The excitement of the postseason for the Wild and Timberwolves can be dampered at times because it is hard to know where to find the games on visual electronic media. Are they on cable television like ESPN or TNT? Can I watch them on over the air signals like NBC or ABC? Or do I have to pay extra for streaming services like Amazon or peacock?
The NFL started this trend when they made an agreement with ESPN back in the late 1980’s to start airing a Sunday night football game. That expanded to other cable outlets like TNT on Thursday nights for a few years. The other leagues took notice and followed suit putting their games all over the over the air and cable networks as well.
Now the world of subscribing to streaming services has been added to the sports mix and the confusion has grown. This probably will be the norm now, but the growing pains of this transition are real.
The only good thing that could come out of streaming being the primary source down the road for sporting events, is that start times for games for Western Conference teams that are in the central time zone could be at a reasonable time. Minnesota sports fans wouldn’t have to wait until after an Eastern Conference game to get over on one of the networks. They could just click on the game they are interested in at what ever time the home team wanted.
I obviously am partial to radio as a place to take in sporting events because I work in that industry, but I also love the fact it comes to the consumer at no cost. Listening to games on the radio with no subscriber fees is why audio electronic media has always withstood the test of time. On the go, busy doing things outside, in the garage or in the house? Radio is the perfect way to consume games with how busy we are, and it won’t cost you an arm and leg with the price of gas and groceries skyrocketing.
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