How the streaming dream turned sports on TV into a costly maze

What began as a fan-friendly revolution has splintered into a confusing, expensive web of subscriptions, blackouts and ads

There was a moment, perhaps a decade ago, when it felt as if sports broadcasting nirvana was near. A world where ordinary fans could access any game on any device, any time, anywhere.

Or near enough, as cord-cutting devastated traditional cable subscription models and viewers who had long been locked into expensive and restrictive TV packages now had choices. Streaming nurtured a diverse and bespoke landscape.