Photo by Alex Hare
By Logan Moyer, Assistant Sports Editor
Susquehanna sports are now behind a paywall.
On July 13, the Landmark Conference became the first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III conference to sign an agreement with a major streaming service, announcing a multi-year pact with Texas-based company FloSports.
“The Landmark is excited to be the first DIII conference to enter this media space,” said Susquehanna University President Jonathan Green, who also serves as the Executive Chair of the conference. “Supporters of our programs will have enhanced coverage of our competitions. Through the FloSports broad membership, many new sports fans will have an opportunity to see the quality of our programs and join us in cheering on our student-athletes.”
The service will cost $14.99 per month, with a $5 per month discount for students who register for FloSports with a Landmark-member institution (.edu) e-mail address. Alternatively, the annual plan will cost $99.99, or $69.99 with the student discount.
“We understand there will be initial frustration with this new platform,” said FloSports in a FAQ forum found on the press release. “However, the funds received from your subscriptions will go back to all our Landmark Conference member institutions to help them enhance our streaming product and experience for all. These funds will also create additional opportunities for our programs and student-athletes.”
The financial specifics of the agreement are not available at this time. Every member of the Landmark Conference is a private institution, meaning that the data legally does not need to be made public.
Those who register will have access to all that FloSports has to offer, including content from several NCAA Division I conferences. The most prominent of these are the Big East Conference and Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).
Fans, parents, and people around the NCAA Division III sports community expressed their displeasure with the agreement following its announcement.
“Feels like we’re heading in the wrong direction,” said Matthew Fenton on X, the assistant athletic director at NCAA Division III member-institution Messiah University.
“This is shameful,” said one Drew University supporter. “(There) are countless families who don’t have the luxury to watch their children/grandchildren play in person & now they have to pay. Very disappointing. Does this mean broadcasts will be top-notch? I highly doubt it.”
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) also signed an agreement with FloSports in the spring. The ALPB, regarded by many as the top independent baseball league in the world, followed the lead of other independent leagues (Frontier League and Pioneer Baseball League) who already had pre-standing agreements with FloSports. Livestream quality has been a major issue on ALPB broadcasts, drawing the ire of fans from across the league.
For those who still want to watch games but do not wish to pay for FloSports, games will still be published on the Landmark Digital Network free of charge 72 hours after the completion of the contest.
