AllTideUp
Heisman
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What effect does ESPN+ have on Disney's ability or willingness to pay for rights?
Right now, I can't imagine the platform is making big money assuming it's even making money at all, but there's potential for the service to be very influential in the future.
ESPN+ has become a hub of soccer rights. Tons of MLS games, Serie A(Italian league) games, Championship(UK's 2nd division) games, FA Cup(UK's national tournament), and a few others are available on the platform. I believe it's next year when the Bundesliga(German league) will be available on ESPN as well and I assume most of those games will be on ESPN+. It's good quality content, but the ratings are probably minimal as the American soccer fan base is still somewhat niche.
There is a lot of UFC content on there as well. That's something that can be broadcast all year, but it's not a massive fan base either.
There are also some smaller college conferences on there...mostly FCS and G5 leagues. The Big 12's deal last year was the first Power conference with any real content dedicated to the platform.
In other words, the content is mostly niche right now. There are select NHL and MLB games available, but apparently you have to pay for a separate subscription to get those.
So what ESPN needs is major conference content in order to sell the platform on a wide basis. They need college football and college basketball from a major conference.
I'm convinced some quality games from the SEC and ACC will be on there in short order. I think ESPN would like some PAC games as well.
So here's the question, assuming ESPN+ needs major leagues to really sell subs on a wide basis, what can they afford to spend in order to fill that need? Will Disney simply try to get as much quality content as possible? Or will they simply go with the most economical model they can put forth?
Keep in mind, whatever content they invest in can be broadcast on multiple networks. This is the strength of ESPN+ actually. If your league signs over rights then you have guarantees that you're not going exclusively digital. No one else really has that capability right now.
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03-07-2020 09:24 PM |
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murrdcu
1st String
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RE: What effect does ESPN+ have on Disney's ability or willingness to pay for rights?
As the market changes, AT&T will no longer actively advertise DirecTV.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoda...4974530002
The service’s advantage was having a record number of HD channels that cable could not match. Streaming removes the majority of hated costs DirecTV and Dish had, now you have to secure an Internet service yo support your $50 streaming subscription.
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03-09-2020 12:28 PM |
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Win5002
Special Teams
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RE: What effect does ESPN+ have on Disney's ability or willingness to pay for rights?
(03-07-2020 09:24 PM)AllTideUp Wrote: Right now, I can't imagine the platform is making big money assuming it's even making money at all, but there's potential for the service to be very influential in the future.
ESPN+ has become a hub of soccer rights. Tons of MLS games, Serie A(Italian league) games, Championship(UK's 2nd division) games, FA Cup(UK's national tournament), and a few others are available on the platform. I believe it's next year when the Bundesliga(German league) will be available on ESPN as well and I assume most of those games will be on ESPN+. It's good quality content, but the ratings are probably minimal as the American soccer fan base is still somewhat niche.
There is a lot of UFC content on there as well. That's something that can be broadcast all year, but it's not a massive fan base either.
There are also some smaller college conferences on there...mostly FCS and G5 leagues. The Big 12's deal last year was the first Power conference with any real content dedicated to the platform.
In other words, the content is mostly niche right now. There are select NHL and MLB games available, but apparently you have to pay for a separate subscription to get those.
So what ESPN needs is major conference content in order to sell the platform on a wide basis. They need college football and college basketball from a major conference.
I'm convinced some quality games from the SEC and ACC will be on there in short order. I think ESPN would like some PAC games as well.
So here's the question, assuming ESPN+ needs major leagues to really sell subs on a wide basis, what can they afford to spend in order to fill that need? Will Disney simply try to get as much quality content as possible? Or will they simply go with the most economical model they can put forth?
Keep in mind, whatever content they invest in can be broadcast on multiple networks. This is the strength of ESPN+ actually. If your league signs over rights then you have guarantees that you're not going exclusively digital. No one else really has that capability right now.
You don't have to pay extra for the NHL and MLB games on ESPN+ unless that changed recently. I saw they did 180 NHL games in 2018-2019 season and they have a game each day during baseball season. I don't know if you can find those games elsewhere like the NHL network or I know MLB ticket streaming gives one free game a day also(not sure if it is the same game).
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03-10-2020 11:32 AM |
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AllTideUp
Heisman
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RE: What effect does ESPN+ have on Disney's ability or willingness to pay for rights?
(03-10-2020 11:32 AM)Win5002 Wrote: (03-07-2020 09:24 PM)AllTideUp Wrote: Right now, I can't imagine the platform is making big money assuming it's even making money at all, but there's potential for the service to be very influential in the future.
ESPN+ has become a hub of soccer rights. Tons of MLS games, Serie A(Italian league) games, Championship(UK's 2nd division) games, FA Cup(UK's national tournament), and a few others are available on the platform. I believe it's next year when the Bundesliga(German league) will be available on ESPN as well and I assume most of those games will be on ESPN+. It's good quality content, but the ratings are probably minimal as the American soccer fan base is still somewhat niche.
There is a lot of UFC content on there as well. That's something that can be broadcast all year, but it's not a massive fan base either.
There are also some smaller college conferences on there...mostly FCS and G5 leagues. The Big 12's deal last year was the first Power conference with any real content dedicated to the platform.
In other words, the content is mostly niche right now. There are select NHL and MLB games available, but apparently you have to pay for a separate subscription to get those.
So what ESPN needs is major conference content in order to sell the platform on a wide basis. They need college football and college basketball from a major conference.
I'm convinced some quality games from the SEC and ACC will be on there in short order. I think ESPN would like some PAC games as well.
So here's the question, assuming ESPN+ needs major leagues to really sell subs on a wide basis, what can they afford to spend in order to fill that need? Will Disney simply try to get as much quality content as possible? Or will they simply go with the most economical model they can put forth?
Keep in mind, whatever content they invest in can be broadcast on multiple networks. This is the strength of ESPN+ actually. If your league signs over rights then you have guarantees that you're not going exclusively digital. No one else really has that capability right now.
You don't have to pay extra for the NHL and MLB games on ESPN+ unless that changed recently. I saw they did 180 NHL games in 2018-2019 season and they have a game each day during baseball season. I don't know if you can find those games elsewhere like the NHL network or I know MLB ticket streaming gives one free game a day also(not sure if it is the same game).
I thought you had to have an MLB TV subscription too? I knew the same company that helped develop that platform(BAMTech) helped develop ESPN+ so I knew there was some differences in that relationship. Maybe I misread.
I think overall, ESPN will need a little more pizzazz in the pro sport column before they really start to see some major sales on the platform.
Major college content will help though.
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03-10-2020 06:05 PM |
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ICThawk
Bench Warmer
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RE: What effect does ESPN+ have on Disney's ability or willingness to pay for rights?
(03-10-2020 06:05 PM)AllTideUp Wrote: (03-10-2020 11:32 AM)Win5002 Wrote: (03-07-2020 09:24 PM)AllTideUp Wrote: Right now, I can't imagine the platform is making big money assuming it's even making money at all, but there's potential for the service to be very influential in the future.
ESPN+ has become a hub of soccer rights. Tons of MLS games, Serie A(Italian league) games, Championship(UK's 2nd division) games, FA Cup(UK's national tournament), and a few others are available on the platform. I believe it's next year when the Bundesliga(German league) will be available on ESPN as well and I assume most of those games will be on ESPN+. It's good quality content, but the ratings are probably minimal as the American soccer fan base is still somewhat niche.
There is a lot of UFC content on there as well. That's something that can be broadcast all year, but it's not a massive fan base either.
There are also some smaller college conferences on there...mostly FCS and G5 leagues. The Big 12's deal last year was the first Power conference with any real content dedicated to the platform.
In other words, the content is mostly niche right now. There are select NHL and MLB games available, but apparently you have to pay for a separate subscription to get those.
So what ESPN needs is major conference content in order to sell the platform on a wide basis. They need college football and college basketball from a major conference.
I'm convinced some quality games from the SEC and ACC will be on there in short order. I think ESPN would like some PAC games as well.
So here's the question, assuming ESPN+ needs major leagues to really sell subs on a wide basis, what can they afford to spend in order to fill that need? Will Disney simply try to get as much quality content as possible? Or will they simply go with the most economical model they can put forth?
Keep in mind, whatever content they invest in can be broadcast on multiple networks. This is the strength of ESPN+ actually. If your league signs over rights then you have guarantees that you're not going exclusively digital. No one else really has that capability right now.
You don't have to pay extra for the NHL and MLB games on ESPN+ unless that changed recently. I saw they did 180 NHL games in 2018-2019 season and they have a game each day during baseball season. I don't know if you can find those games elsewhere like the NHL network or I know MLB ticket streaming gives one free game a day also(not sure if it is the same game).
I thought you had to have an MLB TV subscription too? I knew the same company that helped develop that platform(BAMTech) helped develop ESPN+ so I knew there was some differences in that relationship. Maybe I misread.
I think overall, ESPN will need a little more pizzazz in the pro sport column before they really start to see some major sales on the platform.
Major college content will help though.
Though I don't subscribe (at least yet), I went to http://www.plus.espn.com and that page did not indicate there was any "extra" charge for MLB, NHL, MLS, Top Rank Boxing, etc. above the $4.95 per month. Just to note, BAMTech (now called Disney Streaming Services) is majority (75%) owned by Disney as of 2018. I couldn't determine the balance of current ownership, though it was originally a MLB property and I BELIEVE (though do not have confirmation) that MLB retained a small interest (10% or less) and that the NHL also had(has?) a 10% interest.
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03-10-2020 10:15 PM |
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