Big Ten has new TV deal with ESPN & Fox

[TheBoris]

BTN will be on Hulu and Youtube and thus available to cord-cutters.....

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsport...espn-and-fox-btn-heading-to-hulu-and-youtube/

 

[nat100]

Also available on Vue for cord cutters.

 

[Tommaker]

That is pretty substantial, and shows the guys running the show see the writing on the wall for cable and sat.

 

[nat100]

That is pretty substantial, and shows the guys running the show see the writing on the wall for cable and sat.

AT&T came out with a competitive product already.

 

[TC4THREE]

All I know is I called into DirecTV a month ago and told them I was cancelling (my contract was up) and switching to PlayStation Vue because I was tired of paying 50/month of equipment fees monthly and they gave me the NFL package for free and a 60/ month credit for the next year to agree to stay with them for another year. That was what they offered right off the top so I'm assuming they would have given more if I haggled. Nice to see that competition is giving the consumer more power. Ultimately few people care about the delivery. It's the content and cost that will separate people now.

 

[Tommaker]

Also available on Vue for cord cutters.

Direct TV Now? Part of the issue is they, along with every other provider, has played this "hey, don't leave us and we'll give you THIS bargain" crud for decades. It's left a bad taste in my mouth for all of them. I'm trying to purchase entertainment, not haggle over a camel in the Bazzar.

 

[nat100]

Direct TV Now? Part of the issue is they, along with every other provider, has played this "hey, don't leave us and we'll give you THIS bargain" crud for decades. It's left a bad taste in my mouth for all of them. I'm trying to purchase entertainment, not haggle over a camel in the Bazzar.

Yeah, that is it. Ive heard its decent. You can purchase it and ditch satelite, so they get that cable boxes are outdated. But why not milk the suckers (like my dad) for all they are worth

I currently use Vue and am mostly happy. I had DirectTV for a decade and dont regret dropping it. I watch 5 channels and everything is available online or via Netflix.

 

[DG10]

That is pretty substantial, and shows the guys running the show see the writing on the wall for cable and sat.

They may see the writing on the wall...but, if they do, they had best start preparing for the associated revenue that no longer will be...and, in the case of Purdue, THAT is going to have a dramatic impact, as it is only the associated revenue that has allowed it to function and operate (never mind operate "at a profit").

 

[BoilerBulldog]

They may see the writing on the wall...but, if they do, they had best start preparing for the associated revenue that no longer will be...and, in the case of Purdue, THAT is going to have a dramatic impact, as it is only the associated revenue that has allowed it to function and operate (never mind operate "at a profit").

The way we watch sports will change in the future - no doubt. But the ability of conferences to monetize how we pay for it won't.

 

[BoilerBulldog]

The way we watch sports will change in the future - no doubt. But the ability of conferences to monetize how we pay for it won't.

To think we suddenly will be able to watch all Purdue games for free in the cord cutted future is naive.

 

[DG10]

The way we watch sports will change in the future - no doubt. But the ability of conferences to monetize how we pay for it won't.

No way it will be monetized at the level that it has been recently...not even close...all one has to do is look at the layoffs that happened at ESPN. There was even questions surrounding whether the ACC Network would launch as planned. With people choosing not to attend in person...and, then choosing alternative means to paying a premium to watch it on TV via cable/satellite...the opportunities to gauge fans have decreased substantially, and, it will result in the money that is available now and has been for awhile no longer being there.

 

[BoilerBulldog]

No way it will be monetized at the level that it has been recently...not even close...all one has to do is look at the layoffs that happened at ESPN. There was even questions surrounding whether the ACC Network would launch as planned. With people choosing not to attend in person...and, then choosing alternative means to paying a premium to watch it on TV via cable/satellite...the opportunities to gauge fans have decreased substantially, and, it will result in the money that is available now and has been for awhile no longer being there.

http://amp.timeinc.net/fortune/2017/04/27/espn-cuts/?source=dam

The opportunities to engage fans has increased. Not decreased. Alternative viewing options will only increase opportunities for monetization by the conference. But the demand to watch sports in real time isn't going to go down in the near future. And we are in the conference with largest alumni base with higher than average socio-economics...if anyone will make money off the new paradigm, the B1G will. This whole cord cutting concern is overplayed. Do I think we will keep increasing revenues at the rate we have the past ten years? No, but I don't think it's a bubble either.

To put it another way, if Delany was concerned he would've got a longer contract. Instead he got a shorter contact to insure we negotiate right before the rest of the conference's GOR expire. I think that's brilliant.

 

[DG10]

http://amp.timeinc.net/fortune/2017/04/27/espn-cuts/?source=dam

The opportunities to engage fans has increased. Not decreased. Alternative viewing options will only increase opportunities for monetization by the conference. But the demand to watch sports in real time isn't going to go down in the near future. And we are in the conference with largest alumni base with higher than average socio-economics...if anyone will make money off the new paradigm, the B1G will. This whole cord cutting concern is overplayed. Do I think we will keep increasing revenues at the rate we have the past ten years? No, but I don't think it's a bubble either.

To put it another way, if Delany was concerned he would've got a longer contract. Instead he got a shorter contact to insure we negotiate right before the rest of the conference's GOR expire. I think that's brilliant.

I had not yet seen this article until looking for something about the matter, but, it goes along with what I was getting at.

https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/05/09/espn-layoffs-media-rights-bubble-college-sports

You are right...no way to know for sure what happens, but, I am more inclined to believe that the boom that has existed goes away, as, it just is not possible seemingly to sustain it.

As for Delaney...we agree...guy has been a step ahead seemingly almost all of the time...that said, not a fan of the B1G basketball tournament in DC last year and set for MSG this year a week before everyone else plays...one of the few things that I have taken exception with when it comes to things that he has done.

 

[BoilerBulldog]

I had not yet seen this article until looking for something about the matter, but, it goes along with what I was getting at.

https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/05/09/espn-layoffs-media-rights-bubble-college-sports

You are right...no way to know for sure what happens, but, I am more inclined to believe that the boom that has existed goes away, as, it just is not possible seemingly to sustain it.

As for Delaney...we agree...guy has been a step ahead seemingly almost all of the time...that said, not a fan of the B1G basketball tournament in DC last year and set for MSG this year a week before everyone else plays...one of the few things that I have taken exception with when it comes to things that he has done.

I thought this was an interesting article too:

http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/06/26/Media/ESPN-main.aspx

I think in 2023, our new contract will probably have several different components with assorted providers. I think we are just as likely to have a deal with Amazon as we are with ESPN. And I think we as fans will be paying more on a per month or even per game basis than we do today. Whether that all adds up to the $50+M per year we will be seeing in the next few years is the big unknown. I'm glad our contract is going first...if anyone is going to overpay it will likely be an outsider trying to get into the game and us going first is an advantage. Plus our BTN revenue is pretty locked in until 2032, with profit sharing being the biggest variable. I found it interesting to hear last week that BTN is going to start producing content for regional Fox channels.

 

[BBG]

As a cord cutter that has had to use "other methods" in the past, this makes me very happy to see.

This is the future and probably happening sooner rather than later.

 

[TheBoris]

It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. Many issues here:

- ESPN plans to launch the ACCN in 2019 at the same time that ESPN is cutting staff and losing cable customers. Just because a conference has a network doesn't mean that it will make money. Just ask Larry Scott and the Pac-12.

- The BTN has an audience unlike any other due to hockey. Yep, it's regional interest but that region coincides with the B1G footprint. It's not Tier 3 like football and hoops, it's Tier 1 and they play 35 games a year. That's a lot of live programming.

- The B1G is mostly HUGE universities and the conference has far more alumni, students and fans than any other conference - especially compared to the ACC with only two state flagships and six private schools. If cable goes a la carte, the B1G will have more people signing up than any other conference.

- Fox has declared war on ESPN and while ESPN is cutting back, Fox seems to be paying more for prime college football. In the past couple of years Fox has aired ND-Stanford and Texas-oklahoma, among other key games.

- ESPN is stuck with some monster payouts for pro sports for many more years. The ACCN might be a real turkey for ESPN to bundle with other sports programming.

 

[Billydreamer65]

That is pretty substantial, and shows the guys running the show see the writing on the wall for cable and sat.

Ha! You don't think Comcast and ATT aren't ahead of this. Of course they are.

 

[ichawk24]

I think everyone is overreacting about ESPN layoffs. They are laying off talking heads, in order to double down on live content. It only underscores that content is king.

ESPN is still making a lot of money for Disney, just not the insane amounts of money they used to.

 

[TheBoris]

I think everyone is overreacting about ESPN layoffs. They are laying off talking heads, in order to double down on live content. It only underscores that content is king.

ESPN is still making a lot of money for Disney, just not the insane amounts of money they used to.

Well, you might be right but nonetheless there is a lot of anxiety about ESPN overpaying for pro sports and cable cutting. Plus Fox openly states that they're out to get ESPN.

And the ACC Network that ESPN is funding looks like a turkey. 14 schools, two state flagships and six private schools that no one cares about.

 

[ichawk24]

Plus Fox openly states that they're out to get ESPN.

Excellent. A bidding war in 2023.

 

[BoilerBulldog]

I thought this was interesting.

http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/disney-carriage-negotiations-espn-subscribers-fees.html

 

[SKYDOG]

Direct TV Now? Part of the issue is they, along with every other provider, has played this "hey, don't leave us and we'll give you THIS bargain" crud for decades. It's left a bad taste in my mouth for all of them. I'm trying to purchase entertainment, not haggle over a camel in the Bazzar.

Good luck trying to purchase entertainment. I feel most of the stations content is substandard mixed with commercials for the other half of the program. To watch a 60 minute football game you have to invest at least three and a half hours of your time at minimum.

 

[BoilerBiker]

To watch a 60 minute football game you have to invest at least three and a half hours of your time at minimum.

unless it is a big game (which we have not had in forever) , i almost always record it and watch in a fraction of the time later/delayed

BTNs football in 60 replays are great as well

 

[SKYDOG]

unless it is a big game (which we have not had in forever) , i almost always record it and watch in a fraction of the time later/delayed

BTNs football in 60 replays are great as well

Agreed, I am going to do the same this year.