Big Disney Competitor Makes a Major Deal with Comcast

One challenge for streaming services is ease of use for people who have not cut the cord. To watch most of them you have to switch television inputs, which often involves a second remote control. There are, of course, alternatives to that. Televisions that have smart capabilities built-in allow for easy toggling between services, for example, and some streaming services are embedded into traditional cable lineups. That's something Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) has done with a few cable providers: The streaming leader appears as a channel as consumers flip through their options. When they land on the Netflix "channel," they have the option to enter the service without having to switch inputs, or even leave cable. For lesser streaming services -- or ones struggling for market share and consumer awareness -- adding visibility can be the key to gaining subscribers. That's why Walt Disney's (NYSE:DIS) ESPN should be very concerned about a new deal between Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) and DAZN, a sports service that's a rival to ESPN+.