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Issue 43: September 16, 2019

Baseball season is on its way, and the contract wars are getting fierce. This week, we explore what to do when your streaming service loses those anchor channels you subscribed to it for (such as  FOX RSNs). We also take a look at what's coming this week on TV (get the red carpet ready!) and offer a few notable industry-related headlines.Read on to find out more in this week's Stream Report.

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Cord-Cutting Tip of the Week:

What to Do When Your Service Loses Channels

It's no secret that OTT streaming services are a mixed bag of channels. After cutting the cord, you'll find you might have to subscribe to more than one service to get every channel you want, or just give up on watching some channels.

However, nothing is more frustrating than when the channels you originally signed up to watch suddenly go dark. 

Why do channels go dark, and what can you do when it happens?

1. Contract and licensing agreements

Streaming services like Sling TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, and Philo, all license content with providers. They work out carriage deals to offer the channels you view. But those contracts are not forever. In fact, many must be renewed annually. It during those regular contract renewals that the content providers quite often ask for more money. 

This action puts the streaming service in a bind. Their rates are set based on how much they pay for content. If the content providers ask for more money, the streaming service has one of two options: reduce its own revenue, or pass that cost on to consumers.

Most services have a very defined business plan and pricing model that works to make them competitive. And as such,

some would rather lose key channels

(and potentially a few customers) than to raise prices on existing customers and lost a larger number.

2. What to do when you lose channels

Every so often, channels go black on even traditional cable TV. In the past, when that happened, switching services wasn't an easy task. Now, however, it's fairly easy to shop around for the cord-cutting service that still carries the channel you want.

For example, right now, Sling TV doesn't carry any Fox Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) due to a contracting disagreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair likely wants more money, and Sling TV likely isn't willing to pay. As Fox RSNS carry a large number of MLB games, baseball fans using Sling might want to switch. 

To find alternatives, you can check each service's channel line-up. Alternatively, you can use the Flixed Cord-Cutter Express tool to make that comparison easier to accomplish.

Simply plug in the channels you want most, the features you like, then let the Cord-Cutter Express tool do comparative shopping for you.

This Week's Streaming Guide

1. Watch NBC's newest late-night show, 'A Little Late With Lilly Singh" TONIGHT.

Night owls can rejoice at more late-night content. NBC's new show, A Little Late With Lilly Singh, premieres tonight at 1:35 AM. -

Flixed

2. Watch the 71st Emmy Awards this SUNDAY on FOX

The 71st Emmy Awards will feature the biggest stars wearing the most unexpected outfits. Watch this SUNDAY on FOX. -

F

lixed

News and Industry Developments

1. Apple Reveals the Price of its New Streaming Service

This week, Apple finally revealed the price of its new streaming service, Apple TV+, set to launch in November. The verdict? $4.99 per month, which some industry analysts are calling a "cash drain".-

Indiewire

2. Disney+ is 'More Addictive Than Heroin' Claims Early Reviewer

Disney recently released its Disney+ service early and with a free trial in the Netherlands. According to one early reviewer, the new service is 'more addictive than heroin" 

- BGR