Stan Sport, a popular sports streaming service, recently made waves by announcing a significant price hike. Customers who were used to paying $27 per month for both Stan and Stan Sport found themselves facing a new monthly fee of $32 starting from July 1st.
The decision to raise prices came in conjunction with an exciting deal for exclusive rights to broadcast the Premier League, FA Cup, Emirates FA Cup, UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, Wimbledon, the British & Irish Lions Tour, and the UEFA Champions League. Ben Kimber, Stan’s Director of Sport, remained tight-lipped about potential price increases when questioned earlier this year.
In response to the backlash over the steep increase in subscription fees, Stan issued a statement justifying their actions:
“From 1 July, the price of Stan Sport increased by $5 per month… Our focus remains on delivering outstanding value and a premium viewing experience for Australian sports fans.”
Expert analysts speculate that such price hikes are becoming common as streaming services vie for exclusive sports broadcasting rights. One user expressed concern over escalating costs saying,
“In years to come it’ll be $50 for the sports fee. Out of reach for many.”
Moreover, viewers are increasingly adopting a strategy of subscribing only when their favorite sporting events are on. One user explained their approach:
“I think the deal stan has is fir entire english soccer pyramid… I opted in on June 30 for Wimbledon and it takes me to July 15 as per my cycle so I have already cancelled.”
Interestingly enough, some users have discovered alternative ways to watch certain sporting events without paying extra. For instance, one commented that Diamond League coverage is available for free on YouTube this year.
Despite concerns about affordability and changing viewer habits impacting subscription-based models like Stan Sport’s pricing strategy moving forward remain uncertain. As one observer humorously predicted:
“At least it’s an add-on price not forced upon us like Disney’s ESPN… Looks like Stan might be the first streaming service to eventually cost that much.”
As trends in streaming services continue evolving rapidly due to market demands and consumer behaviors shifting unpredictably experts suggest that staying flexible with offerings will be crucial in retaining subscribers amidst growing competition in this space.
Leave feedback about this