Just got an email from Rakuten that they are getting rid of the annual flat season fee of ¥21,780 and replacing it with a ¥4,500 per month fee. That’s more the doubling the cost!! All this for 720p (if your lucky) at 30fps with no condensed games nor ability to watch previous seasons. Of course you can get this crappy service for free if you sign up for Rakuten mobile. No way I am signing up for any of this, off to the high seas or VPNing!
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Full season via Argentina (which also doubled up from previous season) amounts to about ¥8,000 to get the same exact content. . Guess, I’ll finally get VPN. Anyone got a recommendation?
Long time Lakers fan in Japan here. I’ve been a Rakuten NBA subscriber since they began but will not be renewing with the new pricing scheme. Fortunately, there are enough reliable “free” streaming sites showing the Lakers local broadcasts (and most other NBA games) to keep me happy without Rakuten. So I’ll be going that route this season. DM me for more info.
Yeah, I just saw that email earlier. I’ve been a League Pass subscriber for 15+ years, but this is giving me pause.
I wonder if it’ll be doable to just quit the service right after the Finals, then re-up at the start of the next season.
Either way, it’s a massive piss take.
Isn’t Rakuten mobile significantly cheaper than 4500/month?
Anyway, if someone sets up a support group, can you also include us NFL fans who are getting raked by dazn’s incompetence after years of much better service?
980 a month seems like a great deal…? I don’t get it.
I couldn’t believe it when I read their announcement, charging such a crazy price unless you sign up for their mobile service which everyone, including themselves, knows is crap.
And this on top of *big* reductions in the cost of the US plans and better features (dual game view is back). Subbing in the US (if you are able with a US address and credit card) and using a VPN is only a partial solution because no matter where you sign up from you are going to lose some coverage (home games and nationally broadcast games for that team).
I thought about trying to complain to the US League Pass (I know, hah!) but the NBA admin don’t care because they’ve got their money no matter what. Rakuten is disgusting and so is the NBA for allowing them to do this. I hope Rakuten loses a ton of money, perhaps even more than the many millions they have already lost on their failed mobile effort (easily read about).