FORT WORTH, Texas — You may have cut the cord, but the “steal” that was your couch to watch all of your favorite games is increasingly becoming less of a deal, and now looks like a gouge that you don’t know how to eliminate.

The cost of watching a “big game” in person has always been, and always will be, pricey. The “end around” has been TV. Sports is doing a nice job of cutting that cord now, too.

The 2024 NFL and NCAA football seasons begins this later this month, followed by the NBA and NHL as MLB rolls to its October finale.

If you are committed, which all of the data suggests you are, and you want access to all of these games on your TV, smart phone or other tablet device, this is going to cost you. Cost you a lot more than you realize. All of the major networks have embraced streaming, and whatever your cable bill used to be has likely been doubled or tripled by “bundling” all of these deals to save you $4.99 from a 149% markup.

NFL

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told a select group of invited reporters before the Super Bowl in Las Vegas that the reason the league is putting select games on streaming-exclusive platforms is because, he said, “We have to fish where the fish are and we have a lot of consumers that are on those platforms. And the Peacock (playoff game between the Chiefs and Dolphins) game showed that.”

The NFL through its broadcast partners, helped build a pond that is now a Great Lake where you must pay more “to fish.” The reason the NFL is “streaming” crazy is because rights holders, such as NBC and Amazon, will overpay to broadcast a game knowing it will drive subscriptions.

The plan works so well that this season some NFL games will be carried on Netflix, Amazon, Peacock and ESPN+. (Note all prices listed here are monthly, and do not include taxes).

Amazon Prime: $14.99

Netflix: $15.49

Peacock: $7.99

ESPN+: $10.99

Or, NFL Sunday Ticket: $379 (only available through YouTubeTV).

NCAA football

The expansion of the Big Ten and SEC, and the dismantling of the Pac-12, has again changed your viewing needs on fall Saturdays. This consolidation of “power teams” means more “big-on-big” games, which is the value of college football.

To watch all of the major college football games will require a viewer to have NBC, CBS, ABC/ESPN, Fox Sports, and … its legion of other offspring networks. That includes SEC Network, Big Ten Network, ACC Network and the Big 12’s myriad of network partners for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 games.

If this labyrinth of spending hasn’t convinced you to throw away your TV in favor of a library card, the best alternative for streamers is via an “app.” YouTube TV, Spectrum and a few others are the most popular options. Those selections will cover most, not all, of your needs.

YouTube TV: $72.99

Spectrum: $79.99 (approximate; to access the Spectrum app you must be a Spectrum internet subscriber)

FuboTV: $115

Hulu TV: $76.99

NBA

After the 2024-25 season, the NBA will end its 40-year partnership with Turner Sports. The league recently announced an 11-year agreement with Disney (ABC/ESPN), Amazon Prime and NBC. What does this mean for you? After the upcoming season, the NBA’s slate of “national” games will stream on Amazon Prime and NBC’s Peacock.

MLS

Currently the only way to watch all matches is via the league’s exclusive partnership with Apple TV.

Apple TV subscription: $9.99

Apple TV MLS season subscription: $49.99

Future of sports on TV

For those who want to just “have their sports,” and consolidate all of these channels, that ambition hit a block; this week, a federal judge ruled in favor of FuboTV against “Venue Sports,” a potential startup channel started by ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. A channel like that is likely coming, but for the time being a judge ruled it is violation of anti-trust laws.

Much like a “wall phone,” expect the “box” on your TV to go away in the next few years. You will have a myriad options how to watch sports, but the “deal” of the game on your TV has been cut.