ESPN Hemorrhaging

[FBallFan123]

 

[WhiteHispanicFrog]

 

[FBallFan123]

Here's the content list....

• MLB – MORE THAN 180 GAMES; A GAME PER DAY THROUGHOUT SEASON: ESPN+ will feature an ESPN+ MLB game each day, seven days per week, throughout the MLB regular season – more than 180 games that will include every MLB team.*
• NHL – MORE THAN 180 GAMES; GAME OF THE DAY THROUGHOUT REGULAR SEASON: Beginning with the 2018-19 NHL season, subscribers to ESPN+ will get a daily NHL game throughout the NHL regular season (in keeping with the NHL schedule) – more than 180 hockey games.*
• BOXING – YEAR-ROUND SCHEDULE, INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE KHAN VS. LO GRECOBOUT: ESPN+ is a key part of ESPN’s multi-platform Top Rank Boxing on ESPN boxing agreement and will feature high-quality boxing throughout the year, including a selection of exclusive main event fights beginning with the April 21 Amir Khan vs. Phil Lo Greco bout in Liverpool, England. In addition, ESPN+ will feature undercard fights throughout the year from Top Rank on ESPN events, re-airs of all Top Rank on ESPNand PPV events and an unmatched library of legendary fights from the Top Rank and ESPN Big Fights archives.
• MLS – MORE THAN 250 GAMES: At launch, ESPN+ will include exclusive access for subscribers to the entire MLS Live out-of-market schedule, featuring more than 250 games,* through their subscription. Before launch, fans can access free MLS out-of-market games streaming live on live on MLSsoccer.com and the MLS App. Additionally, ESPN+ will be the exclusive local-market home for the Chicago Fire, bringing 27 Fire matches to fans in Chicago.
• COLLEGE SPORTS – THOUSANDS OF GAMES AND EVENTS, MULTIPLE SPORTS, ACROSS NEARLY TWO DOZEN CONFERENCES: The ESPN+ lineup will be rich with thousands of live college sports events, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, track & field, gymnastics, swimming & diving, lacrosse, wrestling, volleyball, golf and more — from over a dozen conferences across the country including the America East, ASun, Big South, Big West, Horizon, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Missouri Valley, NEC, Southern Conference, Southland, Summit League, Sun Belt, WAC and many more.
  • SPRING SPORTS
    • COLLEGE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL: ESPN+ will help college baseball and softball fans see more games than ever before, with hundreds more games from across the college ranks streamed live, exclusively on ESPN+.
    • LACROSSE, TENNIS AND TRACK & FIELD: ESPN+ will carry dozens of events from across conferences this spring.
  • FALL SPORTS
    • COLLEGE FOOTBALL: ESPN+ will include hundreds of college football games each season from across more than a dozen conferences in the FBS and FCS.
    • MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL, FIELD HOCKEY: ESPN+ will have hundreds of games this fall from soccer, volleyball and field hockey as the 2018-19 academic year gets underway.
  • WINTER SPORTS
    • COLLEGE BASKETBALL: College hoops fans will get hundreds of men’s and women’s games every season on ESPN+ from all across the college basketball landscape – from division one powerhouses to top mid-majors to the next tournament Cinderella and more.
    • COLLEGE WRESTLING, SWIMMING & DIVING, GYMNASTICS AND ICE HOCKEY: Fans of winter Olympic sports will get hundreds of games from a variety of conference partners nationwide exclusively on ESPN+.
• PGA TOUR LIVE GOLF – MORE THAN 100 DAYS OF COVERAGE FROM 31 PGA TOUR EVENTS: Golf fans will be able to follow the PGA TOUR throughout the year, with more than 100 days of live coverage from 31 PGA TOUR events, including THE PLAYERS Championship, the FedEx Cup Playoffs, AT&T Byron Nelson, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Travelers Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and dozens more. Coverage will include Thursday, Friday and some Saturday and Sunday play during the events.
• GRAND SLAM TENNIS – HUNDREDS OF TENNIS MATCHES FROM WIMBLEDON, US OPEN & AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Tennis fans will have access to more of the action than ever at three of the annual Grand Slam tennis events. With hundreds of men’s and women’s singles and doubles matches, ESPN+ will be the perfect complement for every passionate tennis fan.
• RUGBY & CRICKET – HUNDREDS OF MATCHES FROM INTERNATIONAL RUGBY AND CRICKET: ESPN+ will serve rugby and cricket fans in the U.S. with more of their beloved sports, throughout the year. Rugby fans will get matches from SANZAAR (including Super Rugby, The Rugby Championship, the Lions Series, Mitre10 Cup, Currie Cup, Bledisloe Cup and other international matches), the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series, and 18 regular-season matches in the inaugural season of Major League Rugby, the new American professional rugby union league. Meanwhile, passionate cricket fans across the U.S. will get matches across Test, ODI and T20 formats from New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Ireland.

In addition to the hundreds of NHL and MLB games included in the ESPN+ subscription ($4.99/month, or $49.99/year), die-hard fans will be able to purchase the entire MLB.TV out-of-market package via ESPN+ and view the games within the ESPN App. MLB.TV will cost an additional $24.99 per month. Beginning with the 2018-19 NHL season, fans will also be able to purchase the entire NHL.TV out-of-market package.

 

[RollToad]

More like ESPN- amirite?

 

[Zubaz]

If you like WAC Baseball, ESPN+ is for you!

 

[FBallFan123]

If you like WAC Baseball, ESPN+ is for you!

I know you're being fecetious, but I do like watching college baseball on the ESPN app....but I'd never pay $5 to do so.

The Top Rank boxing library is something that I'm curious about....but will wait for reviews before deciding on whether it's worth it.

 

[Wexahu]

I know you're being fecetious, but I do like watching college baseball on the ESPN app....but I'd never pay $5 to do so.

The Top Rank boxing library is something that I'm curious about....but will wait for reviews before deciding on whether it's worth it.

It's always interesting to me how people will go to a restaurant or bar and have no problem spending $30 on a few drinks yet they have a big issue paying $5-10/month for a subscription like what you're talking about. Not necessarily pointing fingers at you, I use some of that same backwards logic quite a bit myself. The value we put on things makes no sense sometimes.

 

[FBallFan123]

It's always interesting to me how people will go to a restaurant or bar and have no problem spending $30 on a few drinks yet they have a big issue paying $5-10/month for a subscription like what you're talking about. Not necessarily pointing fingers at you, I use some of that same backwards logic quite a bit myself. The value we put on things makes no sense sometimes.

I mean, I like college baseball on the ESPN app...but I'm already paying for MLB.TV, and my non-TCU college baseball viewing goes way down as soon as MLB season starts, which is now.

 

[Zubaz]

It's always interesting to me how people will go to a restaurant or bar and have no problem spending $30 on a few drinks yet they have a big issue paying $5-10/month for a subscription like what you're talking about. Not necessarily pointing fingers at you, I use some of that same backwards logic quite a bit myself. The value we put on things makes no sense sometimes.

If you look at what they are apparently offering for that $5 / month, the logic behind it becomes far more clear. Compare what you get for Netflix ($7.99), Amazon ($8.99), or Hulu ($7.99). Then look at what ESPN+ is offering.

If they were offering the stuff that I actually watch on ESPN, even at double the price point, it might be worth considering. Instead, they are basically offering like Tier-4 / not-quite-good-enough-for-ESPN3 content for stuff that I just don't really care about.

 

[FBallFan123]

If you look at what they are apparently offering for that $5 / month, the logic behind it becomes far more clear. Compare what you get for Netflix ($7.99), Amazon ($8.99), or Hulu ($7.99). Then look at what ESPN+ is offering.

If they were offering the stuff that I actually watch on ESPN, even at double the price point, it might be worth considering. Instead, they are basically offering like Tier-4 / not-quite-good-enough-for-ESPN3 content for stuff that I just don't really care about.

It's probably a great deal for MLS fans....and if I were more of an MLS fan, or become more of one, I'd definitely consider it.

I used to be much more into boxing than I currently am....but the Top Rank boxing library sounds like it could be great, but who knows.

I want I want to see how extensive it is.

 

[Wexahu]

If you look at what they are apparently offering for that $5 / month, the logic behind it becomes far more clear. Compare what you get for Netflix ($7.99), Amazon ($8.99), or Hulu ($7.99). Then look at what ESPN+ is offering.

If they were offering the stuff that I actually watch on ESPN, even at double the price point, it might be worth considering. Instead, they are basically offering like Tier-4 / not-quite-good-enough-for-ESPN3 content for stuff that I just don't really care about.

Regardless of what kind of content is being offered, I'm mainly talking about the price point. For example, $50/month sounds expensive when that's what Directv or Time Warner wants for their monthly 30-channel or so HBO/Cinemax/Showtime/TMC package. But a lot of people who wouldn't think of paying that much have no problem going to the theatre and dropping $50+ on a couple tickets, a bag of popcorn, and a couple drinks.

Just saying, people (including me) will throw down $6.00 for a beer like it's nothing, but when it's a monthly app charge they have to analyze the heck out of what they're getting before making that commitment. Doesn't really make sense.

 

[Zubaz]

Regardless of what kind of content is being offered, I'm mainly talking about the price point. For example, $50/month sounds expensive when that's what Directv or Time Warner wants for their monthly 30-channel or so HBO/Cinemax/Showtime/TMC package. But a lot of people who wouldn't think of paying that much have no problem going to the theatre and dropping $50+ on a couple tickets, a bag of popcorn, and a couple drinks.

But these are entirely different products, so of course the price is going to be looked at differently in different contexts. I don't want to spend $100 / month on television service, but will gladly pay double that on a car note, that doesn't make either decision illogical. What we do know is the close analogs, Netflix, Hulu, even sports services like MLB and WWE Network, are offering WAY more content (and top shelf content at that) for comparable price points, so ESPN+ isn't going to compare favorably to that.

Just saying, people (including me) will throw down $6.00 for a beer like it's nothing, but when it's a monthly app charge they have to analyze the heck out of what they're getting before making that commitment. Doesn't really make sense.

Because again, those are entirely different products. Your utility from even a single beer very well could be in excess of the utility you derive from what ESPN+ offers in an entire month. Further, the question would be whether you are willing to give up that beer in order to get whatever ESPN+ is offering. I don't think I would be, at least not based on what they are looking to offer right now.

 

[FBallFan123]

Regardless of what kind of content is being offered, I'm mainly talking about the price point. For example, $50/month sounds expensive when that's what Directv or Time Warner wants for their monthly 30-channel or so HBO/Cinemax/Showtime/TMC package. But a lot of people who wouldn't think of paying that much have no problem going to the theatre and dropping $50+ on a couple tickets, a bag of popcorn, and a couple drinks.

Just saying, people (including me) will throw down $6.00 for a beer like it's nothing, but when it's a monthly app charge they have to analyze the heck out of what they're getting before making that commitment. Doesn't really make sense.

I get what you're saying, but costs add up...even small monthly ones.

There's a lot of options available....Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO, SHO, Starz, MLB, NHL, etc.

You start totaling up how much it all costs and then look at how much time you actually spend watching the various streaming services and you start getting pickier about what you spend on.

 

[RollToad]

Wexahu will argue anything.

 

[Surfrog]

I get what you're saying, but costs add up...even small monthly ones.

There's a lot of options available....Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO, SHO, Starz, MLB, NHL, etc.

You start totaling up how much it all costs and then look at how much time you actually spend watching the various streaming services and you start getting pickier about what you spend on.

A lot of my 50/50 clients go for the "it's expensive" route. Yeah well, so is going out to eat, so is a bottle of wine with dinner, buying lunch out at work, so is a heart attack. Then people realize what they are actually paying for. Had to explain to one person their 2x per day Starbucks cost more per month than the services. it's shocking what people value.

 

[gohornedfrogs]

If you look at what they are apparently offering for that $5 / month, the logic behind it becomes far more clear. Compare what you get for Netflix ($7.99), Amazon ($8.99), or Hulu ($7.99). Then look at what ESPN+ is offering.

If they were offering the stuff that I actually watch on ESPN, even at double the price point, it might be worth considering. Instead, they are basically offering like Tier-4 / not-quite-good-enough-for-ESPN3 content for stuff that I just don't really care about.

Besides the NBA and one or two NFL games per week, what are they excluding that’s so important to you? CFB, college basketball and college baseball alone seem to be worth 5 bucks a month.

Maybe I’m missing something...

 

[Zubaz]

Besides the NBA and one or two NFL games per week, what are they excluding that’s so important to you? CFB, college basketball and college baseball alone seem to be worth 5 bucks a month.

Maybe I’m missing something...

The College Football and College Basketball that I care about (and I think most here care about) won't be on ESPN+. What ESPN+ is offering (at least right now) is the G5 games that aren't currently on the main ESPN networks. Note how careful they are with the wording of the conferences they are offering. I'm not sure what they are offering for College Baseball, as that television is so sparse already it might make it worth considering.

My point is, this isn't going to be "Get ESPN a la carte over streaming". It's not a WatchESPN service. This is content that is either currently on ESPN3 or, more likely, stuff that isn't good enough to be on ESPN3.

 

[RollToad]

The College Football and College Basketball that I care about (and I think most here care about) won't be on ESPN+. What ESPN+ is offering (at least right now) is the G5 games that aren't currently on the main ESPN networks. Note how careful they are with the wording of the conferences they are offering. I'm not sure what they are offering for College Baseball, as that television is so sparse already it might make it worth considering.

My point is, this isn't going to be "Get ESPN a la carte over streaming". It's not a WatchESPN service. This is content that is either currently on ESPN3 or, more likely, stuff that isn't good enough to be on ESPN3.

It’s like $5 a month for Versus or OLN for TCU fans 10 years ago.

 

[MTfrog5]

So is WatchEspn going away? I’m sure this has been brought up in one of these lengthy post

 

[RollToad]

So is WatchEspn going away? I’m sure this has been brought up in one of these lengthy post

WatchESPN carries everything their networks do, and you have to have a carrier subscription to watch the content. ESPN+ is going to carry more random crap that wouldn’t normally get broadcast so they’re charging a fee because otherwise they would lose money broadcasting that spare crap.