Cord cutters and unbundling

[WTguy]

Interesting article about sports media future with unbundling and the age of cord cutters. Whether you like sports or not this is an interesting read. One very interesting question for sports fans is would you pay $30/per month for the suite of espn channels?
http://www.si.com/more-sports/2014/12/17/future-cable-sports-tv#

 

[T134]

Scalar Media Partners, a Manhattan consulting firm, estimates that the price would be $30 a month. “That’s what ESPN would need to get back to the current positive cash flow that supports all the rights fees they’re paying, and the dividends they pay to [parent companies] Disney and Hearst,” says Frank Hawkins, a founding partner of Scalar.

I'm not sure that the $30 figure includes more than ESPN. I do know that for $30 Charlie/DISH upcoming IPTV service is said to include ESPN.

 

[WTguy]

The article hints that would be the price for espn suite of channels alone.

 

[king3pj]

I'm a sports fan who cut the cord and I definitely wouldn't pay $30 for ESPN. My local RSN would be much more useful to me. During baseball season I watch 5 to 6 Tigers games per week on Fox Sports Detroit thanks to MLB.tv. Even when I had Dish I only watched games on ESPN about once every week or two.

I have WatchESPN access thanks to a friend. In the year I've had it I've probably used it less than 20 times. I used it for a couple Sunday night baseball games and a couple Monday Night and college football games. Most of the big football games are available OTA though.

 

[Mr Tony]

One very interesting question for sports fans is would you pay $30/per month for the suite of espn channels?

no way
FS North yes since they have the local teams (but not $30). ESPN I can watch via a roku. ESPN3 games are available via my internet. The watch ESPN stuff I just use someone's Dish credentials but that was like for a couple football games.

 

[CubsWin]

One very interesting question for sports fans is would you pay $30/per month for the suite of espn channels?

Not a chance. I would pay for my local RSN to gets Cubs and Bulls games, but I can live without ESPN. In fact, I would be perfectly fine with a locals + RSN option, eliminating all other cable networks altogether.