In North America, out-of-market sports packages is a form of subscription television that broadcasts sports events to areas where events can not be seen by viewers on other broadcast and cable television networks because the games are not broadcasting in their local markets.
Many leagues with large television contracts set complex rules on which games are broadcast in different regions (with local teams usually getting preference). For viewers who prefer to view games other than those broadcast locally in specified market areas, out-of-market packages provide additional options.
Video Out-of-market sports package
Rationales
While such a thing may not be necessary for the average sports enthusiast who lives in their team market, many circumstances may occur that generate the desire to see teams get out of the market. Some include:
- Fans moved from their favorite team market - while the team can be seen nationally on broadcast or cable television, or when teams play local sports franchises, the chances are few and far between ;
- Just being a team fan off the market ;
- Better competition - as in the case of college and basketball soccer. For example, the option to watch some of the most competitive or most interesting national games of the week, in addition to the home team game. Except for the Southeast Conference, for example, no conference is guaranteed this week's national game in the same time slot every week;
- Additional opportunities to watch one sport - like when the home team has no game to play, or create their own doubleheader; watch the game early, then the game late;
- Rivalry - have a desire to watch a competitor team match, or team game in the same conference or athletic division as one's favorite team, which may not be available regularly in one's market;
- Live in a no-team area in the market at the highest level in sports - this usually means only the availability of games that are broadcast nationwide. Although this often shows regional games, this is probably the "most exciting" regional game, which results in many games being missed even when following the closest team geographically. The league will often point to a "secondary market" to prevent this from happening;
- Involvement in fantasy sports leagues - sports fans who "manage" fantasy teams may have a desire to watch the performance of players in several games played simultaneously and therefore have the ability to switch between games.
- Extinctions - most major sports leagues have a blackout policy that prevents viewers of certain television channels (usually regional sports networks) viewing games on the channel outside certain geographic areas (for live audiences from city to package).
Maps Out-of-market sports package
Packages
Cable and satellite
- MLB Extra Innings - Available to DirecTV and most digital cable providers.
- MLS Direct Kick - Available to DirecTV, Dish Network, and most digital cable providers.
- NBA League Pass - Available to DirecTV, Dish Network, and most digital cable providers.
- NFL Week Ticket - Exclusive to DirecTV *
- NHL Center Ice - Available to DirecTV, Dish Network, and most digital cable providers.
- ESPN College Extra - Available to DirecTV and most digital cable providers.
* Exclusive NFL Sunday tickets for DirecTV in the United States, but in other countries (mainly Canada), these are more widely available, to some cable providers.
Internet
With the exception of ESPN3, Internet sports packages are primarily marketed directly to consumers and not via cable or satellite providers. Current Internet television and radio subscriptions or pay-per-view services include:
- MLB.tv
- MLB.com Gameday Audio
- MiLB.tv
- Direct MLS
- NFL Audio Pass (NFL, radio)
- NHL.tv (United States), Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE (Canada, marketed and distributed by Rogers Communications through the NHL 2025-26 season)
- NBA League Pass Broadband
- UFC Fight Pass
- WWE Network
- CFL Broadband (TV)
- WatchESPN (Everywhere TV service that offers ESPN streaming, ESPN2, and exclusive ESPN3 web services)
Major League Baseball and National Football League are the only professional sports leagues to blacken the local internet affiliate radio bait. Ironically, while the NFL charges for radio feeds, it sells Internet television rights to other networks that make the game available online for free, a model that is opposite of the major sports leagues of other US cities.
See also
- Regional sports network
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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