Flo Sports

[Kuiper]

Not Flo, but Flo-like.

WIAC to Implement Pay-per-View for Championships and Tournaments

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) will implement pay-per-view for its conference championships and tournaments on a trial basis during the 2025-26 academic year.
 
Championships and tournaments that will include a pay-per-view model on the WIAC Network (wiacnetwork.com), include: men's and women's soccer (all rounds), women's volleyball (all rounds), men's wrestling, swimming & diving, men's and women's basketball (all rounds), men's and women's ice hockey (all rounds), indoor track & field, women's gymnastics, outdoor track & field, women's lacrosse (all rounds), baseball (all rounds) and softball (all rounds).
 
"The WIAC has the best fan support in NCAA Division III, with thousands streaming our contests every week," said WIAC Commissioner Danielle Harris. "By adding a nominal fee during post-season competition, we can continue to offer first-class championship experiences that our student-athletes and our fans expect and deserve. Additionally, regular season contests will continue to be free of charge."
 
Viewers will have a couple of ways to follow their teams during conference championships and tournaments:
 
Daily Pass (provides access to a specific game):  $10 per game (with the exception of the sports listed below)
         $12 - Swimming & Diving
         $15 - Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
         $15 - Women's Gymnastics (for both sessions)
 
Sports Specific Tournament Pass (access to entire tournament):  $25 (with the exception of the sports listed below)
         $20 - Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
         $30 - Swimming and Diving

[WUPHF]

Not Flo, but Flo-like.

I think this is the WIAC way of saying that this is coming to the regular season too unless the fans boycott, loudly or quietly, the conference championships.

The WIAC just announced that their commissioner is leaving for another conference, so obviously this could change.


MADISON, Wis.--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) will implement pay-per-view for its conference championships and tournaments on a trial basis during the 2025-26 academic year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I don't think there was any doubt the WIAC was seeking to monetize their broadcasts - the big question was how.  I do believe this is an experiment for them - I think they want to see how it compares, revenue-wise, to selling ads on a free broadcast.

I don't think the WIAC is naive about the size of their fanbase across the state.

I'd also suggest, if your local WIAC school already has prominent local businesses sponsoring - voice your opinion there (in the kindest possible way).  "I'll spend more money with you if I don't have to pay for a WIAC subscription."

I think, ultimately, everybody wants the same thing - for the schools and athletic departments to be as well funded as possible - there are lots of good ways to do that, especially in the WIAC, where large public schools with big footprints can drive a lot more than just subscriptions.

[ziggy]

It's not Flo, but the MIAC has decided they want to get in on the PPV action and will charge either $10/game or $25/sport to watch its playoff contests.  That could rapidly add up to more than the yearly cost of a Flo subscription.  It's supposed to be a trial; regular season webcast remain free (for now at least).

The MIAC likely won't be the only conference doing this. I'm not sure if this directly factors into the decision making but an interesting comment made to me was that a conference going this route allows them to observe first-hand the impact charging has on viewership without having already signed over your rights in a multi-year deal.

Bingo.

[y_jack_lok]

Makes Flo look cheap, comparatively, especially for a casual fan who might follow multiple sports at a school.