As the new NFL season picks up, Bitcoin users now have the option to watch any game each week, for a fraction of the price.
Watching the NFL With Bitcoin
NFL fans rejoice! A new season is upon us. But for many, watching their favorite teams can be costly and problematic. Now, a new option called Freecast lets people watch any game, including premium and location-restricted content like NFL Redzone and the playoffs. Furthermore, Freecast offers customers the option to pay with bitcoin.
The purported owner of the site noted on Reddit that quality is up to 4500 kbps streaming, with a 720p resolution at 60 frames-per-second. He also claimed that there won’t be any lag, as the stream adapts to your Internet connection. Freecast reportedly works on all devices, including Xbox, PS4, iOS, Android, PC, and Mac.
But the price is the major selling point here. Customers will get access to the service for $10 per month or $50 per season, compared to NFL’s Game Pass, which costs $24.99 per week or $199 per season — a prohibitive price for many would-be viewers.
The site may engage in some form of account-sharing, however, since the streams come from NFL Game Pass, according to the owner. Therefore, Freecast may experience problems in the future, possibly finding itself in a game of whack-a-mole with authorities.
Nevertheless, this is the only option for some bitcoin-holding NFL fans. Feedback so far has varied from excellent to some experiencing account issues.
More People Are Cutting the Cord
In the Internet Age, we have more sports viewing options than ever before. Even Twitter started offering game streams this year, in an effort to boost stagnant growth. But many consumers still find themselves tied to package deals by cable providers.
This structure introduces hidden fees and forces customers to pay for programs they may not want at all.
“Consumers should be able to choose their preferred device to access pay-TV programming,” FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler recently wrote, adding that Americans spend $20 billion in rental fees per year. Additionally, a recent survey revealed that only about a third of subscribers are happy with their cable service.
As a result, half of all Americans are considering dropping their cable subscriptions. Both legal and illegal streaming services are becoming increasingly popular, offering the same quality content at a fraction of the price.
Mark Buff, CEO of Mohu, said:
With such an unfavorable view toward cable and satellite companies, it’s clear that cable and satellite companies are out of touch with consumer demand. Americans are dissatisfied with cable and its high cost of viewing. This is a far cry from delivering a service that fits the needs of today’s savvy, digitally-oriented consumers.
Legality aside, new technology provides people all over the globe with more ways to access their favorite content. Meanwhile, a truly global form of money like bitcoin will continue making inroads into this arena by serving as the de facto digital cash for online payments.