THE WINDOW Update: “Amen to business”
How to pledge your subscription for 2025-‘26 at the best possible price
TLDR: This is the first of two posts devoted to the future of THE WINDOW, before we turn on the paywall for the 2025-‘26 season on August 1st. Want to skip the reading and subscribe? Hit this button, pick “Founding Member,” set it and forget it:
Have you ever misheard someone, to the point where you thought they said a completely different sentence than they did?
Almost 20 years ago, in a former life while working for a CFL football team, we were tossing a plush football around in the office, and someone made an impressive catch on an errant throw, narrowly avoiding taking out the fax machine. This prompted someone to exclaim something along the lines of “hot one-hand catch!”
Confused, the receiver - who may or may not have worked in accounts receivable - looked at him and said, “Did you say ‘Hot sandwich!?”.
Looking back on it, it was semi-congruent with the Sportscenter catchphrase culture of the time - something Stuart Scott might have said, but it was a weird enough mis-hear that “Hot sandwich!” got thrown around headquarters for awhile after that.
Clearly weird enough to allow that dumb memory to be burned into my cerebellum.
More recently, I didn’t quite hear something my wife said (she would perhaps argue this is more of a regular, semi-intentional listening issue), and I responded by saying, what does “amen to business” mean?
Neither of us are particularly religious (beyond occasional adherence and necessary sacrifice to the Gambling Gods), nor are we known for our adept business acumen, so I thought maybe she was just being hipper than me.
It turns out she did not say “Amen to business,” and while I don’t recall what she actually said (potentially adding evidence to her argument), I did type “Amen to business” in my notes, thinking that one day it might be a handy term to coin publicly.
Well, here we are, needing to talk some business.
The issue
As we slowly approach the transition from THE WINDOW’s totally-free 2024-‘25 season to the paywall going up this summer before the 2025-‘26 season, I’ve had a few “Panes” reach out, having heard the “house” ad on the podcast recently, about pledging interest in subscribing for next year, but they’re unsure of how to do it.
My understanding is that at the foot of every email newsletter is something like this:
THE WINDOW is FREE this 2024-‘25 season. Paid subscriptions will be enabled in the Summer of 2025, so if you’ve enjoyed THE WINDOW this season, you can make it known that you’re in for next season by pledging a future subscription. It’s $15/month, $120/year, or $150 for a founding annual membership - which will give you special benefits as a “Pane.” By pledging, you’re giving Matt a better idea of what the content and community is worth to you. You won't be charged until payments are enabled in August of 2025.
For some reason, that doesn’t show in-app, and going hunting for a way to pledge becomes trickier.
Note: A “pledge” is the same as subscribing after the paywall goes up on August 1st - in that you’re not paying for anything now - except the lone difference is that a pledge lets me know that you are in before we (hopefully) flip that switch. This is relevant because this FREE trial year was designed to gauge interest in THE WINDOW returning for next year at a small cost of a few bucks a week, and the planning around that.
The resolution
By now, you likely know what THE WINDOW “is”, and whether it’s something you’ll keep in your sports betting, and casual reading, repertoire for next season.
So, consider this post our “Pledge Central.”
Not just the (lone) annoying reminder-post about how you can sign up now, before the paywall is activated, but one that you can save to access the buttons peppered throughout this article (for when you’re reminded tomorrow, next week, or whenever enjoying a “hot sandwich” this summer).
Note: There will be a second “business” post before we flip on the paywall and pricing goes up before football season kicks off.
Why pledge now?
Let’s pretend that helping me learn the market for THE WINDOW isn’t of your concern.
Even though a lack of support risks THE WINDOW gets shuttered before August 1st and, admit it, you’d be bummed.
By pledging now, you’ll be locking in the best price that will ever be offered at THE WINDOW, in perpetuity.
When the paywall goes up, that will be the dividing point between the “OG” Panes, and those who join our community in the future. While there will be a grace period for those who didn’t pledge before August, subscription pricing will go up for the “non-OGs” on September 1st (so waiting doesn’t really do you any good).
What are the subscription options again?
There are three choices:
Founding member: $150 USD/annually
For an average of $12.50 per month Founding Members receive:
***The first 50 Founding Members receive a free 1% share in THE WINDOW’s 2025 CIRCA NFL Survivor Contest entry, and inclusion on a “Survivor Sweat Thread”***
All the content listed below
Access to a NFL power rating model
Access to the NHL regular season moneyline guide
Access to THE WINDOW’s chat
Invitation to THE WINDOW’s March Madness Survivor Pool
Other exclusive membership perks
Annual membership: $120 USD/annually
For an average of $10 per month members receive:
A 33% discount compared to the monthly plan
All the content listed below
Access to the NHL regular season moneyline guide
Access to THE WINDOW’s chat
Invitation to THE WINDOW’s March Madness Survivor Pool
Standard monthly membership: $15 USD/month
(More of a fan of one sport than some others? Jump in and out of THE WINDOW at your leisure!)
For an average of less than $4 per week, you receive access and instant notification to all of THE WINDOW’s betting content on:
The NFL
Survivor selections
Sunday “fantasy” player props
Holiday “Spectaculars”
Playoff game betting previews
Super Bowl previews
College Football
Season futures and Heisman Trophy betting report
Weekly “Big Game” lookahead
Bowl Game best bets
College Football Playoff previews
March Madness
Conference Tourney ‘Champ Week’ daily best bets
NHL
Stanley Cup Playoff Primers
Playoff Series Previews
In-series betting
Free subscribers:
One way or another, free subscribers will still be notified to all columns and have access to some content that will make you an informed bettor, including THE WINDOW podcast.
Things like the early-season weekly NFL market ratings reports, and at least one of the Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football best bets (TBD) will be free to all*. Plus, one futures preview in each of the NFL and College Football before the season.
Also paywall-free? Informative pieces like NHL’s “4% Club,” instant reaction to CFB’s postseason matchups, occasional old school essays like the “What the 4 Nations Face-off actually meant”, and fun conceptual pieces like the “5 Games you need to get right to win your March Madness bracket”. Essentially, anything that doesn’t include specific bets.
*There may be some sponsorship element or other factor(s) that allow these to be free.
Have you already pledged but want to switch your subscription type?
Whichever way you pledge/subscribe, you’re not charged any earlier than if you wait. It just lets me know that THE WINDOW is worth a few bucks a week to you, and that it’s already added value to your sports betting and sports-watching experience. With enough pledges and subscribers, THE WINDOW can return in full for next season.
Amen to business.
Hi Matt, is there a way to check pledge status?