For sports fans, there are few times as glorious as the fall. Not only do you have NFL and college football in full swing, but you also have the NHL and NBA seasons getting ready to start and the Major League Baseball playoffs in full swing. So, there is no better time for Warner Bros. Discovery to launch the Bleacher Report (B/R) Sports Add-On.
While WBD’s collection of channels does not have any football rights, thanks to TBS and TNT, the company has an impressive lineup of baseball, basketball, hockey, and more, and as of Thursday, Oct. 5, you can stream all of it for free on Max. The B/R sports add-on will feature more than 300 live domestic and international sporting events throughout the year, and will also feature Bleacher Report live, original video content and a deep lineup of complementary programming.
The first live event that will air on the B/R Sports Add-on is the National League Divisional Series game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. That will be followed by an NLDS matchup between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers.
While WBD CEO David Zaslav has been talking about the potential to add live sports to his company’s flagship platform since Discovery acquired Warner Media last spring, the company first confirmed plans to do so this fall during its August earnings report conference call. Then, last month, the company announced that it would not only launch in early October, but that it would be free for five months before transitioning to a monthly fee ahead of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Starting on Feb. 29, 2024, the B/R Sports tier will run $9.99 per month and will continue to feature all of the live sports rights that otherwise air on WBD’s cable channels, including matches from the men’s and women’s United States national soccer teams and men’s March Madness. The NCAA Tournament games air on TBS, TNT, and truTV, so WBD is obviously hoping to attract cord-cutters to the service before one of the most exciting events on the annual sports calendar.
What Are the Highlights of Max’s B/R Sports Add-On in October?
NHL Opening Week
- Wednesday, Oct. 11: A star-studded NHL Opening Week doubleheader when the Chicago Blackhawks and #1 draft pick Connor Bedard visit David Pastrňák, Brad Marchand and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Boston Bruins at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Anže Kopitar, Kevin Fiala and the Los Angeles Kings hosting Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche at 9:30 p.m.
MLB National League Championship Series
- Starts Monday, Oct. 16: WBD Sports’ exclusive presentation of the NLCS will feature the winners of the NLDS squaring off for the 2023 National League pennant
NBA Opening Week
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Tuesday, Oct. 24: A blockbuster NBA Opening Night doubleheader featuring the defending NBA Champion, Denver Nuggets hosting the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:30 p.m. ET, and the Phoenix Suns visiting the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m.
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Thursday, Oct. 26: The Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Suns visiting the Lakers at 10 p.m.
U.S. Soccer
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Saturday, Oct. 14 & Tuesday, Oct. 17: U.S. Men’s National Team international friendlies against Germany and Ghana
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Thursday, Oct. 26 & Sunday, Oct. 29: U.S. Women’s National Team international friendlies, both against Colombia
Check out a teaser for Max’s Bleacher Report Sports Add-On:
What Sporting Events Will Be on Max’s B/R Sports Add-On in October?
All times are Eastern | Lineup is subject to change
Saturday, Oct. 7:
- MLB National League Division Series, Game 1: Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves at 6 p.m.
- MLB NLDS, Game 1: Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers at 9 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 9:
- MLB NLDS, Game 2: Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves at 6 p.m.
- MLB NLDS, Game 2: Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers at 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 10:
NBA Preseason: Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns at 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 11
- NHL Opening Week: Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins at 7:30 p.m.
- NHL Opening Week: Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings at 10 p.m.
- MLB NLDS, Game 3: Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies (Time TBA)
- MLB NLDS, Game 3: Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks (Time TBA)
Thursday, Oct. 12
- MLB NLDS, Game 4 (if necessary): Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies (Time TBA)
- MLB NLDS, Game 4 (if necessary): Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks (Time TBA)
Friday, Oct. 13
- NBA Preseason: Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 14
- MLB NLDS, Game 5 (if necessary): Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (Time TBA)
- MLB NLDS, Game 5 (if necessary): Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers (Time TBA)
- U.S. Soccer: USMNT vs. Germany at 3 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 16
- MLB National League Championship Series Game 1: (Teams/Time TBA)
Tuesday, Oct. 17
- MLB NLCS Game 2: (Teams/Time TBA)
- U.S. Soccer: USMNT vs. Ghana at 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 18
- NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19
- MLB NLCS Game 3: (Teams/Time TBA)
Friday, Oct. 20
- MLB NLCS Game 4: (Teams/Time TBA)
Saturday, Oct. 21
- MLB NLCS Game 5, if necessary: (Teams/Time TBA)
Monday, Oct. 23
- MLB NLCS Game 6, if necessary: (Teams/Time TBA)
Tuesday, Oct. 24
- MLB NLCS Game 7, if necessary: (Teams/Time TBA)
- NBA (Opening Night): Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets at 7:30 p.m.
- NBA (Opening Night): Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 25
- NHL: Washington Capitals at New Jersey Devils at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 26
- NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks at 7:30 p.m.
- NBA: Phoenix Suns at LA Lakers at 10 p.m.
- U.S. Soccer: USWNT vs. Colombia at 9 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 29
- NHL (2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic): Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers at 7 p.m.
- U.S. Soccer: USWNT vs. Colombia at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 31
- NBA: New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m.
- NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns at 10 p.m.
Max
Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library, along with exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Thanks to the B/R Sports add-on, users can watch NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.