Sports Media Briefs: Why Comcast Subs Can’t Get ESPN+ For Free; Why Tonight Is Sportspalooza; ESPN Stumbles On Betting Scandals
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.
Comcast & Disney Renew Carriage Deal But Where’s ESPN+?
The Puck’s John Ourand reports that Comcast has quietly reached a new carriage deal with Disney for ESPN and the entire Disney suite of channels. However, the cable op’s subscribers don’t yet have free and full access to the new ESPN Unlimited app. Previous TV distributors such as DIRECTV and Spectrum TV were able to get that bonus benefit for their subscribers with new carriage pacts. However, Comcast’s subscribers still can only access the live channels on the app, not the added programming available via the ESPN+ section. The TV Answer Man asked Comcast about this last week and the cable service confirmed the live channels on the app were now available for free to its subscribers, but not ESPN+. Awful Announcing reports that a source says ESPN is still working on the technology to accommodate the Comcast subscribers which makes sense. DIRECTV has offered the ESPN+ programming to its streaming customers since the app’s launch, but not the larger satellite audience. The latter is being phased in to ensure the ESPN app is not overwhelmed with subscribers at one time. So, Comcast subscribers, ESPN+ is coming but be patient. To learn more, here’s the paywalled The Puck article and here’s the Awful Announcing article.
Why Tonight Is Sportspalooza!
If you’re a sports fan, it’s time to drag together the extra TVs in the house, or find a Multiview provider, because tonight will see three high-profile sporting events taking place at the same time: Peacock will stream a NBA doubleheader starting at 7 p.m. ET; Fox will air the third game of the 2025 World Series between the Jays and Dodgers at 8 p.m. ET with pre-game coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET and ESPN will show the Monday Night Football game between the Chiefs and Commanders at 8 p.m. ET. The TV Answer Man wishes everyone the best of luck tonight. It’s Sportspalooza night!
ESPN Stumbles On Gambling Scandals
ESPN, the self-anointed worldwide leader in sports, stumbled badly last week in covering the news that a NBA coach (Chauncey Billups) and current player (Terry Rozier) were indicted in connection with fixed poker games and possibly manipulated NBA contests. The network, which operates the legal betting service, ESPN Bet, seemed to downplay the story after it first broke, and then forgot to remove an ESPN Bet banner ad on screen when it did cover it. To learn more about the network’s struggle to cover bad behavior in the gambling world – while promoting gambling – click here.
The Latest News On YouTube TV vs. Disney
YouTube TV has informed its subscribers that it could lose all of Disney’s programming, including ESPN, on Thursday, October 30, due to a carriage dispute. I’ve been asked today a few times about any updates on the carriage scrap. Answer: There are none. Both companies continue to stick to their official positions and I don’t expect any significant change, if any change at all, on that until the deadline day.
Netflix Tonight to Stream John Cena’s Last WWE RAW Appearance
The John Cena retirement tour seems to be taking almost as long as his entire career but Netflix tonight promises to offer Cena’s last appearance as a WWE RAW participant. We say ‘participant’ because it’s not confirmed that Cena will actually face off in a match. Netflix’s WWE Raw will stream tonight at 8 p.m. ET and Cena is expected to make his final WWE appearance ever on December 13 at the Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. To learn more, click here.
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If Xfinity adds the ESPN app will they get rid of the NHL center ice?
Directv still has it and it is providing ESPN+ to satellite and streaming. So, not necessarily.