In a fresh development, now that live TV streaming service Fubo is bringing NBC channels back, the bill for those channels is coming due.
The report highlights that base packages are rising by $15 per month, while Fubo’s skinnier sports plan is increasing by $9 per month and regional sports fees are increasing in four major markets. The Disney-owned Fubu has quietly unveiled sweeping price hikes in a support document on its website.
In a fresh development, so, if you’re one of the 6 million people paying for Fubo today, it’s time to re-evaluate your options. While Fubo’s sports offerings felt incomplete without NBC’s channels, alternative packages from YouTube TV and DirecTV are in many cases cheaper, or they offer more channels for the same cost.
According to the latest update, once the rollout is complete, both NBC and NBCSN will become available in Fubo’s base and Sports plans. Fubo’s base plans have already added Telemundo, regional NBC Sports networks, and Cozi, with Bravo to follow. Fubo’s Spanish-language plans are also getting Universo. Fubo is still in the process of adding NBC’s channels.
As part of the ongoing story, comcast spun those channels off into a separate publisher called Versant earlier this year, and Fubo does not have a carriage agreement with the fresh publisher. Notably, Fubo is not restoring CNBC, MS Now, USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, or SyFy.
According to the latest update, here’s a breakdown of Fubo’s most recent price hikes:.
In a fresh development, in other markets, the fee ranges from $13 to $17 per month. As before, Fubo hides these fees from its landing page and only discloses them during the checkout process. As for those regional sports fees, Fubo’s base plans now carry a $16 per month fee in Boston, Philadelphia and northern California, where Fubo offers NBC’s regional sports networks.
The report highlights that now, it’s raising them by $15 to $18 per month. Factor in regional sports fees, and Fubo’s standard plans now start at $102 per month, or $105 per month in markets with regional NBC Sports. Fubo’s Sports package never had NBC channels to begin with, and the fresh price of $65 per month reflects their inclusion. When Fubo removed NBC’s channels last fall, it reduced the price of its standard plans by $11 per month.
Industry observers note that unless you want regional sports coverage, you’ll likely be better off without Fubo.
In a fresh development, fubo’s $65 per month Sports package, for instance, has fewer sports channels than similar options from YouTube TV and DirecTV, which also cost $65 per month:.
As part of the ongoing story, at $102 per month or more, it’s pricier than other major live TV streaming packages such as YouTube TV ($83 per month), Hulu + Live TV ($90 per month), and DirecTV Entertainment ($90 per month). Those options also include more national sports coverage via TNT, TBS, USA, and Golf Channel. If you want a bigger package with more than just sports and local channels, Fubo again becomes one of the most expensive options once you factor in regional sports fees.
Industry observers note that now, if you do need regional sports, the calculation gets trickier.
As part of the ongoing story, (You can calculate DirecTV’s fees here, while Fubo makes you ask a chatbot on its website.) Fubo’s plans will always be a little cheaper, and the inclusion of NBCSN has some value as it carries live sports that would otherwise require a Peacock subscription. Again, though, you’ll miss some national sports coverage via TNT, TBS, USA, and Golf Channel. The only other live TV streaming package with broad regional sports coverage is DirecTV Choice, which costs $95 per month plus regional sports fees ranging from $8 to $24 per month.
Industry observers note that every MLB team now offers standalone streaming plans, for instance, and similar options will be available for basketball and hockey in the fall. Combining those plans with a cheaper pay TV package (or no package at all) is often the best way to save money. The other option for regional sports is to subscribe to them separately.
As part of the ongoing story, the service has an attractive interface, easy-to-use DVR functions, and split-screen multiview (at least on Roku and Apple TV devices). In some narrow cases, it can also be cheaper than the alternatives. None of this means that a Fubo subscription is entirely without merit.
The report highlights that now that Fubo and NBC have made up, that flexibility has gone away. Still, Fubo’s packages were more unique while the publisher was still fighting with NBC, as customers could either pay for a separate Peacock subscription to make up for the missing channels or pocket the savings.
The report highlights that sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice.
According to the latest update, his Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter has more than 30,000 subscribers, and his Advisorator tech advice newsletter is read by nearly 10,000 people each week. Jared has a master's degree in journalism from NYU and specializes in making complex tech topics easy to understand, from streaming and cord-cutting to neat apps and useful tech tricks. He is based in Cincinnati, OH. Jared has been a freelance technology journalist for more than 15 years and is a regular contributor to PCWorld, Fast Organization, and TechHive, where he's written a weekly cord-cutting column since 2014.