DirecTV is set to roll out a new package specifically designed for sports enthusiasts.
The MySports bundle, which was unveiled on Tuesday, will include 40 sports and broadcast channels.
It will be made available in 24 markets, with major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area being able to access local affiliates for ABC, NBC, and Fox.
Vince Torres, the chief marketing officer of DirecTV, stated, “For over a year, we’ve been working to understand what consumers truly desire and what would appeal to them.
This involved negotiations with major networks like Disney, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBC, and others, enabling us to curate this content into smaller, more appealing packages.”
The MySports bundle features prominent channels like ESPN and Fox Sports Networks, along with the ACC, SEC, and Big Ten networks.
It also includes well-known channels such as the Golf Channel, TNT, TBS, TruTV, USA Network, as well as networks dedicated to the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB.
Additional markets and more local affiliates for ABC, NBC, and Fox are expected to join once agreements are finalized.
However, channels owned by CBS and Paramount are currently excluded from this offering.
Moreover, this package will also provide access to channels available through the MyFree DirecTV ad-supported channels.
In the future, DirecTV plans to introduce the ESPN+ streaming channel along with other direct-to-consumer options.
The announcement of the MySports bundle follows the recent decision of Venu Sports—a collaborated streaming service involving Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery—not to move forward with its plans.
Last September, DirecTV encountered a nearly two-week standoff with Walt Disney Company regarding a new carriage deal, during which DirecTV aimed to create slimmer channel bundles.
Following negotiations, a new agreement allowed DirecTV to offer a range of Disney-owned channels across various categories, including sports and family entertainment.
Furthermore, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed on Tuesday that it has finalized a new carriage agreement with DirecTV as well.
Looking ahead, DirecTV intends to introduce additional bundles focusing on different genres.
A survey commissioned by the American Television Alliance last fall indicated that 78% of sports viewers expressed a preference for smaller channel bundles.
The MySports bundle is priced at an introductory rate of $49.99 per month for the initial three months, whereas the lowest-priced package currently available from DirecTV after MySports is listed at $86.99 for more than 90 channels, including local stations.
