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I Owe My Marriage to NFL Sunday Ticket, but Now It’s Too Expensive
Professional sports leagues are exploiting the fractured streaming environment at the expense of fans
The first time I moved to New England from my home state of Pennsylvania, I wasn’t prepared for how much I would struggle to watch sports. Not just any sports, but my teams — the Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers. I listened to radio broadcasts over the Internet (quaint, I know — those streams are now blocked). But mostly, I went to bars and sat by myself, watching games, provided I could convince the bartender to change one of the channels to my team.
Eventually, I moved back to Pennsylvania, where things made sense.
The second time I toyed with the idea of moving to New England, I was determined not to get fooled again. Four years had passed, and sure, I had a swell fiance. He was (and is) worth living in the heart of Patriots Country as an Eagles fan. But before I agreed to take the leap, he made me a promise.
“We’ll get Sunday Ticket, babe,” he said. “You watch your Eagles, and I’ll watch my Patriots. It will be fine.”
He made me a romantic proposition and, for the most part, it’s worked out — with two exceptions. The first was Super Bowl LII, six months after our…
