- Joined
- Apr 29, 2004
According to this story, Disney announced yesterday (11/25) that the number of ESPN subscribers is down 3% from a year ago.
ESPN Losing Subscribers
- Thread starter OKW Lover
- Start date
Whatsthegoodword
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2013
...and this will continue. ESPN (and other cable networks) has feasted on the packaged cable system. As people find ways around that, these networks will have to tighten their belts. I'm curious of the effect it will have on televised sports.
lockedoutlogic
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2007
Lol...
It's not just about "tightening" their belts....
Disney will extract that lost free money any were they can get it...
Guess who's gonna pay?
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acrozier22
DVC Disney Dad
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2015
ESPN is beginning to learn that the current model is quickly fading. It will not be long until they offer their own subscriber rate that allows cord cutters to pay a monthly fee to get their channel(s).
Sling TV was a great first step into this market. I have no idea how much money is there compared to the current model. I do know is that they will continue to lose subscribers until they offer something different.
Sling TV was a great first step into this market. I have no idea how much money is there compared to the current model. I do know is that they will continue to lose subscribers until they offer something different.
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2004
I think this is the key strategy.
Keels
The Official Keels of RunDisney
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2008
ESPN does already offer a limited online viewing package, but honestly I'd rather be waterboarded than watch a single second of their original programming.
That NBA TV deal is going to look like a real bust in the next year or so - the NBA is the only sport with a true universal online viewing network (MLB still blacks out local games on MLB.tv to make you watch the local channel because of those TV deals), so as more people cut the cord, it will really affect the viewership on those games that they've paid so much money for.
That NBA TV deal is going to look like a real bust in the next year or so - the NBA is the only sport with a true universal online viewing network (MLB still blacks out local games on MLB.tv to make you watch the local channel because of those TV deals), so as more people cut the cord, it will really affect the viewership on those games that they've paid so much money for.
acrozier22
DVC Disney Dad
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2015
The only way you can access ESPN online is if your cable/internet provider pays for it (meaning you have a hidden fee built into your package) or you have Sling TV which is just a lower cost cable/dish subscription because it's streamed.
If you do not have an internet provider that provides ESPN 3 and do not subscribe to Sling TV, you cannot purchase a limited package. They do offer some of their content for free but not live games. I'm not going to argue their original programming. Arguing with folks over TV content or music is mind numbing. I'll keep my opinion to myself. Most of the viewers watch ESPN for live games.
MLB.tv blackout sucks but tools like "Unlocator" allow smart users to still get all their games locally via the service.
missbrooke06
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2005
ESPN is pretty much the only reason we still have cable.
LittleDreamer
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2015
Rumor has been that ESPN has been trying to figure out the best way to offer a subscription for a few years now, but has been dragging their heals. The biggest issue seems to be how best to group their offering to make it appealing to the market (I.E. An all inclusive sub, a follow your team sub, a division sub, ect...). This probably stems from their success running multiple channels. I also heavily believe that ESPN, like a few other companies, was working on their own fantasy sport product, like Draft Kings, for an added revenue source. Due to the current legal issues that market is fighting they are holding back until that is resolved.
lockedoutlogic
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2007
ESPN has driven its programming Into the ground for 15 years.
When it became a good product was the 90's when it was 100% about the leagues and the games.
It's been some whacked form of "access Hollywood" ever since.
They run 80 hours a week of NFL - which they have the least access to because they buy the cheapest/worst game of the week...
And the rest is NBA...which is a niche sport in many markets.
Who is gonna subscribe to ESPN stand alone?
I think Iger and the boys Know this...and why my tickets are going to get more expensive for the rest of my natural life
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Josh Hendy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2007
Draft Kings? That explains a lot. The only interaction that I have with ESPN is listening to some of the radio programming usually when I'm in the car. At times it seems like advertising, promoting and discussing fantasy football is the only thing they've got going. Might as well build a network around off-track horse betting as on people gambling on random players from teams they don't even root for.
lockedoutlogic
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2007
The focus on gambling and it's ugly little sister..."fantasy"...is what has brought a lot of the quality of sports down...my opinion.
ESPN has marginalized itself in more ways than you can count.
Are you game for paying $25 a month for ESPN? How about $17.50? $10?
I'm telling you...the Disney board knows they have a big problem.
missbrooke06
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2005
Thursday Night Football would like a word with you on that...
And we absolutely would and so would most people I know. Like I said, ESPN is the only reason we've kept cable - you can get everything else on Hulu or Netflix or Amazon Prime. Sports are the only reason to watch TV live. If ESPN can get their streaming service perfected, they'll be in good shape.
Thursday night football? ESPN owns the rights to Monday night football...
lockedoutlogic
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2007
The NFL is king now...no doubt.
But don't assume it will stay that way forever.
It probably has its days numbered...there's going to be no way to justify it moving forward and the player pipelines are already drying up.
ESPN as a stand alone is very dangerous. Bob Iger basically said it in August and the stock took a 22% dive.
And I remind you...HBO and showtime...the Only stations to go solo...we're always a separate line item on your Comcast or time warner bill.
ESPN is a big part of the REGULAR bill. A huge part. Think old Roberts at Comcast is gonna give that money back to the consumer if they break away?
Watch and see...
But don't assume it will stay that way forever.
It probably has its days numbered...there's going to be no way to justify it moving forward and the player pipelines are already drying up.
ESPN as a stand alone is very dangerous. Bob Iger basically said it in August and the stock took a 22% dive.
And I remind you...HBO and showtime...the Only stations to go solo...we're always a separate line item on your Comcast or time warner bill.
ESPN is a big part of the REGULAR bill. A huge part. Think old Roberts at Comcast is gonna give that money back to the consumer if they break away?
Watch and see...
lockedoutlogic
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2007
Thursday night football is actually a bad example
It was started to drive demand for the NFL network...
But it reportedly wasn't a huge hit on that front...which is why cbs took it over and began broadcast airing the games almost for nothing...it is almost a throw in for them.
The NFL doesn't let you use your toilet paper for nothing.
adam.adbe
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2015
Very bad news for Disney though. It's going to be hard to push the rest of the Disney line up on customers. ESPN is much more to Disney than a successful sports network. It's the bargaining chip that allows them to force general Disney channels onto cable subscriptions. An unbundled ESPN means a greatly weakened Disney.
That and the fact that there are enough people in the US who'll never sign up for ESPN, and will consequently drive up prices for everyone else, or drive down margins for Disney.
adam.adbe
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2015
No, they wont, and usage caps are back, so a lot of people are going to start finding their streaming plans packing a hefty hidden tax. An hour of Netflix is about 2.5GB at 1080P, so just two hours a night per week uses half of the Comcast data allotment. If you watch more TV than that, or you have more than one TV in the house that streams media, Comcast are going to love hitting you with overage fees[1].
Comcast is playing this from both sides. Cord-cutters are a chisel that Comcast can use against media giants such as Disney, but they can jack the cord-cutters around as soon as it suits them, such that it makes no sense to purchase an internet only plan.
[1] or whatever euphemistic name they use for them.
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