The Days of Bundlers (networks and cable/satellite providers) Are Nearing an End

[RegisteredUconn]

The B1G universities will continue to expand their local presence in NYC in the coming years, regardless of your assertion that NYC will always have zero interest in CF. The universities will do it out of self interest because it will ultimately make them more money, not less money. Obviously, they know something you don't. My money is on their vision, and not your lack thereof.

There are lots of guys like Rudy's dad and that priest at Joliet Catholic. Notre Dame's not for guys like you, Rudy. It all starts with a vision. Guys who want to bypass the vision and go straight to the plan are destined to utter the words, "What went wrong?"

 

[RegisteredUconn]

You don't need to have the ear of a conference president to tell what ideas have no chance of making it (today). Teams with very large stadiums bring in up to $10M for each home game and millions more for the local economy (today). You think they will leave that on the table for a lower payout for the sake of raising the profile of the NYC market to the extent your scenario would entail - especially for teams like Nebraska and Wisconsin who have a pretty small NYC alumni base? Neutral site payouts do not come close to the money that these schools will be leaving on the table (today).

A few games a year is fine, but the scope of what you're suggesting will mean leaving tons of money on the table for the local economies of these schools - it'll never work.

If you feel strongly about this, you should push for UConn playing all of its major home games in NYC instead of the Rent and see how much buyin you get. (Iodine is an essential element for good health. It doesn't mean you should drink a quart a day.)

How long do you think the current model for enjoying sporting events will continue? I wonder what the current ratio of "face-to-face" to "on-line" business meetings is. I wonder how that ratio is projected to move in the future. More on-line or more face-to-face? I wonder how the ability to see the action from one's living room where the players appear larger than they do from a stadium seat, where replay and slow-mo are available for almost every play (and where the programmer doesn't provide it, the DVR will) will affect stadium attendance. I wonder how long before those 100,000 seat behemoths become campus dinosaurs and a move toward smaller stadiums begins to take shape. Like it or not, the in-home experience is making inroads as the preferred mode of sports viewing. And that is likely to accelerate. But, what the hey, let's just jamb our heads in the sand and pretend that all change stops today.

 

[B1GALUM]

The B1G universities will continue to expand their local presence in NYC in the coming years, regardless of your assertion that NYC will always have zero interest in CF. The universities will do it out of self interest because it will ultimately make them more money, not less money. Obviously, they know something you don't. My money is on their vision, and not your lack thereof.

Jim Delany is absolutely interested in bringing B1G events to NYC and speaks specifically about "a regular influx of traditional, historic teams"; note "regular" in that statement.
Although he did not specifically name teams, I think one can presume he is referencing teams like Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State in football and Indiana and Michigan State in basketball.
The avoidance of teams losing games at home in football, which is already a concern with the move to the 9 game schedule, will need to be addressed.
However, Delany has made it clear the B1G will "be out there with events and with press opportunities" and "everything is on the table".
What are the events? Don't know but he makes it sound like it is more than just teams visiting Rutgers' campus.
Does it mean it will be successful? No but the B1G is going to try.

http://snyrutgers.com/rutgers/footb...ig-ten-to-take-over-the-new-york-city-market/
With the addition of Rutgers and the Pinstripe Bowl come 2014, it’s no secret that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is trying to get his conference to infiltrate the New York City market.
Something he reaffirmed at Big Ten football media days.
“Make no mistake about it: We’re going to be out there with events and with press opportunities, and we’re going to work hard to build relationships and friendships,” Delany told The Star-Ledger‘s Steve Politi. “We know it’s a competitive area for everything, and so we won’t dominate anything, but we want to be relevant for years to come.”
Which Delany said means, “everything is on the table.”
As Politi writes:

“even the Big Ten football kickoff, an annual event that attracts thousands of fans at $100 a pop for a luncheon and autograph session with coaches and players.​

That one has a long history here and won’t move any time soon. But the Big Ten basketball tip-off? The postseason hoops tournament? All of that could be coming to a hotel ballroom or an arena in the New York area, sooner than later, because Delany wants to conquer the media capital of the world.”​

Of course, the fact that Rutgers is in the shadow of the media capital of the world is a big help in making that happen. And making college sports relevant in New York City when they’re typically not.​

“It’s really hard to be part of the community if you’re not in it,” Delany said. “Rutgers and Maryland put us in that community. I grew up in New Jersey, so I understand the challenge. What the Big East tried to do in football and what others have tried to do, it didn’t have a regular influx of traditional, historic teams.”

 

[ctchamps]

How long do you think the current model for enjoying sporting events will continue? I wonder what the current ratio of "face-to-face" to "on-line" business meetings is. I wonder how that ratio is projected to move in the future. More on-line or more face-to-face? I wonder how the ability to see the action from one's living room where the players appear larger than they do from a stadium seat, where replay and slow-mo are available for almost every play (and where the programmer doesn't provide it, the DVR will) will affect stadium attendance. I wonder how long before those 100,000 seat behemoths become campus dinosaurs and a move toward smaller stadiums begins to take shape. Like it or not, the in-home experience is making inroads as the preferred mode of sports viewing. And that is likely to accelerate. But, what the hey, let's just jamb our heads in the sand and pretend that all change stops today.

I thought we solved the problem by putting couches at stadiums.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

I thought we solved the problem by putting couches at stadiums.

It was a stroke of genius, I admitted that.

 

[Pudge]

Nothing annoys me more than someone stating that past product is entirely predictive of future behavior!

Stating that NYC will never be consumers of CFB is just so blatantly ignorant of the way enterprises find markets as to be ignorant. Your UConn football program went from Zero (ok ... 4-6000) to a fairly big deal. You can cite all kinds of examples. One thing is absolutely true ... Things change. There's a huge new generation rising. We're now going to see a World Series of Video Games on our TV.

I agree with the OP. While his metrics on demographic regions is fairly meaningless, it points to the opportunity. This is why I've believed Rutgers & UConn have great future prospects. It's why Cuse reaches beyond Onondaga County. A penetration of this region can draw big numbers. Why? Because the population is here. (And unlike Syracuse & Buffalo) There is some good reason to see growth & potential. Swoffords is shortsighted. I'm hoping Delany & Co can expand on what he's saying on the Eastern front.

 

[ctchamps]

It was a stroke of genius, I admitted that.

I remember! It was on the football forum I believe and I just thought to bring it to this thread!

 

[whaler11]

Nothing annoys me more than someone stating that past product is entirely predictive of future behavior!

Stating that NYC will never be consumers of CFB is just so blatantly ignorant of the way enterprises find markets as to be ignorant. Your UConn football program went from Zero (ok ... 4-6000) to a fairly big deal. You can cite all kinds of examples. One thing is absolutely true ... Things change. There's a huge new generation rising. We're now going to see a World Series of Video Games on our TV.

I agree with the OP. While his metrics on demographic regions is fairly meaningless, it points to the opportunity. This is why I've believed Rutgers & UConn have great future prospects. It's why Cuse reaches beyond Onondaga County. A penetration of this region can draw big numbers. Why? Because the population is here. (And unlike Syracuse & Buffalo) There is some good reason to see growth & potential. Swoffords is shortsighted. I'm hoping Delany & Co can expand on what he's saying on the Eastern front.

Almost as annoying as postings of grandeur that contain zero tactics that deliver on these 'visions'.

No one has ever said that NYC won't potentially consume more college football in the future so good job with that. I am saying that adding Rutgers and playing random games in the area (really just the Meadowlands) isn't going to change that.

The more I look at the more obvious it becomes that the BTN is not going to get what they want from the NYC DMA carriers with what they have today. There isn't really even much juice or enthusiasm around Rutgers for their promotion - nevermind anywhere outside Piscataway.

 

[RS9999X]

Bundling will take on new forms. Anyone thinking Areo local stations with DVR, Netflix, and Spotify for $300 a year on a $35 chromestick won't start eating cable is crazy. Add Hulu and its $33 a month total for a year. $50 a month for internet and WiFi phones. That's about the same price as DirecTV on its most basic plan before taxes and box and remote rentals. Expect Amazon, Netflix, Google and Microsoft to get into content wars and bundle services with exclusives.

 

[junglehusky]

Bundling will take on new forms. Anyone thinking Areo local stations with DVR, Netflix, and Spotify for $300 a year on a $35 chromestick won't start eating cable is crazy. Add Hulu and its $33 a month total for a year. $50 a month for internet and WiFi phones. That's about the same price as DirecTV on its most basic plan before taxes and box and remote rentals. Expect Amazon, Netflix, Google and Microsoft to get into content wars and bundle services with exclusives.

Here's a post from the Atlantic on what ESPN is thinking about the future... bottom line is that with wages / incomes for working class folks not going up, more people are likely to see $800 bucks a year for a cable bundle as a luxury, and maybe not a necessity. The economy - specifically wages for the lower ~20-50% (not to get all Occupy Wall Street) - is more of a threat to ESPN than Chromecast... for now.

 

[itgoeslike]

Here's a post from the Atlantic on what ESPN is thinking about the future... bottom line is that with wages / incomes for working class folks not going up, more people are likely to see $800 bucks a year for a cable bundle as a luxury, and maybe not a necessity. The economy - specifically wages for the lower ~20-50% (not to get all Occupy Wall Street) - is more of a threat to ESPN than Chromecast... for now.

Here's 3 takes on the news that ESPN is exploring putting their entire suite of products on a web-based TV Service. . .

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...s-preliminary-talks-for-web-based-pay-tv.html
http://www.fiercecable.com/story/es...ould-have-buy-whole-suite-products/2013-08-22
http://advanced-television.com/2013/08/22/espn-in-ott-talks/

 

[junglehusky]

Here's 3 takes on the news that ESPN is exploring putting their entire suite of products on a web-based TV Service. . .

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...s-preliminary-talks-for-web-based-pay-tv.html
http://www.fiercecable.com/story/es...ould-have-buy-whole-suite-products/2013-08-22
http://advanced-television.com/2013/08/22/espn-in-ott-talks/

Well, that'll be interesting to see if this comes together quickly, or not, and what the pricing would be. If it doesn't happen fast, maybe ESPN will use the news to scare cable providers with thoughts of losing customers, in order to maintain or increase their fees.

 

[noeynox]

Bundling will take on new forms. Anyone thinking Areo local stations with DVR, Netflix, and Spotify for $300 a year on a $35 chromestick won't start eating cable is crazy. Add Hulu and its $33 a month total for a year. $50 a month for internet and WiFi phones. That's about the same price as DirecTV on its most basic plan before taxes and box and remote rentals. Expect Amazon, Netflix, Google and Microsoft to get into content wars and bundle services with exclusives.

I picked up chrome stick for fun and was surprised at the picture quality and its simple set up. I really picked up for when we go on vacation and want the kids to watch something on tv instead of the kindle fire and to try it out. I"m telling you, if I wasn't a sports fan I would absolutely do away with cable. It is an option that as my kids get older and start playing sports I may consider as well.

 

[upstater]

I picked up chrome stick for fun and was surprised at the picture quality and its simple set up. I really picked up for when we go on vacation and want the kids to watch something on tv instead of the kindle fire and to try it out. I"m telling you, if I wasn't a sports fan I would absolutely do away with cable. It is an option that as my kids get older and start playing sports I may consider as well.

I was in Greece for a month and none of these services worked for us over there because of licensing laws. Instead, I had slingbox. But for my kids it's a problem because it's live TV and they're not used to it. So, we bought entire seasons of Scooby Doo for them (20 episodes for $10) and that worked just as well. They watched a couple a day, then we bought other seasons. It's a brave new world out there.

 

[itgoeslike]

Well, that'll be interesting to see if this comes together quickly, or not, and what the pricing would be. If it doesn't happen fast, maybe ESPN will use the news to scare cable providers with thoughts of losing customers, in order to maintain or increase their fees.

I think they are doing it to increase revenue and for strategic reasons. Price concessions are great, but they have more to lose if they miss the boat as things transition. Netflix, Apple, Google, Amazon, Sony are all moving forward as quickly as they can.

 

[billybud]

I think they are doing it to increase revenue and for strategic reasons. Price concessions are great, but they have more to lose if they miss the boat as things transition. Netflix, Apple, Google, Amazon, Sony are all moving forward as quickly as they can.

I think they are doing it to increase revenue and for strategic reasons. Price concessions are great, but they have more to lose if they miss the boat as things transition. Netflix, Apple, Google, Amazon, Sony are all moving forward as quickly as they can.

They are all moving forward...but ESPN/ABC holds the content when it comes to college football. And the streamers can't access the live content without paying.