UConn Athletics TV Survey

[Imdone]

I don't have cable; I stream YouTubeTV (no price increase that I'm aware of). I answered NO to the final question. Even if the question was worded as Chin Diesel suggests: "If the questions was worded "If the only way to see UConn content is via ESPN+ are you willing to pay $4.99/month?" I'd answer NO; but in reality I'd probably pay it ....assuming both Football and Men's Basketball upped their collective games. With the product we have been watching .. it's a hard NO.

 

[Hoophound]

The last question was really poorly worded.

Do I want to pay $4.99 a month to ESPN+ for UConn exclusive content? No. No. No. I'd much rather pay it to any other streaming service.

If the questions was worded "If the only way to see UConn content is via ESPN+ are you willing to pay $4.99/month? Yes, Yes, Yes.

A really good survey would have followed up with a range of prices you'd be willing to pay. For me, a number between $10-$20/month would have been checked off.

But, I took the survey twice and answered the last question "no" the first time and "yes" the second time to nullify my votes.

I’m not paying ESPN anything and advise nobody else does either. I can’t kick this can down the road forever. I’m already pretty disinterested in the opponents. Pay to watch Tulane, ECU etc.? Not fair. We should be in the ACC. Now I have to pay to see the carnage?

Next you’ll tell me if UConn doesn’t have lots of paying fans, we’ll miss out next time realignment comes around. I’ve got news for you, we aren’t going anywhere a bunch of Cuse grads run the entrance gate. Stop enabling ESPN. Make our politicians fight.

 

[UConnJim]

And that answer for UConn specifically is no when it's going to cost us money from losing our own TV deal with SNY

I think people are too focused on the loss of $1 million of revenue from WBB tier 3 rights. Heck, we can get a $1 million payday football game every year. I agree that we should try to keep the SNY deal for exposure, but I watched most UConn games with no SNY and only ESPN3. The only way for UConn to get to the P5 or whatever comes next is to have a competitive football program which means AAC. IMHO, the Big East and basketball centric schools have major challenges going forward.

 

[CAHUSKY]

People spend endless hours posting on the Boneyard but won’t pay $4.99 a mont to watch the UConn sports they spend endless hours posting about.

 

[UCDaveD]

People spend endless hours posting on the Boneyard but won’t pay $4.99 a mont to watch the UConn sports they spend endless hours posting about.

Not saying I wont be watching. Just saying that I wont be paying ESPN for the privileged.

 

[Ts5034]

What does UConn plan on doing if the results of this survey do not favor the new media deal that includes ESPN Plus, and no SNY? I highly doubt a lot of the older fans even have smart phones or tablets let alone have any idea about streaming content through an app. I heard it took a few years for some fans to finally get used to losing womens games from CPTV. This is going to be a disaster. I know streaming is the future and all, but I dont think people are ready for an abrupt change so soon.

 

[uconnphil2016]

The blue hairs who watch WBB are gonna have a heck of a time figuring out how to stream or use ESPN+

 

[uconnbill]

I said no to the $4.95

 

[uconnphil2016]

Is there a box I can check to bring back CPTV?

 

[UConnNick]

I'm not paying the bloodsucking vermin in Bristol one more penny than they already get from me indirectly from my ESPN package of channels on Directv. Disney can shove it.

 

[CashewCrew]

I really hope that last question comes back at 90%+ saying no. Screw putting our games behind a paywall. Screw ESPN.

 

[Kembacity]

People spend endless hours posting on the Boneyard but won’t pay $4.99 a mont to watch the UConn sports they spend endless hours posting about.

and personally, I dont spend $150 on TV a month so I dont get most of the stations our games appeared on. I'm happy to pay 5$ a month for half the year to see all of my team's games, but I understand why people might think this is bad for the long run or visibility for our team. As long as we start winning games, the team will be seen, and I think the future of TV is in low cost plans for individual channels or groups of them.

 

[Kembacity]

I really hope that last question comes back at 90%+ saying no. Screw putting our games behind a paywall. Screw ESPN.

Sorry, do you think the games are free for all to see? I would have to pay I think like $20 more a month to add ESPN channels to my TV package, and more to get CBS SN. For me, ESPN+ for $5 a month is a better option

 

[Dooley]

Personally, I would pay $1M/mo to watch UConn games. It's figuring out how to only pay for the sports that I actually watch: UConn, MLB, NFL, NHL that is the problem. I will never watch ACCN, B10N, PACN, B12N, SECN or any other college conference network for as long as UConn is on the outside of the club.

But this survey didn't ask an important question: "does removing UConn from SNY hurt UConn?". That is an emphatic yes. We have to maintain and develop our strong foothole in the NYC DMA with or without P5 affiliation. Ending our long term relationship with SNY is not good for UConn and it's also not good for SNY.

 

[whaler11]

and personally, I dont spend $150 on TV a month so I dont get most of the stations our games appeared on. I'm happy to pay 5$ a month for half the year to see all of my team's games, but I understand why people might think this is bad for the long run or visibility for our team. As long as we start winning games, the team will be seen, and I think the future of TV is in low cost plans for individual channels or groups of them.

if you think we are headed towards low cost plans for individual channels that show sports... turn 180 degrees.

its the opposite.

 

[John]

Looking forward to the seat donations survey dot dot dot

 

[UConnJim]

But this survey didn't ask an important question: "does removing UConn from SNY hurt UConn?". That is an emphatic yes. We have to maintain and develop our strong foothole in the NYC DMA with or without P5 affiliation. Ending our long term relationship with SNY is not good for UConn and it's also not good for SNY.

I’m not so sure of that. I remember when the Red Sox moved to NESN and weren’t on free TV anymore. People were mad and said the Red Sox would be hurt. They weren’t.

Remember the concerns when the UConn women went from CPTV to SNY, a free channel to a pay channel? The UConn women thrived.

All of games will be available in NYC on ESPN+. People will find and watch the content.

 

[whaler11]

I’m not so sure of that. I remember when the Red Sox moved to NESN and weren’t on free TV anymore. People were mad and said the Red Sox would be hurt. They weren’t.

Remember the concerns when the UConn women went from CPTV to SNY, a free channel to a pay channel? The UConn women thrived.

All of games will be available in NYC on ESPN+. People will find and watch the content.

The Red Sox made paid a mint to moving to cable.

UConn got paid to move to SNY - that’s why they did it.

Tulsa and Tulane got 1/12th of the value of burying UConn women’s basketball.

The whole this is in front of technology argument would have weight if they got paid. They got the opposite of paid. They had dogcrap programs steal their value.

 

[Chief00]

What does UConn plan on doing if the results of this survey do not favor the new media deal that includes ESPN Plus, and no SNY? I highly doubt a lot of the older fans even have smart phones or tablets let alone have any idea about streaming content through an app. I heard it took a few years for some fans to finally get used to losing womens games from CPTV. This is going to be a disaster. I know streaming is the future and all, but I dont think people are ready for an abrupt change so soon.

This is indicative of everything about UConn, Conference realignment and TV packages. If in business you are not giving impactful input upfront and in private before the decision is made - something is wrong. Perhaps we tried and were trivialized. Either way it’s not a good sign when we have to go Joe Fan survey petition on it.

 

[UConnJim]

The Red Sox made paid a mint to moving to cable.

UConn got paid to move to SNY - that’s why they did it.

Tulsa and Tulane got 1/12th of the value of burying UConn women’s basketball.

The whole this is in front of technology argument would have weight if they got paid. They got the opposite of paid. They had dogcrap programs steal their value.

Yes, the Sox ( and Yankees with YES) made a killing moving to cable. I was referring to exposure and ability to watch games.

I find it hard to believe that UConn women’s basketball fans won’t pay $60 per year to watch 12 to 15 games per year plus a coaches show. $60 is about the cost for 2 people to go to one game.

 

[huskymedic]

This survey is all window dressing. Won’t impact or change a thing all said and done. It’s for appearances sake.

 

[whaler11]

Yes, the Sox ( and Yankees with YES) made a killing moving to cable. I was referring to exposure and ability to watch games.

I find it hard to believe that UConn women’s basketball fans won’t pay $60 per year to watch 12 to 15 games per year plus a coaches show. $60 is about the cost for 2 people to go to one game.

I don’t know what women’s basketball fans you spend time with. The ones I spend time with would have a better shot to program a VCR than comprehend ESPN+.

 

[CTMike]

This survey is all window dressing. Won’t impact or change a thing all said and done. It’s for appearances sake.

Why wasn’t the survey done before they inked the deal? After the fact is completely pointless.

 

[Hoophound]

The big issue here is that a massive part of our fan base is over 60. They may not opt to even try to figure out ESPN+. Frankly, I think some of them will literally just move on to other things.

As for the younger fans, I’m in my 40’s and I was/am a huge fan. I still care deeply about the programs, but I miss a TON of games now. I just don’t care about the matchups. It may make me less of a fan, but it’s just the way it is. I’m not excited anymore. I really don’t think I’ll buy ESPN+ until something exciting compels me. I just have too much apathy at this point.

This is a tough time to sell UConn fans anything. We are just demoralized in so many ways. Paying for the privilege while I already have 20 other sports channels on my TV doesn’t make sense. If we are worth watching, we’ll be on the ESPN cable channels.

 

[whaler11]

Why wasn’t the survey done before they inked the deal? After the fact is completely pointless.

I’m projecting some intellgence on the athletic department with these assumptions:

1. UConn’s desire is to have the women’s games on SNY
2. ESPNs desire is to grow ESPN+ off UConn women’s basketball

UConn is going to use the data from this survey to show ESPN that their core fanbase can’t be monetized through ESPN+ yet. They want to grease the skids for SNY to pay a reasonable amount to keep the rights in SNY’s cable footprint and trade the national feed going behind the paywall.

SNY is in a terrible spot because SNY will be dropped by cable in at least four counties immediately without UConn.

UConn is looking for data that convinces ESPN to sell local rights to SNY at a price that SNY can afford by proving the fanbase isn’t sophisticated enough for ESPN+ to realize the full value of what they bought if they immediatly stick it behind a paywall.

 

[navery12]

I’m projecting some intellgence on the athletic department with these assumptions:

1. UConn’s desire is to have the women’s games on SNY
2. ESPNs desire is to grow ESPN+ off UConn women’s basketball

UConn is going to use the data from this survey to show ESPN that their core fanbase can’t be monetized through ESPN+ yet. They want to grease the skids for SNY to pay a reasonable amount to keep the rights in SNY’s cable footprint and trade the national feed going behind the paywall.

SNY is in a terrible spot because SNY will be dropped by cable in at least four counties immediately without UConn.

UConn is looking for data that convinces ESPN to sell local rights to SNY at a price that SNY can afford by proving the fanbase isn’t sophisticated enough for ESPN to realize the full value of what they bought if they immediatly stick it behind a paywall.

You pay a lot more attention to this than I do, so genuine question. But I'm curious what counties you think would drop SNY. I always viewed SNY as more Mets focused than UConn focused so can't see a complete drop in most areas

 

[whaler11]

You pay a lot more attention to this than I do, so genuine question. But I'm curious what counties you think would drop SNY. I always viewed SNY as more Mets focused than UConn focused so can't see a complete drop in most areas

There are no Mets fans in Windham, Tolland or New London counties. They weren’t on before the UConn deal in those places they are dead without UConn.

Middlesex has almost no Mets fans. I live there - I assume there are some but I don’t know any.

Fairfield and New Haven are safe with Mets only.

Litchfield doesn’t much matter but I suspect enough NYers to keep SNY on without UConn.

I had SNY in Hartford county - but it’s a place where Cox and Comcast would take their chances.

 

[Waquoit]

I had SNY in Hartford county - but it’s a place where Cox and Comcast would take their chances.

IIRC, SNY came (back?) to Cox only after the UConn contract.

 

[navery12]

There are no Mets fans in Windham, Tolland or New London counties. They weren’t on before the UConn deal in those places they are dead without UConn.

Middlesex has almost no Mets fans. I live there - I assume there are some but I don’t know any.

Fairfield and New Haven are safe with Mets only.

Litchfield doesn’t much matter but I suspect enough NYers to keep SNY on without UConn.

I had SNY in Hartford county - but it’s a place where Cox and Comcast would take their chances.

Yeah I'm really not a great judge for the general sense of CT in that I've only been there at UConn while they were on SNY and moved back to CT a month ago. So you're probably right

 

[whaler11]

Yeah I'm really not a great judge for the general sense of CT in that I've only been there at UConn while they were on SNY and moved back to CT a month ago. So you're probably right

Most of it is captured here when it happened. Even where SNY was on they got additional carriage charges when the UConn deal was signed.

It’s a huge hit for SNY and give ESPN a TON of leverage in any potential deal.

That’s why I think UConn wants to convince the rights are worth less behind a paywall - convincing they they overpaid is SNY’s only negotiating tactic.