ESPN Losing Subscribers

missbrooke06 · Nov 28, 2015

rteetz said:
Thursday night football? ESPN owns the rights to Monday night football...

Uh yes, you're correct. But when you called Monday Night Football the worst game of the week, I took exception. I find dumpster fires more enticing than a Tennessee/Jacksonville matchup that was offered last week.

Jdbsfw · Nov 28, 2015

By rule every NFL team has to play at least 1 prime time game, that's what MNF is for these days....

umichigan10 · Nov 29, 2015

Jdbsfw said:
By rule every NFL team has to play at least 1 prime time game, that's what MNF is for these days....

Under that logic isn't Thursday night considered 'prime time'?

It's pretty embarrassing that ESPN paid all that money for MNF rights and gets to air the likes of Cleveland and Baltimore in their slots

Jdbsfw · Nov 29, 2015

umichigan10 said:
Under that logic isn't Thursday night considered 'prime time'?

It's pretty embarrassing that ESPN paid all that money for MNF rights and gets to air the likes of Cleveland and Baltimore in their slots

Definitely but Thursday at least "kicks off" the football weekend so better matchups usually can be found (it least it feels that way) where as they can just "bury" the bad matchup Monday night I suppose.

acrozier22 · Nov 29, 2015

Jdbsfw said:
By rule every NFL team has to play at least 1 prime time game, that's what MNF is for these days....

I don't necessarily agree with that logic. This Monday is Patriots vs. Broncos. 10-0 vs. 8-2. That's the definition of the game of the week.

OKW Lover · Nov 29, 2015

I don't know how the NFL decides which games will be "prime time" (Thursday/Sunday/Monday nights) when they make up their schedule. However, these decisions are made well before the start of the season so there is no realistic way of the schedulers or the networks knowing what is going to be a "good" game and what isn't. The best they can do is to try to appeal to the larger market based on prior year performance.

ziravan · Nov 29, 2015

ESPN is the anchor that holds the entire cable concept together.

That's why ESPN commands $7/month subscription fee and its nearest cable channel competitor is half that.

Most people, if not for sports, would cut the cord. There are too many alternatives ways to watch TV out there.

I can wait a half season for the Walking Dead to show up in a streamable format.

But to watch my alma mater lose to LSU last night? I needed ESPN.

If ESPN goes to standalone subscription, then the entire cable packaging model dies. The number of cord cutters will reach critical mass within 6 months.

They all know that. The problem for ESPN is that when they jump ship, the whole deal goes under.

Jdbsfw · Nov 29, 2015

OKW Lover said:
I don't know how the NFL decides which games will be "prime time" (Thursday/Sunday/Monday nights) when they make up their schedule. However, these decisions are made well before the start of the season so there is no realistic way of the schedulers or the networks knowing what is going to be a "good" game and what isn't. The best they can do is to try to appeal to the larger market based on prior year performance.

Games can be "flexed" to Sunday night based on those teams performances this season

acrozier22 said:
I don't necessarily agree with that logic. This Monday is Patriots vs. Broncos. 10-0 vs. 8-2. That's the definition of the game of the week.

Yea, the NFL definitely wouldn't put a bad matchup (or unpopular teams) every week for sure on MNF

msb578 · Nov 29, 2015

acrozier22 said:
I don't necessarily agree with that logic. This Monday is Patriots vs. Broncos. 10-0 vs. 8-2. That's the definition of the game of the week.

That game is tonight on NBC. MNF on ESPN is dreadful this week: Baltimore/Cleveland.

OKW Lover · Nov 29, 2015

Last week's MNF on ESPN was a thriller though. Several lead changes in the 4th quarter alone.

rteetz · Nov 29, 2015

OKW Lover said:
I don't know how the NFL decides which games will be "prime time" (Thursday/Sunday/Monday nights) when they make up their schedule. However, these decisions are made well before the start of the season so there is no realistic way of the schedulers or the networks knowing what is going to be a "good" game and what isn't. The best they can do is to try to appeal to the larger market based on prior year performance.

Well usually you can kind get an idea of what will be a good game and what won't. No offense to the routinely bad teams but the Titans, Browns, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Chargers, lions, and raiders don't usually make for good games these days.

rteetz · Nov 29, 2015

msb578 said:
That game is tonight on NBC. MNF on ESPN is dreadful this week: Baltimore/Cleveland.

Guess who won't be watching MNF this week.

I think half of the people watch MNF just to get the comedy from Jon Gruden.

lockedoutlogic · Nov 29, 2015

The schedules are mostly set before the year with limited flex capability...

NBC, cbs and fox 4 pm games have preference...

Monday night would be next followed by thursday...

That's the pecking order, based on what they pay

lockedoutlogic · Nov 29, 2015

acrozier22 said:
I don't necessarily agree with that logic. This Monday is Patriots vs. Broncos. 10-0 vs. 8-2. That's the definition of the game of the week.

That's SUNDAY night...which is top of the pecking order

Monday night is two variations of the Cleveland Browns playing each other for draft positions...

Otherwise known as "poo in cleats"

acrozier22 · Nov 29, 2015

lockedoutlogic said:
That's SUNDAY night...which is top of the pecking order

Monday night is two variations of the Cleveland Browns playing each other for draft positions...

Otherwise known as "poo in cleats"

Two things.

1. Yes, I made a mistake on this week's game. Good catch.

2. MNF is still not the worst game of the week. It's never been the best game of the week though. I'd rather Sunday night always have the premier game of the week than Monday night.

lockedoutlogic · Nov 29, 2015

For 35 years prior to the creation of Sunday night football in 2007ish...Monday night football was the marquee national telecast.

And before that there were no national telecasts

umichigan10 · Nov 29, 2015

acrozier22 said:
Two things.

1. Yes, I made a mistake on this week's game. Good catch.

2. MNF is still not the worst game of the week. It's never been the best game of the week though. I'd rather Sunday night always have the premier game of the week than Monday night.

But Monday night used to feature far better matchups. Now it's kinda a red herring child in the TV lineup for the NFL.

Also as a pp said there is limited schedule for flex scheduling but only for Sunday night games. Monday night is locked in all year regardless

newdeal · Nov 29, 2015

I don't have cable, and I don't watch live sports, however I can certainly say that if I talk to someone who has cable or satellite, and I ask them why they still have it, the answer is either a blank stare or its because of live sports. ESPN has the cable companies by the balls, they just need to figure out how to leverage that. If ESPN leaves, a whole lot of cord cutting is going to happen. The problem for ESPN is that if they go to a streaming model, all the sudden the sports leagues don't need them. MLB, NBA, NFL etc could easily all set up their own streaming networks independent of ESPN just like UFC and WWE have streaming networks already

lockedoutlogic · Nov 29, 2015

newdeal said:
I don't have cable, and I don't watch live sports, however I can certainly say that if I talk to someone who has cable or satellite, and I ask them why they still have it, the answer is either a blank stare or its because of live sports. ESPN has the cable companies by the balls, they just need to figure out how to leverage that. If ESPN leaves, a whole lot of cord cutting is going to happen. The problem for ESPN is that if they go to a streaming model, all the sudden the sports leagues don't need them. MLB, NBA, NFL etc could easily all set up their own streaming networks independent of ESPN just like UFC and WWE have streaming networks already

Indeed...

In fact...as a past subscriber to both versions - the cable package and the streaming - of both the NHL and mlb...the streaming product is already superior to the cable package and have been for some time.

If cable falls...stations like the MLB Channel, NBA tv, etc can just run their broadcast programming in conjunction with the live games for a set price and eliminate all carrier fees, sell their own ads, etc etc

missbrooke06 · Nov 29, 2015

I'll admit that what makes Thursday football terrible is more quality of play than the matchups. I mean, the Packers had 96 hours from the end of their game to the beginning of the next. Both San Diego and Oakland have similar situations on Christmas Eve.

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