ESPN actively planning to offer linear feed directly to consumers, has deals with two leagues

[SamCdbs]

Good grief
$50/ month for ESPN streaming

It’s About to Get Incredibly Expensive to Watch Sports

Cable TV was the worst way to follow your favorite team, except for every other way.

nymag.com

This guy is a nut..from the article


that might be an underestimate, considering how much ESPN is paying in rights fees for all its big events. This is a network that might dish out $2.2 billion a year for the College Football Playoff, which consists of a total of 11 games. I bet they could charge 45, 50 bucks a month with no problem; I know I’d pay that much.

WAY underestimates the cost. Like most such articles he comes up with what he would "LIKE" to pay.

Business doesn't work that way. ESPN pays X for rights to games, "talent", etc. and needs to take in X plus a profit. What someone would "like" to pay is irrelevant, and is the dumb theory that they will gladly take some number because is will go towards "replacing" the lost revenue from the bundle.

Nope. Do the math. Look at the ratings and look at how much money Disney is obligated to pay the different leagues, et al. $50 isn't going to feed the bulldog. We are well into three figures. Well past affordability for common people.

 

[Juan]

WAY underestimates the cost. Like most such articles he comes up with what he would "LIKE" to pay.

Business doesn't work that way. ESPN pays X for rights to games, "talent", etc. and needs to take in X plus a profit. What someone would "like" to pay is irrelevant, and is the dumb theory that they will gladly take some number because is will go towards "replacing" the lost revenue from the bundle.

Nope. Do the math. Look at the ratings and look at how much money Disney is obligated to pay the different leagues, et al. $50 isn't going to feed the bulldog. We are well into three figures. Well past affordability for common people.

$50/month is unaffordable for most

 

[SamCdbs]

$50/month is unaffordable for most

I don't disagree. This is the RSNs all over again. More genres to come. Outside of the consumer protecting bundle, no one thing has enough fans to cover its production costs. Thus less and less original content will be made.

As to sports, specifically, some combination of very high priced channels like ESPN a la carte and sports just tossed in to every single streamer, except the one that makes money, which defeats the reason most penny-pinchers gave up on linear TV in the first place.

A sad day for all consumers. It won't be the last.

 

[Bruce]

I don't disagree. This is the RSNs all over again. More genres to come. Outside of the consumer protecting bundle, no one thing has enough fans to cover its production costs. Thus less and less original content will be made.

Netflix has proven you can make lots of original content and make a profit, next up will be Disney+ and Paramount+, both look to be on schedule to become profitable in 2024, no shortage of original content on those services.

There will always be new content.

May not be the content you like, but plenty of us do.

The other services, Peacock, AMC+ have no chance , Comcast should buy Hulu ( also profitable) merge Peacock into it, AMC will just start selling their content, unfortunately they do not produce enough content either way.

As to sports, specifically, some combination of very high priced channels like ESPN a la carte and sports just tossed in to every single streamer, except the one that makes money, which defeats the reason most penny-pinchers gave up on linear TV in the first place.

Sports ( except the NFL) are going to be in a really weird place for the next 5 years, curious how it will all shake out.

A sad day for all consumers. It won't be the last.

You say sad, I ( and many others) say it is a new Golden Age for Television.

You keep bringing up the bundle, all that was to me was a bunch of channels where the vast majority of content on was a bunch of reruns.

All the bundle did was artificially cover up the true price of sports by spreading the cost to all subscribers, but only a minority were watching them.

Glad it is dying a slow death, now that smaller and medium size cable companies are getting rid of video because it has become unprofitable for them, the exodus from Paid Live TV should speed up as more Cable Companies realize their profits would be so much better without it.

 

[SamCdbs]

Netflix has proven you can make lots of original content and make a profit, next up will be Disney+ and Paramount+, both look to be on schedule to become profitable in 2024, no shortage of original content on those services.

Because in ______ year ________ will be different and make it profitable.

There will always be new content.

Funded how? Only Netflix makes money.

Sports ( except the NFL) are going to be in a really weird place for the next 5 years, curious how it will all shake out.

Less of it. Less of a lot of other genres too.

You say sad, I ( and many others) say it is a new Golden Age for Television.

With very little new content. Enjoy Sargent Bilko.

You keep bringing up the bundle, all that was to me was a bunch of channels where the vast majority of content on was a bunch of reruns.

Protecting the consumer.

Streamers are, of course, mostly reruns, and certainly a mix of content of which no one individual would wish to pay for all of it.

Just like the bundle. Except 8 to 10 bill instead of just the one.

And sports. Every service, except for the profitable outlier, chock full.

So sports. An unaffordable ESPN and eventually an unaffordable Fox. And on every streamer, and on linear TV networks, probably as well.

All the bundle did was artificially cover up the true price of sports by spreading the cost to all subscribers, but only a minority were watching them.

Just like every other genre.

But please explain howcome Appple, Peacock, Amazon, et al, are different.

Glad it is dying a slow death, now that smaller and medium size cable companies are getting rid of video because it has become unprofitable for them, the exodus from Paid Live TV should speed up as more Cable Companies realize their profits would be so much better without it.

There is, of course, no cable company getting out of video. They are simply selling it via the internet. No different than a cable company switching equipment.

Understand that paying for linear TV is not "cord cutting". It is not even cord switching. It is just buying the linear TV most people still want from a different provider.

 

[Juan]

Netflix has proven you can make lots of original content and make a profit, next up will be Disney+ and Paramount+, both look to be on schedule to become profitable in 2024, no shortage of original content on those services.

There will always be new content.

May not be the content you like, but plenty of us do.

The other services, Peacock, AMC+ have no chance , Comcast should buy Hulu ( also profitable) merge Peacock into it, AMC will just start selling their content, unfortunately they do not produce enough content either way.

Sports ( except the NFL) are going to be in a really weird place for the next 5 years, curious how it will all shake out.

You say sad, I ( and many others) say it is a new Golden Age for Television.

You keep bringing up the bundle, all that was to me was a bunch of channels where the vast majority of content on was a bunch of reruns.

All the bundle did was artificially cover up the true price of sports by spreading the cost to all subscribers, but only a minority were watching them.

Glad it is dying a slow death, now that smaller and medium size cable companies are getting rid of video because it has become unprofitable for them, the exodus from Paid Live TV should speed up as more Cable Companies realize their profits would be so much better without it.

Is netflix $50/month...nooooo.
Try comparing apples to apples

 

[Bruce]

Is netflix $50/month...nooooo.
Try comparing apples to apples

There is no streaming service that is $50, not one, so what can we compare to?

Netflix goes up to $20….and is profitabl……and has tons of new content.

 

[Bruce]

There is, of course, no cable company getting out of video. They are simply selling it via the internet. No different than a cable company switching equipment.

Wide Open West, dropping video, going to YTTV.

WOW! to move its 117,000 pay TV customers to YouTube TV

WOW! says it is exiting the pay television market and will move its 117,000 customers to YouTube TV.

thedesk.net

After filing for bankruptcy in 2020, Frontier stopped offering cable television in 2021. Many cable TV companies have decided to either launch streaming services or partner with services like YouTube TV.

You can now bundle Frontier internet with YouTube TV on the same bill | TechCrunch

YouTube TV expanded its partnership with internet service provider Frontier to launch a single billing option.

techcrunch.com

many, many more smaller cable companies have dropped video, like Wilkes Communications , etc

now this-Altice USA ( 4th largest Cable Company in the United States)is also looking into ways to outsource its struggling video business, particularly in areas where it's building out new fiber networks.

The 4th Largest Cable TV Company is Considering Outsourcing Its TV Service In New Markets | Cord Cutters News

Recently multiple smaller cable TV companies have recently shut down their TV services and have, in some cases, outsourced it to services like YouTube TV. Now according to Atlice USA, which operates under the brand Optimum, is looking at outsourcing its TV service in new markets. Update: We have...

cordcuttersnews.com

Understand that paying for linear TV is not "cord cutting". It is not even cord switching. It is just buying the linear TV most people still want from a different provider.

Never said it was, I am paid up ( via Gift Cards) until the end of the year , gone, the only thing I watch on it is News.

Waiting to see how many Michigan games will be on Big Ten Channel, have a feeling the big Teams ( Ohio State, Michigan, etc) will be on NBC, FOX, Peacock, Paramount+.

Then MNF, as of now, 12 Games will be on ESPN+, last year 12 were also announced, but had 16 on, there are also rumors ( from Reddit) that College Playoffs will be on ESPN+ , along with another price increase.

 

[Bruce]

Protecting the consumer.

The bundle never protected the majority of those who subscribed to it, all it did was force people to pay for programming they would never watch, like sports, or reruns.

Just like the bundle. Except 8 to 10 bill instead of just the one.

That is the beauty of A la carte, you do not have to buy all the services.

For me, to replace the programming on Paid Live TV, all I need is Hulu (with Disney+ and ESPN+), Peacock and Paramount+.

Do not need/want Discovery+ or AMC+.

And most people get one bill, line items on their credit card statement .

 

[meStevo]

View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1661907785452253187

 

[SamCdbs]

The bundle never protected the majority of those who subscribed to it, all it did was force people to pay for programming they would never watch, like sports, or reruns.

Which is just like every streamer, except with a bill for each one.

Sports on cable=bad, because you have this hate of cable. Same sports, higher price, on Apple or Peacock or Paramount=good. Only real difference, except for the new higher price, is ESPN and your cable company actually made money serving you.

That is the beauty of A la carte, you do not have to buy all the services.

Unless you want to watch the sports and shows you got for one low price, when the consumer was protected by the bundle.

 

[SamCdbs]

Wide Open West, dropping video, going to YTTV.

WOW! to move its 117,000 pay TV customers to YouTube TV

WOW! says it is exiting the pay television market and will move its 117,000 customers to YouTube TV.

thedesk.net

After filing for bankruptcy in 2020, Frontier stopped offering cable television in 2021. Many cable TV companies have decided to either launch streaming services or partner with services like YouTube TV.

You can now bundle Frontier internet with YouTube TV on the same bill | TechCrunch

YouTube TV expanded its partnership with internet service provider Frontier to launch a single billing option.

techcrunch.com

many, many more smaller cable companies have dropped video, like Wilkes Communications , etc

now this-Altice USA ( 4th largest Cable Company in the United States)is also looking into ways to outsource its struggling video business, particularly in areas where it's building out new fiber networks.

The 4th Largest Cable TV Company is Considering Outsourcing Its TV Service In New Markets | Cord Cutters News

Recently multiple smaller cable TV companies have recently shut down their TV services and have, in some cases, outsourced it to services like YouTube TV. Now according to Atlice USA, which operates under the brand Optimum, is looking at outsourcing its TV service in new markets. Update: We have...

cordcuttersnews.com

Never said it was, I am paid up ( via Gift Cards) until the end of the year , gone, the only thing I watch on it is News.

If you never said it was, why bring it up, constantly in multiple threads, every single day.

A person, or a cable company, that "switches" from traditional cable or DBS to an internet delivered package of the very same channels is a non-story. Other than the doom and gloom people who see linear TV dying, were, as usual, wrong. Many people still want linear TV. Where the good stuff is.

 

[Bruce]

If you never said it was, why bring it up, constantly in multiple threads, every single day.

A person, or a cable company, that "switches" from traditional cable or DBS to an internet delivered package of the very same channels is a non-story. Other than the doom and gloom people who see linear TV dying, were, as usual, wrong. Many people still want linear TV. Where the good stuff is.

You said it was not happening, proved you incorrect and that is how you respond.

Add Century Link to the list.

 

[Mr Tony]

You said it was not happening, proved you incorrect and that is how you respond.

Add Century Link to the list.

Consolidated is doing it too. They havent sold TV (it was an IPTV solution) to new customers in over a year and is phasing it out to current subs by end of year. They don't sell one product. They "partner" with Directv Stream and YTTV but show other options

Home Streaming TV Services - AT&T TV, Fubo, Philo | Consolidated

Residential Streaming TV services across the US. Add Consolidated Internet and enjoy live streaming TV everywhere you go.

www.consolidated.com

 

[SamCdbs]

You said it was not happening, proved you incorrect and that is how you respond.

Add Century Link to the list.

It isn't "happening".

If a cable company becomes a reseller of linear IPTV, rather than usings its ancient technology to deliver the very same linear channels, nothing of significance has happened. Other than your doom and gloom predictions that linear TV will be "dead" in five years, are again proved wrong.

If a person drops cable, or DBS, and picks up a linear IPTV, nothing of significance has happened. The person found a package that suited his tastes better than his local cable bandit, DISH, or DirecTV. That will happen when choices of packages change from 3 to 10 or 12. The key point is the person is not a "cord cutter" nor even a "cord switcher". Nope, he is just what most people always have been and always will remain. A customer of linear TV. Where the good stuff is.

Because, your tastes are not universal.

These are non-stories. Unless you work at the cable box factory.

 

[Bruce]

It isn't "happening".

If a cable company becomes a reseller of linear IPTV, rather than usings its ancient technology to deliver the very same linear channels, nothing of significance has happened.

Not all of them are offering a streaming Live TV service, if you read some of the links I have posted, you would see that.

Other than your doom and gloom predictions that linear TV will be "dead" in five years, are again proved wrong.

Never posted that, I wrote DirecTV will be unprofitable and gone within 5 years.

If a person drops cable, or DBS, and picks up a linear IPTV, nothing of significance has happened. The person found a package that suited his tastes better than his local cable bandit, DISH, or DirecTV. That will happen when choices of packages change from 3 to 10 or 12. The key point is the person is not a "cord cutter" nor even a "cord switcher". Nope, he is just what most people always have been and always will remain. A customer of linear TV. Where the good stuff is.

But everyone who has dropped a Traditional Provider has not subscribed to a streaming Live TV Provider,

Right now, the numbers range from 65-68 million who subscribe to a Live TV service, all Live TV providers, Cable/Satellite/Streaming.

8 years ago, there was 100 million that got Live TV via cable/satellite , that means 32-35 million are true cord cutters.

Even worse , Live TV via streaming has about 13 million subs, that means, roughly 52-55 million get it via Cable/Satellite, that means Traditional Providers have lost 45-48 million subs.

What is your answer for that?

 

[SamCdbs]

Not all of them are offering a streaming Live TV service, if you read some of the links I have posted, you would see that.

Really? So, you can't get YTTV, DTVS, etc. They block this content?

Most people still want linear TV. You don't. You are a minority. Your tastes are not universal.

Never posted that, I wrote DirecTV will be unprofitable and gone within 5 years.

Yes you did. But anyway, DirecTV will continue to be profitable for many decades to come.

But everyone who has dropped a Traditional Provider has not subscribed to a streaming Live TV Provider,

Just most.

Right now, the numbers range from 65-68 million who subscribe to a Live TV service, all Live TV providers, Cable/Satellite/Streaming.

But they are "wrong" and you are "right" because your tastes are universal.

8 years ago, there was 100 million that got Live TV via cable/satellite , that means 32-35 million are true cord cutters.30

No, a true cord cutter does not pay for video. There are probably 30M cord switchers, paying the unproftable streamers.

So 100M and the VAST MAJORITY, 65M made a different decision than you.

Even worse , Live TV via streaming has about 13 million subs, that means, roughly 52-55 million get it via Cable/Satellite, that means Traditional Providers have lost 45-48 million subs.

What is your answer for that?

Profit; Something cable and DBS do, and streaming cannot.

Of course, not with a choice a MINORITY have dropped linear TV to save money. Everyone has made their decision, and that is that. Linear TV makes money, and always will.

You are not the forefront of some trend. The decisions have been made. Linear remains the most popular form of TV, streaming remains a supplementary form for most people, and cannot make any money.

Next up, the Hulu sale. Pop goes the bubble.

 

[Radioguy41]

Netflix has proven you can make lots of original content and make a profit, next up will be Disney+ and Paramount+, both look to be on schedule to become profitable in 2024, no shortage of original content on those services.

Whoa, Netflix is still between $10B and $15B in debt. Yes they now claim a net profit but that's smoke blowing and this was all done at a time when they had very little competition. It took them 10 years just to stop borrowing money. Let's see them pay of their debts before they can truthfully claim to be making a profit and do it in the face of increased competition.

 

[Bruce]

Whoa, Netflix is still between $10B and $15B in debt. Yes they now claim a net profit but that's smoke blowing and this was all done at a time when they had very little competition. It took them 10 years just to stop borrowing money. Let's see them pay of their debts before they can truthfully claim to be making a profit and do it in the face of increased competition.

A lot of companies have total debt and claim a profit, here is a small list of companies’ debt-
Apple-$109 Billion
Alphabet-$29 Billion
Disney-$48 Billion
Dish-$21 Billion
Comcast-$98 Billion
Charter-$97 Billion
DirecTV-$7.25 Billion
Amazon-$67 Billion

etc, etc.

 

[ncted]

Whoa, Netflix is still between $10B and $15B in debt. Yes they now claim a net profit but that's smoke blowing and this was all done at a time when they had very little competition. It took them 10 years just to stop borrowing money. Let's see them pay of their debts before they can truthfully claim to be making a profit and do it in the face of increased competition.

If you pay your car payment and still have a remaining balance due at the end of the month, but you make enough to cover all your bills and more, does that mean you didn't make money (i.e. profit)?