about the best ways to make money from the electronics you’re not using anymore. Plus: Google’s creepy password alternative, Samsung’s new foldables, and a way for scaredy cats to watch scary movies. Read it here →
Want this newsletter every week? Sign up for the free edition, or support my work with a membership.
Thanks for reading!
Got questions for me? Reply to this email and I’ll do my best to answer.
Until next time,
Jared