Insight into ESPN's thought process

[RS9999X]

When it gets more competitive prices will come down.

During the transition it will be more about features including internet streaming for cable customers.

In 5 years it will cost the same. The bundle will include more bandwidth, full streaming, public WiFi hotspots, and an an LTE device option instead of the VOIP phone options today.


The Cable Carriers will sell Congress that rolling out 100 Mbps in all homes and building out a 50 Mbps Advanced LTE network requires packaged bundles to subsidize the infrastructure hardware.

 

[progrocks]

sports are the only thing that using torrents does not work for.

 

[J187Money]

http://mobile.slate.com/articles/bu...rte_cable_bill_is_bad_deal_for_consumers.html

Commentary on a la carte pricing.

 

[upstater]

$150 is hyperbole.

The reality of a la carte is fewer options at higher prices.

Look at the contracts. Look at what other television costs to produce. Look at the ratings for games. Clearly take away that sports fans would be hurt the most by a la carte.

I'm a sports fan. I definitely will not be hurt. Like I said, ESPN and 2 would be the extent of my choices.

 

[whaler11]

I'm a sports fan. I definitely will not be hurt. Like I said, ESPN and 2 would be the extent of my choices.

I'm pretty sure sports fans need more than ESPN and ESPN2.

Last I checked Fox, RSNs, NBCS, ESPNU, TNT, TBS, CBS, BTN, SECN, PAC12Net, MLB, NFL, NHL plus others are all on cable.

 

[bmayuc]

I'm a sports fan. I definitely will not be hurt. Like I said, ESPN and 2 would be the extent of my choices.

I like yglesias, but here is my problem with that article. It is depressingly paternal.

Force csbke companies to offer a la carte services along with their packages. Consumers make their choices. If its a good deal people will do it. If its not, some may opt out.

Either way, more consumer choice the better.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[upstater]

I'm pretty sure sports fans need more than ESPN and ESPN2.

Last I checked Fox, RSNs, NBCS, ESPNU, TNT, TBS, CBS, BTN, SECN, PAC12Net, MLB, NFL, NHL plus others are all on cable.

Uh, Fox is free as is TNT, TBS. I don't even recognize some of the others, and since ESPNU comes for free off my internet feed onto my TV (don't ask why, it's right after QVC) and I've never seen a single show on it, I'm thinking I'll have very little interest. The networks are free over the air. MLB requires a subscription, it's not sports tier. No interest in NHL.

Like I said, the networks, ESPNs are enough

 

[UPitt]

No one is paying $150 for ESPN. Therefore ESPN will not charge $150.

Question to everyone, Assume that Disney puts together a sports package in "a la carte" that includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNNEWS, and ESPNU. ESPN is the clear anchor of this package with ESPN2 providing some ratings support. ESPNEWS and ESPNU do not drive ratings enough to impact price and would be included at almost no additional cost.

Without thinking about it, how much would you pay per month to have access to these channels?

How much would you pay per day? $1/day? $2/day? $3/day? More?

If you are willing to pay $1, $2, or $3 a day, you are willing to pay $30, $60, or $90 dollars a month to watch a few sports channels. Then add in your local sports channel at $0.50/day or $1/day and you are willing to pay another $15/month or $30/month. And your wife likes that popular show her friends all watch. That channel is $0.25/day or $8/month. And then you have to add on a monthly premium for "a la carte" to help cover the additional costs of distribution involved in "a la carte".

I think the price in "a la carte" can quickly escalate without the customer realizing. Production companies and the current cable infrastructure have costs that will need to be covered no matter how you order your cable (bundle or "a la carte"). Sports are very expensive to produce, and I think sports fans should consider this before pushing for "a la carte".

I do not see the cost of watching TV decreasing, until the cost of production and the cost to distribute can be decreased. The cost of production is not going to decrease but rather increase because we the customers demand HD 1080 with 20+ camera angles. The cost of distribution could be lowered with technology advancements, but as customers we are demanding that we have more available options for distribution. We demand that we can see all 20 camera angles and have them available on TV, computer, cell phone, notebook, and in the headset of your car. In essence, when you are watching a game the production company and distributor have made 20 games available to you on 5 different devises. Basically, sports customers are not demanding lower costs, but rather we are demanding that we have the best experience available and will pay any price to receive it.

 

[UPitt]

I like yglesias, but here is my problem with that article. It is depressingly paternal.

Force csbke companies to offer a la carte services along with their packages. Consumers make their choices. If its a good deal people will do it. If its not, some may opt out.

Either way, more consumer choice the better.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

I completely agree with you. More options is almost always better for the customer. And your suggestion is probably the most fair way to pay for cable. But in this model, the cost to sports fans (that's us) will still go up. Like I said before, for every grandma that saves $50/month to watch knitting only, a group of sports fans buying ESPN "a la carte" or in a budle will have to pick up the tab.

 

[whaler11]

Uh, Fox is free as is TNT, TBS. I don't even recognize some of the others, and since ESPNU comes for free off my internet feed onto my TV (don't ask why, it's right after QVC) and I've never seen a single show on it, I'm thinking I'll have very little interest. The networks are free over the air. MLB requires a subscription, it's not sports tier. No interest in NHL.

Like I said, the networks, ESPNs are enough

LOL. You are totally lost if you think TNT and TBS are free. Maybe you've heard of the two new Fox networks?

I'm pretty sure you'll see a need for ESPNU when 90% of AAC games are on there.

You might be the one guy who does better. Most sports fans want things like the MLB and NBA playoffs, the NCAA tourney, and their local NBA, NHL, MLB teams....

 

[UPitt]

Uh, Fox is free as is TNT, TBS. I don't even recognize some of the others, and since ESPNU comes for free off my internet feed onto my TV (don't ask why, it's right after QVC) and I've never seen a single show on it, I'm thinking I'll have very little interest. The networks are free over the air. MLB requires a subscription, it's not sports tier. No interest in NHL.

Like I said, the networks, ESPNs are enough

We do not receive TNT or TBS for free in my location. We only receive CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, QVC, and a few junk channels. FOX has also threatened to go to cable only, but I do not expect those threats to be taken seriously.

 

[upstater]

LOL. You are totally lost if you think TNT and TBS are free. Maybe you've heard of the two new Fox networks?

I'm pretty sure you'll see a need for ESPNU when 90% of AAC games are on there.

You might be the one guy who does better. Most sports fans want things like the MLB and NBA playoffs, the NCAA tourney, and their local NBA, NHL, MLB teams....

One, you are confused about the package the AAC signed with ESPN. Read it closely.
Two, TNT and TBS come in on my basic internet cable feed. It's simply part of the $55 a month I pay for cable TV internet. It's the same signal as my internet in other words. I don't even have basic cable. Most households aren't even aware that your internet feed is also a cable feed. Try it sometime. I get SNY, TNT, TBS and ESPNU on these feeds. Personally, I never watch anything other than SNY (and even during the NCAA tourney, I end up watching multiple games with my Madness app rather than switch to TNT or Tru or whatever).

 

[zls44]

One, you are confused about the package the AAC signed with ESPN. Read it closely.
Two, TNT and TBS come in on my basic internet cable feed. It's simply part of the $55 a month I pay for cable TV internet. It's the same signal as my internet in other words. I don't even have basic cable. Most households aren't even aware that your internet feed is also a cable feed. Try it sometime. I get SNY, TNT, TBS and ESPNU on these feeds. Personally, I never watch anything other than SNY (and even during the NCAA tourney, I end up watching multiple games with my Madness app rather than switch to TNT or Tru or whatever).

If you think that wouldn't change in an a-la-carte model...

 

[whaler11]

One, you are confused about the package the AAC signed with ESPN. Read it closely.
Two, TNT and TBS come in on my basic internet cable feed. It's simply part of the $55 a month I pay for cable TV internet. It's the same signal as my internet in other words. I don't even have basic cable. Most households aren't even aware that your internet feed is also a cable feed. Try it sometime. I get SNY, TNT, TBS and ESPNU on these feeds. Personally, I never watch anything other than SNY (and even during the NCAA tourney, I end up watching multiple games with my Madness app rather than switch to TNT or Tru or whatever).

You do realize that would change with a la carte and the networks would most certainly get paid on every person who is getting the feed.

 

[upstater]

If you think that wouldn't change in an a-la-carte model...

It wouldn't even matter. Other than TBS and TNT (which I don't watch) I go to antenna because of the better HD picture.

 

[upstater]

You do realize that would change with a la carte and the networks would most certainly get paid on every person who is getting the feed.

The networks are over-the-air, and over-the-air is actually a much sharper picture than through cable. You think the networks are going to give up their air rights?

 

[UPitt]

One, you are confused about the package the AAC signed with ESPN. Read it closely.
Two, TNT and TBS come in on my basic internet cable feed. It's simply part of the $55 a month I pay for cable TV internet. It's the same signal as my internet in other words. I don't even have basic cable. Most households aren't even aware that your internet feed is also a cable feed. Try it sometime. I get SNY, TNT, TBS and ESPNU on these feeds. Personally, I never watch anything other than SNY (and even during the NCAA tourney, I end up watching multiple games with my Madness app rather than switch to TNT or Tru or whatever).

First you said TNT and TBS were free. Then they were part of you basic internet cable feed. Then you said you don't even have basic cable. I suspect that if you read the terms of your contract, you will find that your cable TV internet plan also comes with some bacis cable TV stations on your TV. If not, you are stealing those stations and driving up the cost for us that pay for them.

What makes you think that cable TV will go to "a la carte", but your cable TV internet plan will not?

 

[upstater]

First you said TNT and TBS were free. Then they were part of you basic internet cable feed. Then you said you don't even have basic cable. I suspect that if you read the terms of your contract, you will find that your cable TV internet plan also comes with some bacis cable TV stations on your TV. If not, you are stealing those stations and driving up the cost for us that pay for them.

What makes you think that cable TV will go to "a la carte", but your cable TV internet plan will not?

How am I stealing it? I pay for internet cable. No basic cable is involved. The signal is simply the same. Who am I stealing it from? They are the ones who hooked it up. They are the ones who control my box. I've never been in there even once.

Your last question is nonsensical. ala carte what? there are two choices. I want cable internet. I don't want cable internet. What ala cart are you referring to?

 

[DobbsRover2]

Love how stuck in the muck most sports fans are in their thinking, living way back in the ancient past of 2011 or something. Most of the young who will be driving the media access of the future don't give two farts about TV options and are moving to internet choices at a rapidly expanding rate. So if cable does start charging the proverbial $150 for a station, the rush to abandon cable will just escalate. As the saying goes, "It's the economy, stupid," and if cable does institute a la carte pricing that is still more onerous, customers will start streaming for the exit in even larger numbers due to the non-economics of an antiquated restrictive system. Sure, ESPN will still figure out ways to pull decent revenue off the internet, but there is far less control and much more of a "give it to me free" attitude on the net. And there's so much free sports on the web that young sports fans can learn to change their viewing habits without much trouble. Yeah, old timers who are flush enough to not care about the money will probably still be wrapped around cable for many years down the road when much of America's youth has moved on.

 

[UPitt]

One, you are confused about the package the AAC signed with ESPN. Read it closely.
Two, TNT and TBS come in on my basic internet cable feed. It's simply part of the $55 a month I pay for cable TV internet. It's the same signal as my internet in other words. I don't even have basic cable. Most households aren't even aware that your internet feed is also a cable feed. Try it sometime. I get SNY, TNT, TBS and ESPNU on these feeds. Personally, I never watch anything other than SNY (and even during the NCAA tourney, I end up watching multiple games with my Madness app rather than switch to TNT or Tru or whatever).

Do you mean you pay for cable internet TV? Or do you pay for cable internet?

Cable internet TV will go "a la carte" as well.

 

[UPitt]

How am I stealing it? I pay for internet cable. No basic cable is involved. The signal is simply the same. Who am I stealing it from? They are the ones who hooked it up. They are the ones who control my box. I've never been in there even once.

Your last question is nonsensical. ala carte what? there are two choices. I want cable internet. I don't want cable internet. What ala cart are you referring to?

If you don't pay for it and you are watching it, that is the definition of stealing cable. But like I said, if you read the fine print those stations are probably included in the $55 dollars a month you pay.

 

[upstater]

If you don't pay for it and you are watching it, that is the definition of stealing cable. But like I said, if you read the fine print those stations are probably included in the $55 dollars a month you pay.

No, they are not included. No, it's not the definition of stealing. Look up the definition in the dictionary. "To take without permission or without returning it." It's simply a technological fact that cable signals for internet and basic run on the same line, so when you connect to a modem and out to your TV, it's the same signal. On my bill, it says internet cable, but who knows what the fine print actually says. Maybe I just contracted for the signal. Don't know.

Look at it this way. Cable companies used to charge you monthly for cable signal per outlet. Don't know if they still do. This was before the age of wifi. Presumably, if you wanted cable at multiple points, you would have had to pay them. But now, you can disperse the signal all over the house on your own without the cable company even knowing, and you can do it to multiple devices including wifi TV.

I've already installed an ala carte system by subscribing to services without cable (I get it on my Roku). Soon, this will be available: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/hbo-go-without-cable_n_2926926.html

 

[upstater]

Do you mean you pay for cable internet TV? Or do you pay for cable internet?

Cable internet TV will go "a la carte" as well.

I pay for cable internet. I don't think the cable company has anything to do with content.

 

[SubbaBub]

There's no eyeroll big enough for this thread.

You will pay the same or more, not less with a la carte. You will certainly get fewer stations. You may not care, but the cable companies certainly do. They pay next to nothing or are paid to allow those channels on their systems. You think comcast is going to turn over $30/month out of the $130 you pay to ESPN? Not bloody likely. They will most certainly bundle channels together. Want ESPN? Here it is with the Fashion Network for $8/mo. Want the BTN? It comes with SECN, P12N, and the ACCn for $17/mo.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[upstater]

There's no eyeroll big enough for this thread.

You will pay the same or more, not less with a la carte. You will certainly get fewer stations. You may not care, but the cable companies certainly do. They pay next to nothing or are paid to allow those channels on their systems. You think comcast is going to turn over $30/month out of the $130 you pay to ESPN? Not bloody likely. They will most certainly bundle channels together. Want ESPN? Here it is with the Fashion Network for $8/mo. Want the BTN? It comes with SECN, P12N, and the ACCn for $17/mo.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

That's ala carte?

 

[upstater]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/hbo-go-without-cable_n_2926926.html

Part of the reason for even having cable is watching HBO. Soon, a big reason for having cable will be obliterated.

 

[UPitt]

No, they are not included. No, it's not the definition of stealing. Look up the definition in the dictionary. "To take without permission or without returning it." It's simply a technological fact that cable signals for internet and basic run on the same line, so when you connect to a modem and out to your TV, it's the same signal. On my bill, it says internet cable, but who knows what the fine print actually says. Maybe I just contracted for the signal. Don't know.

I think you will find that the basic cable stations are included in your subscription. In my area I can not purchase cable internet without at least purchasing the basic cable tier.

If these stations are not included in you package and you are watching them, then you are guilty of passive theft of cable.

Types and Definitions

· Cable theft laws break down the crime into several categories. While prosecutors may wish to treat the different kinds of cable theft differently, all constitute as illegal.
The most visible form of cable theft is what is known as active theft, in which a user installs a descrambler device of some kind to access a cable signal in a home that does not subscribe to the service.
Premium theft, also known as pay theft, occurs when a cable subscriber uses a device to access premium content, including channels that are not included in the subscriber's standard package.
Finally, passive theft occurs when a user receives cable service without the knowledge of the cable company. This is most common when an individual moves into an apartment with existing service and uses the cable without subscribing or notifying the cable provider of the error.
Enforcement

· While cable companies have battled cable theft for decades, the biggest change in cable theft law occurred in 1994 when the Federal Communications Commission ruled that the use of cable descrabmlers is in violation of federal laws that protect programmers and service providers. Citing this ruling, cable companies may threaten legal action when they identify a case of cable theft, offering to settle with the thief, or in more malicious cases, taking the case to a criminal trial.
Most major cable providers manage a public awareness campaign, either through televised commercials or literature sent to subscribers. These materials ask subscribers to report illegal cable theft and cite the fact that cable theft lowers the quality of the signal and forces the provider to charge higher rates.

Penalties

· Because the specific state laws regarding cable theft vary, so too do the penalties that have been applied to cable thieves. Under a combination of federal and state guidelines, perpetrators of cable theft can receive a prison term that may range from a probation period to more than a decade behind bars.
Prison terms are often accompanied by a fine, which can range from several hundred dollars to several million. In general, smaller fines are levied against individuals who steal cable, while larger fine and jail time are reserved for those who sell descramblers or charge individuals to install an illegal connection

 

[upstater]

I think you will find that the basic cable stations are included in your subscription. In my area I can not purchase cable internet without at least purchasing the basic cable tier.

If these stations are not included in you package and you are watching them, then you are guilty of passive theft of cable.

Types and Definitions

· Cable theft laws break down the crime into several categories. While prosecutors may wish to treat the different kinds of cable theft differently, all constitute as illegal.
The most visible form of cable theft is what is known as active theft, in which a user installs a descrambler device of some kind to access a cable signal in a home that does not subscribe to the service.
Premium theft, also known as pay theft, occurs when a cable subscriber uses a device to access premium content, including channels that are not included in the subscriber's standard package.
Finally, passive theft occurs when a user receives cable service without the knowledge of the cable company. This is most common when an individual moves into an apartment with existing service and uses the cable without subscribing or notifying the cable provider of the error.
Enforcement

· While cable companies have battled cable theft for decades, the biggest change in cable theft law occurred in 1994 when the Federal Communications Commission ruled that the use of cable descrabmlers is in violation of federal laws that protect programmers and service providers. Citing this ruling, cable companies may threaten legal action when they identify a case of cable theft, offering to settle with the thief, or in more malicious cases, taking the case to a criminal trial.
Most major cable providers manage a public awareness campaign, either through televised commercials or literature sent to subscribers. These materials ask subscribers to report illegal cable theft and cite the fact that cable theft lowers the quality of the signal and forces the provider to charge higher rates.

• 
  [ ]

Penalties

· Because the specific state laws regarding cable theft vary, so too do the penalties that have been applied to cable thieves. Under a combination of federal and state guidelines, perpetrators of cable theft can receive a prison term that may range from a probation period to more than a decade behind bars.
Prison terms are often accompanied by a fine, which can range from several hundred dollars to several million. In general, smaller fines are levied against individuals who steal cable, while larger fine and jail time are reserved for those who sell descramblers or charge individuals to install an illegal connection

I'm not doing any of those. I don't know why you get confused so often when you read my posts, but it happens in every thread. There was no service in my house. I ordered the cable company to install internet service. They did. It's the same signal as basic. I pay for internet. They know I get the signal. There is no error. Everyone understands this except for you. If I called tomorrow and told them, "Hey, you know I get basic without paying for it, right?" They'd say, "That's the way it is, nothing we can do about it." They may want to keep that a secret however. Don't know. The truth is I never watch it other than the SNY games that aren't blacked out, because antenna HD is so much better than anything coming through the cable signal. Never watch TBS, TNT or ESPNU.

 

[UPitt]

I'm not doing any of those. I don't know why you get confused so often when you read my posts, but it happens in every thread. There was no service in my house. I ordered the cable company to install internet service. They did. It's the same signal as basic. I pay for internet. They know I get the signal. There is no error. Everyone understands this except for you. If I called tomorrow and told them, "Hey, you know I get basic without paying for it, right?" They'd say, "That's the way it is, nothing we can do about it." They may want to keep that a secret however. Don't know. The truth is I never watch it other than the SNY games that aren't blacked out, because antenna HD is so much better than anything coming through the cable signal. Never watch TBS, TNT or ESPNU.

I'm not confused. I clearly said that the basic cable was most likely part of your plan. And that only if it was not would it be stealing.

 

[upstater]

I'm not confused. I clearly said that the basic cable was most likely part of your plan. And that only if it was not would it be stealing.

It's not part of my plan. I could ask them to add it tomorrow, and they wouldn't even have to come by. Why? There is no way to turn it off, no way to turn it on.