I think part of the issue is that current demographics that utilize streaming, particularly millenials/zoomers, aren't really that interested in live streamed sports w/ the exception of gamblers. Those that aren't gambling (and many of them just check game trackers online) or aren't emotionally invested in the specific game aren't gonna sit down for 3 hours and view it when they could be doing something else. They'd rather watch highlights or a compressed game (like a lot of the RSNs used to broadcast later or the next day) if/when they have the free time. Even when DVRs came out, a lot of folks just stopped putting up w/ the ads and other down time. Live broadcasts are unique for advertisers b/c they can force ads down a captive audience's throats, but inefficient for viewers that value their time and have no need for ads or half time shows. For most millenials/zoomers, on demand viewing is preferable to live viewing in the overwhelming majority of cases, including sports events that aren't of substantial enough emotional investment.

(05-02-2023 05:51 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  If it's just ESPN, and not including ESPN2, EPSNU, ESPN+, etc., I personally wouldn't pay $50 for it.

Amazon Prime: $15
Disney Bundle (Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+): $13
HBO Max: $10
Apple TV+: $7
Peacock: $5

All of that together is $50, and it includes live sports options via ESPN+, Amazon, Apple TV+, and Peacock.

I would be interested in paying a bit more for an ESPN+ plan that includes all cable games (ESPN2, ESPNU, etc.). Not for $50 though (~$30-$35 seems fair).

How would you feel about buying single-game 'tickets' for live events? Or virtual 'season tickets'?

Delayed compressed/highlight games could perhaps be the default offering.

(05-03-2023 08:13 AM)Gitanole Wrote:  

(05-02-2023 05:51 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  If it's just ESPN, and not including ESPN2, EPSNU, ESPN+, etc., I personally wouldn't pay $50 for it.

Amazon Prime: $15
Disney Bundle (Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+): $13
HBO Max: $10
Apple TV+: $7
Peacock: $5

All of that together is $50, and it includes live sports options via ESPN+, Amazon, Apple TV+, and Peacock.

I would be interested in paying a bit more for an ESPN+ plan that includes all cable games (ESPN2, ESPNU, etc.). Not for $50 though (~$30-$35 seems fair).

How would you feel about buying single-game 'tickets'? Or virtual 'season tickets'?

That’s the challenge for me.

If someone just wants to watch one sport or one team, then streaming (in the form that it is today) could plausibly be cheaper than the cable bundle.

However, my standard is that I want access to all of the major games for the 4 major pro sports leagues and the major college conferences, all of 5 of my local pro sports teams (Chicago market), and all of my college’s football and basketball games. That’s what I get with the “cable” bundle (albeit I’m technically a cord cutter because I stream all of those cable channels via Hulu Live TV+). I don’t want to choose sports a la carte when I’ve been getting an all-you-can eat buffet for the past 20+ years.

That’s why I’ve said for years that any sports fan that wanted a la carte pricing wasn’t looking at it clearly for the long-term: WE as sports fans are the ones getting subsidized by the HGTV/TLC/Lifetime viewers than the other way around.

Now, my guess is that the streaming services will eventually consolidate and it’s going to look more cable bundle-like. However, that’s just a guess. We may continue with paying 10 different bills and not even get the same sports content that we had in one bill with the cable bundle, which is an inferior experience as a sports fan. (To be sure, streaming is generally a superior experience for non-sports programs - watching shows ad-free at any time is a massive improvement.)

(05-03-2023 08:13 AM)Gitanole Wrote:  

(05-02-2023 05:51 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  If it's just ESPN, and not including ESPN2, EPSNU, ESPN+, etc., I personally wouldn't pay $50 for it.

Amazon Prime: $15
Disney Bundle (Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+): $13
HBO Max: $10
Apple TV+: $7
Peacock: $5

All of that together is $50, and it includes live sports options via ESPN+, Amazon, Apple TV+, and Peacock.

I would be interested in paying a bit more for an ESPN+ plan that includes all cable games (ESPN2, ESPNU, etc.). Not for $50 though (~$30-$35 seems fair).

How would you feel about buying single-game 'tickets' for live events? Or virtual 'season tickets'?

Delayed compressed/highlight games could perhaps be the default offering.

The season ticket idea might be really cool, depending on how it's structured and marketed. If I could spend $30 to guarantee access to a complete season of Appalachian State football games on ESPN+, I'd buy it.

For single games, the cost would have to be low. Some movies on Amazon are $2.99 or $3.99 to rent, and others are $19.99 to rent. I've paid the $3.99 when it's a film I want to see, but I've never paid $19.99. The same would probably be true for single games.

Personally, I like the idea of a "season pass" better than selling single games. If your team sucks, you're less likely to pay for the next game. It's better to get you locked into the whole season before your team sucks. Plus, from a fan perspective, you feel more connected to your team by buying a season pass.

Once the economy goes belly up streaming will become obsolete.