The End of Cable? (ESPN's streaming plan)

[roundball]

So, ESPN's going to start offering their programming to anyone with an internet connection and $20/month, regardless of who your cable provider is (or whether you even have one):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ugh-dishs-sling-tv-no-cable-required/?hpid=z1

additional insight: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...-tv-is-becoming-entertainment-for-old-people/

I've long thought that content providers would eventually find a way to viably rid themselves of the very arcane cable bundling thing, but this is probably the strongest evidence in support of it so far. It just makes too much sense not to...increased internet availability and speed + people becoming used to watching content online + people rightly thinking that cable companies are BS = this was bound to happen.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I'll open the bidding at $1.50/mo

 

[cowgirl836]

I want to cancel our cable but sports is holding us back. This would be awesome.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Data caps will still be in the way for many users.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Interesting...I'd probably do it if my cable wasn't being paid for now.

Netflix and ESPN...that would be less than $30 a month.

I'm assuming ESPN 3 will be on there and that this will be available on all gaming systems.

But what about games on CBSSports and BTN?

 

[roundball]

Data caps will still be in the way for many users.

True, plus the whole Net Neutrality limbo...

...though if things like these were widely adopted, it'd provide more pressure on telecom providers to raise or eliminate their data caps. I mean, eventually someone would out-compete those who don't.

 

[Beyerball]

Yep. You are looking at the future of TV or a lack thereof. This is what Apple is/was attempting to do with their Apple TV venture. It won't be $20/month eventually most channels will be offered at $2-$15 per month I'd guess. Networks will make more $$$ this way, they wouldn't be doing it of it meant less $$. Just think if u had to pay $5 per month per your favorite channel? 20'channels is already $100 month. Cha Ching.

 

[Clonehomer]

Isn't this through Dish, not ESPN? Or is ESPN starting their own as well?

 

[SCNCY]

Just to clarify, this will be made available through Dish Networks sling. The $20/month also includes other networks like CNN, Food Network, and a couple of other networks.

 

[KnappShack]

Doesn't ESPN make something like $6/customer with the current content providers?

$20 for only 2 of the ESPN networks is actually a healthy increase in fees for just those 2 channels.

Of course I'd be able to punt the Lifetime and Oprah channels, but after my internet access fees are raised I can see the consumer getting fewer channels for the same costs after the dust settles

 

[roundball]

Just to clarify, this will be made available through Dish Networks sling. The $20/month also includes other networks like CNN, Food Network, and a couple of other networks.

Dish created/owns the service, but you don't need a Dish subscription or a Sling box. The service will be offered online and on mobile apps, as well as Roku/AppleTV/etc.

 

[DSMCy]

Yah this was discussed yesterday.
It isn't only ESPN. Disney is really the driver with Dish.

http://cyclonefanatic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=198128

 

[roundball]

A big question for me that I haven't found an answer to yet is whether you'll be able to temporarily suspend and then resume service. E.g., I watch ESPN channels religiously during college basketball season, but not at all during the summer...it'd be nice if I could temporarily deactivate my subscription from May-October and then turn it back on again.

Yah this was discussed yesterday.
It isn't only ESPN. Disney is really the driver with Dish.

http://cyclonefanatic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=198128

Thanks, my bad. I did a couple searches but didn't find this one. Feel free to merge.

 

[ianoconnor]

A big question for me that I haven't found an answer to yet is whether you'll be able to temporarily suspend and then resume service. E.g., I watch ESPN channels religiously during college basketball season, but not at all during the summer...it'd be nice if I could temporarily deactivate my subscription from May-October and then turn it back on again.



Thanks, my bad. I did a couple searches but didn't find this one. Feel free to merge.

From the sounds of it, it is a monthly service, similar to Netflix, Hulu, etc... so you could subscribe one month, but not the next. No contracts.

 

[jbhtexas]

Doesn't ESPN make something like $6/customer with the current content providers?

$20 for only 2 of the ESPN networks is actually a healthy increase in fees for just those 2 channels.

Of course I'd be able to punt the Lifetime and Oprah channels, but after my internet access fees are raised I can see the consumer getting fewer channels for the same costs after the dust settles

It will be interesting to see how Comcast/Time Warner/Cox/etc. try to counter this. Will they increase Internet access charges (as you suggest)? Will they lower or implement more data caps? Will they start including ESPN and a few other channels with their upper tier high speed internet services? Will they offer a similar service?

It's also interesting that Dish still chose to go with a "bundle" (albeit a much smaller bundle than normal cable) instead of a complete a la carte approach.

 

[roundball]

It will be interesting to see how Comcast/Time Warner/Cox/etc. try to counter this. Will they increase Internet access charges (as you suggest)? Will they lower or implement more data caps? Will they start including ESPN and a few other channels with their upper tier high speed internet services? Will they offer a similar service?

It's also interesting that Dish still chose to go with a "bundle" (albeit a much smaller bundle than normal cable) instead of a complete a la carte approach.

That part makes total sense to me. If you're Dish, you're probably waiting until you've hit a "viability" threshold to roll something like this out...i.e., the more people you can attract to it, the better your chances of success. If it were just one channel being offered, there'd probably be quite a few people who would say no and still keep their cable subscription (e.g., Bob loves ESPN but also watches CNN constantly...if not having CNN on Sling is a dealbreaker, he might as well keep cable where he can get CNN and ESPN, obviating the need to buy a Sling subscription. But if Sling offers both, he'll cut the cord in a heartbeat).

If I had to guess, I'd say they'll move towards a more "true" a la carte model once they get a critical mass of subscribers.

 

[huntt26]

From the sounds of it, it is a monthly service, similar to Netflix, Hulu, etc... so you could subscribe one month, but not the next. No contracts.

This is the best part about it - during the summer I don't watch TV anyway, so it's a great way to save $$$

 

[Clonehomer]

It will be interesting to see how Comcast/Time Warner/Cox/etc. try to counter this. Will they increase Internet access charges (as you suggest)? Will they lower or implement more data caps? Will they start including ESPN and a few other channels with their upper tier high speed internet services? Will they offer a similar service?

It's also interesting that Dish still chose to go with a "bundle" (albeit a much smaller bundle than normal cable) instead of a complete a la carte approach.

I can't see the bundle approach being Dish's decision. Disney is the one that wants the bundles. They would not sell ESPN without the remaining channels. This is also why they have the LHN on their satellite packages. Disney said that if you want ESPN, you must have the LHN.

the additional packages talked about for $5 are the same situation where you will get the Fox or Comcast packages on top of the Disney packages.

 

[cowgirl836]

It will be interesting to see how Comcast/Time Warner/Cox/etc. try to counter this. Will they increase Internet access charges (as you suggest)? Will they lower or implement more data caps? Will they start including ESPN and a few other channels with their upper tier high speed internet services? Will they offer a similar service?

It's also interesting that Dish still chose to go with a "bundle" (albeit a much smaller bundle than normal cable) instead of a complete a la carte approach.

the bolded will be the interesting part. They should do what free markets do, and become competitive - offering their own versions with better channels/cheaper pricing, but they'll probably dig their heels in and just start charging more for internet access/usage.

 

[roundball]

the bolded will be the interesting part. They should do what free markets do, and become competitive - offering their own versions with better channels/cheaper pricing, but they'll probably dig their heels in and just start charging more for internet access/usage.

And buy more lobbyists/politicians to write Net Neutrality legislation that's favorable to them.