Warner Bros. Discovery announced on Tuesday that its streaming service, Max, will now offer live sports through the Bleacher Report Sports Add-On tier. This move highlights the increasing significance of live sports in the streaming industry. The Bleacher Report tier will be launched on October 5, and for a limited time until February 29, it will be available for free to all customers. After this trial period, the add-on will cost $9.99 per month. The package will include live games from popular sports leagues such as MLB, NHL, NBA, U.S. Soccer, and the NCAA March Madness tournament.
The introduction of the Bleacher Report Sports Add-On tier demonstrates Max’s ambition to differentiate itself from other streaming services. While Max currently holds a lower position in the streaming market compared to giants like Netflix, the company is confident that offering extensive sports coverage will attract a larger audience. Sports, along with live news, are the key focuses for Warner Bros. Discovery.
Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, expressed excitement about the new offering, saying, “We want to be everywhere sports fans are, and our unparalleled offering of leading sports, combined with the power of the Bleacher Report brand and content… will enable us to broaden our audience and delight new fans.”
Customers who subscribe to Max with the Bleacher Report Sports Add-On will have access to live games airing on Warner Bros. Discovery networks like TNT and TBS. The service will also provide pre- and post-game programming, as well as a video-on-demand library featuring sports documentaries from HBO Sports and WBD Sports. The Bleacher Report Sports Add-On tier will also offer live video and other engaging content.
During an investor conference, Discovery CEO David Zaslav hinted at the upcoming service, stating, “We have a very comprehensive strategic attack plan on sports.” This move positions Warner Bros. Discovery to compete with streaming services that have already found success with live sports offerings, such as Apple TV’s MLS package, Amazon streaming Thursday Night Football games, and YouTube TV’s NFL Sunday Ticket.
The launch of the Bleacher Report Sports Add-On tier on October 5 coincides with the National League Division Series and comes just ahead of the start of the NBA and NHL seasons. Although the free window will feature notable events like the NBA In-Season Tournament and the NHL Winter Classic, subscribers will need to start paying to access premium content such as March Madness and the NBA and NHL playoffs on Max.
