Comcast Xfinity Launches Sports And News Pay-TV Package Costing $70 A Month

As more pay-TV operators embrace slimmer packages, Comcast Xfinity is rolling out Sports & News TV, a $70-a-month offering based on two foundational elements of live programming.

The $70 price is available only to customers who also have Xfinity internet service. The package includes more than 50 broadcast and cable news and sports channels as well as NBCUniversal streaming service Peacock, which has ramped up its live sports offerings and integrated elements of MSNBC’s live news coverage. The bundle also includes 300 hours of cloud DVR storage.

Included in the channel lineup are local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo and Univision affiliates as well as national cable channels like CNBC, CNN, FOX News and MSNBC. On the sports front, subscribers will get ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, FS1, GOLF Channel and SEC Network. More than 100 FAST channels will also be accessible through the main menu, Xfinity said.

An extra $9.95 a month for Xfinity’s More Sports & Entertainment package would add channels like NFL RedZone, NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV and NHL Network. Xfinity’s StreamSaver package, for $15, offers access to the ad tier of Netflix as well as Apple TV+.

Sports & News TV joins a sports-focused package introduced this month by DirecTV in the wake of a settlement between pay-TV operator Fubo and major media companies Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. DirecTV’s offering is also $70 but does not include CBS as of now. The $70 price point is far higher than the $43 announced by Venu, though it is a notch below the $83 level of leading internet-delivered bundlers YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV.

In the Venu case, Fubo last year sued the trio, alleging anti-competitive behavior for seeking to launch a sports-focused streaming service, Venu. After getting bogged down in legal challenges, the service was ultimately scrapped. In the settlement of the lawsuit, Disney pledged to acquire majority ownership of Fubo, whose objection to Venu centered on its experience trying to offer more tailored, sports-oriented bundles. Those efforts were thwarted by major programmers forcing them to carry less-desirable, non-sports channels, thereby boosting the price for customers, Fubo said.

“With Sports & News TV, we’ve brought together top networks for live sports and news and Peacock, the best streaming service for sports fans, to create a new video bundle packed with the best content at an unbeatable price, all accessible within a premium viewing experience that makes it easy for customers to find the content they care about most,” said John Dixon, SVP, Entertainment, Comcast. “Sports & News TV is a terrific option for customers looking for a great value in entertainment without sacrificing their favorite live sports and news channels.” 

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