The sports broadcasting market is rapidly evolving as we enter 2025. In the past, terrestrial TV and cable channels were at the center of sports broadcasting, but now OTT platforms are investing massive resources to acquire broadcasting rights. The competition among platforms for broadcasting major sports content—such as pro baseball, soccer, basketball, and golf—offers viewers more options than ever, but also makes it harder to choose the right service. In this article, we compare and analyze the most popular sports broadcasting platforms in 2025, helping you find the optimal service based on your viewing habits and budget.
Status of Domestic Sports Broadcasting Platforms
TVING – The Absolute Powerhouse for KBO Broadcasts
TVING stands out the most in the Korean sports broadcasting market in 2025. In particular, by owning the exclusive online broadcasting rights to the KBO League, TVING has become an essential app among baseball fans.
Main features TVING provides include:
- Live broadcasts of all KBO regular league games – All 144 games per season can be watched in real-time.
- Futures League broadcasts – Offers an additional approx. 120 games from the KBO 2nd division.
- Multiview function – Monitor several games simultaneously.
- Time machine feature – Replay missed games through on-demand service.
- Famous commentators – Commentary from popular personalities like Lee Dong-geun and Na Ji-wan.
The pricing structure is flexible according to user needs. The ad-supported Standard plan is 5,500 KRW/month and supports 2 simultaneous connections; the Premium plan is 13,500 KRW/month, supports 4 devices and offers high-quality streaming. Discounts are available in conjunction with Naver Plus.
TVING’s strength lies in more than just coverage—it’s a tailored service for baseball fans. With short-form content and text-based coverage for catching up on missed moments, along with convenient mobile streaming, TVING is highly user-friendly. As of September 2024, their Monthly Active Users (MAU) reached 7.87 million, putting it in close pursuit of Netflix in Korea.
LIVEscore – The Dominant Local Sports App
LIVEscore is a domestic sports app that has been a staple for Korean sports fans for over a decade. In 2025, it was awarded the Grand Prize in the Sports Broadcasting App category at the Korea Mobile Service Awards, cementing its reputation.
Key features of LIVEscore:
- Integration of sports coverage and community – Korea’s first all-in-one mobile sports platform.
- Real-time text and graphic coverage – Covers major matches from soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and more.
- Smart notification feature – Instantly alerts users to key events in favorite matches.
- Korea-focused – Offers localized services superior to global sports apps.
With over 10 million cumulative downloads and more than 500,000 daily users, LIVEscore has been recognized as a recommended app on Google Play and has received the Minister of Sports, Culture and Tourism Award.
A notable point is LIVEscore’s AI match prediction service, which combines sports data with large language models (LLMs) to predict match outcomes. This feature, launched last year, is pioneering in the field of sports AI.
Currently, LIVEscore is drawing attention with its ‘Daily KRW 1 Million All-Kill Event’. Users who correctly pick the winners of 5 daily matches are entered to win KRW 1 million (perfect prediction for all 5 games). Winnings above KRW 1,000 are paid out immediately, with over 20,000 participants daily.
Terrestrial and Cable TV – The Traditional Powerhouses
Terrestrial TV (MBC, SBS, KBS) and cable sports channels (MBC Sports+, SBS Sports, KBS N Sports, SPOTV) still play a significant role in sports broadcasting.
Advantages of Terrestrial TV:
- Free viewing – Watch major games live with no additional cost.
- Stable quality – Years of accumulated broadcasting expertise.
- Familiar commentators – Established commentators and a familiar presentation style.
- Large-screen experience – Immersive viewing with a TV.
The 2025 KBO League opening games are scheduled for March 22. KBS2 will show Lotte vs. LG, MBC will air NC vs. KIA, and SBS will cover Hanwha vs. KT.
Cable channels stably cover weekday games and offer high-definition broadcast quality. Many weekend games are aired free-to-air, so you can cut costs while still following major games.
Overseas Sports Broadcasting Platforms
Global OTT Platforms Expand Sports Broadcasting
In the global sports broadcasting market in 2025, OTT platforms are disrupting the landscape with aggressive investment. Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+ have acquired major sports rights with heavy investments.
Amazon Prime Video experienced huge success with its live coverage of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football (TNF). Average viewership rose from 9.64 million in the 2022–2023 season to 13–15 million in 2024–2025. Riding this wave, Amazon will broadcast 66 NBA regular-season games, NBA Playoffs (Rounds 1 & 2, Conference Finals) starting in 2025, and 30 WNBA games from 2026.
Paramount+ secured UEFA Champions League rights, attracting European football fans. Since beginning Champions League coverage in 2020, subscribers have jumped from 26 million in 2021 to 71.2 million in Q1 2024.
SOOP for Overseas Residents
SOOP is a platform providing free live KBO League coverage worldwide except South Korea. It’s a great choice for Korean baseball fans living abroad, offering both web and mobile apps. It launches with exhibition game coverage on March 8.
Platform Selection Guide
Recommended Platforms Based on Watching Habits
Ask yourself these four questions when choosing your sports streaming service:
1. Which league do you primarily watch?
If KBO baseball is your main sport, TVING is the top choice. For overseas soccer (EPL, La Liga, Serie A), consider Paramount+ or Coupang Play. NBA fans should keep an eye on Amazon Prime Video starting in 2025.
2. Do you need real-time chat and statistics features?
LIVEscore has strong community features and lets you interact with other fans in real time. Traditional TV coverage offers less interactivity.
3. What’s your tolerance for advertisements?
To avoid ads altogether, select premium plans. TVING’s ad-supported Standard plan (KRW 5,500/month) has ads but is affordable.
4. Do you watch primarily on mobile or PC?
If you mostly stream on mobile, LIVEscore and TVING apps are well-optimized. For big-screen viewing, terrestrial or cable TV is better.
Major Trends in Sports Broadcasting for 2025
AI-Based Personalized Coverage
A key trend is immersive coverage via AI. Automated highlights and on-the-fly player stat predictions are now common. Fans can check real-time win probabilities and player substitution predictions during matches.
LIVEscore’s AI match prediction exemplifies this trend, combining sports data with language models for more accurate forecasting.
Expansion of Ad-Based Revenue Models
Global streaming giants are expanding Ad-supported (AVOD) plans. Netflix’s ad-supported subscribers grew by 35% over the previous quarter, and a larger push into ad-supported business is predicted for 2025.
Sports content is pivotal for ad income—the high rate of live viewing and strong fan loyalty contribute greatly to subscription retention. Affordable, ad-supported plans with optional premium features are growing in number.
Competition for Broadcasting Rights Intensifies
Competition for sports broadcasting rights is expected to remain fierce in 2025. Domestically, TVING and Coupang Play are racing to attract subscribers by offering must-see pro baseball, soccer, and golf content.
Internationally, Amazon solidified its footprint by acquiring NBA rights. Starting 2025–2026, NBA broadcasting rights will cost $7 billion per year (approx. KRW 9.66 trillion), with an 11-year media deal totaling $77 billion (approx. KRW 106.26 trillion).
Platform-by-Platform Comparison
| Platform | Key Content | Monthly Cost | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVING | KBO baseball, Futures League | 5,500–13,500 KRW | Exclusive coverage, multiview, affordable | Focused mainly on baseball |
| LIVEscore | Global sports, AI prediction | Free (event entry) | Strong community, AI, Korean UI | Ad exposure |
| Terrestrial TV | KBO, key matches | Free | Free, stable quality, familiar | Limited match selection |
| Cable TV | Weekday games, specialized | Subscription needed | Weekday coverage, high-def | Additional cost |
| Amazon Prime | NBA, NFL, golf | $14.99 | Exclusive NBA, global sports | Limited Korean sports |
| Paramount+ | UEFA Champions League | $11.99 | European football, diverse content | No Korean sports |
Cost-Effective Viewing Strategies
Using Multiple Platforms
You don’t need to subscribe to every service—choose selectively based on your habits.
Ways to save:
- Baseball fans: TVING ad-supported Standard (KRW 5,500/month) + free terrestrial TV
- Multi-sport fans: LIVEscore (free app) + TVING Premium (KRW 13,500/month)
- Overseas residents: SOOP (free KBO) + Amazon Prime (as needed)
- Global sports fans: Paramount+ ($11.99) + Amazon Prime ($14.99)
Free Broadcast Resources
Some Futures League games are broadcast live for free on the official KBO YouTube channel—an opportunity to preview future star players at no cost.
Final Platform Selection Guide
Ultimately, your choice of sports broadcasting platform depends on your goals and viewing style. For the maximum sense of immersion during live matches, stability-based platforms are best; for highlights and in-depth analysis, data-driven platforms may be better.
Sports broadcasting in 2025 is shaped by both technology and fandom. In this age where the game begins at your fingertips, choose the platform that lets you fully enjoy the excitement and fun of sports.
You can find more information and platform reviews on sports broadcasting at alientv24.com. Wishing you an exciting and thrilling 2025 sports season!