How Fubo Stopped Me From Cancelling
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.
Why Did I Subscribe to Fubo?
Prior to the DIRECTV-Disney carriage dispute last month, I cancelled my DIRECTV Stream subscription. While I thought (and predicted) there would be a Disney blackout, which there was, that wasn’t why I cancelled. The biggest reason was the high cost of subscribing to DIRECTV Stream’s Choice plan (now $114.99 a month), its cheapest package that includes regional sports networks.
The second reason was that DIRECTV Stream is only one of two live streaming services (Fubo is the other) that carries MASN, the regional TV home of the Washington Nationals. However, the Nats’ season was almost finished so my need for DIRECTV Stream was almost over as well.
When my DIRECTV Stream sub officially ended on September 20, I decided to give Fubo’s seven-day free trial a spin. Since Fubo carried MASN, I could watch most of the remainder of the Nationals’ games in September with the free trial. And if I wanted to watch the last few games, Fubo was offering its base plan’s first month of service for just $49.99, a $30 discount.
And that’s what I did. I stayed with Fubo for the first month. But I went to my account to set it to cancel when the first month would expire in late October so I wouldn’t be charged for the full price in month two. But Fubo did something that surprised me.
How Did Fubo Stop Me From Cancelling?
After saying I wanted to cancel, Fubo’s web site offered me the second month for just $14.99. Folks, that’s a bargain now in the streaming industry. Sling TV sometimes offers the first month for $15 but it has far fewer channels than Fubo’s base plan. YouTube TV, which has a comparable number of channels as Fubo, is now offering its first two months for $49.99 each but that’s $35 more than what Fubo was offering.
So despite my plan to cancel, I agreed to stay with Fubo for $14.99 in month two.
This is a smart move by Fubo. Rather than hope I might return at a later time, Fubo was successful in getting me to stay with the service for two months. And as anyone in marketing knows, the longer you stay with a product, the less likely you are to cancel. I don’t know if I will stay with Fubo starting with month three if the price is not discounted again, but I must admit it’s possible. I like Fubo’s interface and channel lineup so I will definitely consider staying on. (FYI, I have Max for the Turner sports broadcasts; Fubo does not have TNT or TBS.)
What’s the Lesson For Consumers?
There’s also a lesson here for any consumer: Don’t be afraid to cancel and/or see what a company will offer you to keep your subscription. There is an unprecedented number of video choices available these days and you should use that as leverage to get the best deal possible.
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
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