Sports streaming is a fragmented hot mess

Sports Streaming Faces Fragmentation Issues

Watching sports online has become more accessible than ever, except for devoted fans aiming to catch every single game of their favorite team. Despite the abundance of sports content available, the experience has become increasingly complicated.

Monday Night Football Blackouts on YouTube TV

This complexity is highlighted by recent events with YouTube TV’s Monday Night Football blackouts. Former NFL star JJ Watt, known for his long tenure with the Houston Texans, expressed his frustration publicly.

“Just frustrating. All of it.”

Watt’s dissatisfaction stems from a carriage dispute between Disney and YouTube TV. Since October 30th, ESPN and several other Disney-owned channels have been unavailable on YouTube TV due to disagreements over the fees YouTube TV must pay to carry Disney’s networks.

Impact on Subscribers

Approximately 10 million YouTube TV subscribers have been unable to watch Monday Night Football this week as a result of the dispute. Some dedicated fans resorted to signing up for trial periods on alternative streaming platforms like Hulu Live or FuboTV.

“I’m not paying for another streaming subscription,” Watt added, expressing his refusal to subscribe to additional services.

Newsletter and Source

This update is from Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter covering the evolving intersections of technology and entertainment, syndicated weekly for The Verge subscribers.

Summary: Sports streaming grows more convenient in general, but ongoing disputes between service providers fragment fan access, frustrating even the most dedicated viewers.

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The Verge The Verge — 2025-11-07

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