ESPN subscriber collapse

[tpstulane]

In an attempt to stop the bleeding Disney to charge $4.99 for ESPN Streaming App starting this spring.
https://twitter.com/cnbc/status/960986368812965888

Thanks, I don't need them. If there's any concern about why they are losing viewers by the dozen, just tune in during the day and hear 30 seconds of the spew and "debate" they engage in. It took years to do it, but they have ruined a good thing.

I agree. Complete 180 turnaround for the worst from where they began.

[DfromCT]

And yet any of us that watch tonights basketball game are watching an ESPN network

[tpstulane]

And yet any of us that watch tonights basketball game are watching an ESPN network

They should only do games. Eliminate all in studio BS except for big events.

[DfromCT]

And yet any of us that watch tonights basketball game are watching an ESPN network

They should only do games. Eliminate all in studio BS except for big events.

I agree, though SportsCenter for an hour or two every morning would be ok. I also like their 30-30 type shows. Hate their sports reporter shows particularly anything with Steven A Smith. Don't like when they talk politics. But they have some compelling content (meaning games mostly) whether you get it through your cable or computer.

I'll admit it's a CT company, I take a little pride in watching it grow from nothing to a media leader, and I know some of the key executives. I don't defend them and recognize that they're a wounded dog at this point. I can also see the argument that ESPN money drove a wedge between the "haves" and "have nots" (aka P5 vs everyone else) in college sports.

[tpstulane]

ESPN takes another misstep gets closer to death.
https://www.lifezette.com/popzette/stru ... -to-death/

[Houma de Wave]

ESPN takes another misstep gets closer to death.
https://www.lifezette.com/popzette/stru ... -to-death/

They just don’t get it, do they? No different than the alphabet “news” networks.

[tpstulane]

ESPN takes another misstep gets closer to death.
https://www.lifezette.com/popzette/stru ... -to-death/

They just don’t get it, do they? No different than the alphabet “news” networks.

Sure looks that way.

[DfromCT]

What if ESPN went bankrupt and out of business? What would happen to all the contracts they have, both the big $$ ones and the lesser ones, like with the AAC, CUSA, etc.? The traditional networks already have a good portion of their programming blocked off. There's a glut of content thrown into the market. Lesser networks, like TBS, TNT, and the various sports networks of CBS, NBC, and FOX end up carving up a lot of content from all the ESPN networks at bargain prices. Sure, there will be bids from Amazon, Facebook, Yahoo, etc. But the lions share will still be on traditional TV networks. The P5's suffer, but the G5's chances of getting decent TV deals in the next decade take a huge hit.

[RobertM320]

What if ESPN went bankrupt and out of business? What would happen to all the contracts they have, both the big $$ ones and the lesser ones, like with the AAC, CUSA, etc.? The traditional networks already have a good portion of their programming blocked off. There's a glut of content thrown into the market. Lesser networks, like TBS, TNT, and the various sports networks of CBS, NBC, and FOX end up carving up a lot of content from all the ESPN networks at bargain prices. Sure, there will be bids from Amazon, Facebook, Yahoo, etc. But the lions share will still be on traditional TV networks. The P5's suffer, but the G5's chances of getting decent TV deals in the next decade take a huge hit.

I agree with you, but you also wonder if it could ultimately help the G5s. Without those TV contracts, how many P5s would all of a sudden be unable to pay off the debt they've acquired? I'm sure a lot of the have built lavish facilities on the basis of future money incoming. If that flow gets cut off, what cuts will they have to make to pay the bills. It could be more a case of them coming backwards towards the G5 than the G5s moving forward.

[winwave]

R320 I've thought about the facilities too but they have been getting big bucks for a long time. The facilities are likely paid for already. It's the enormous salaries that they'd have to figure out. But of course this won't come to pass. ESPN won't go under but even if they do other networks would step up with sizable offers. Where the G5's would suffer is with the elimination of all the Bowl Games that ESPN owns.

[Show Me]

R320 I've thought about the facilities too but they have been getting big bucks for a long time. The facilities are likely paid for already. It's the enormous salaries that they'd have to figure out. But of course this won't come to pass. ESPN won't go under but even if they do other networks would step up with sizable offers. Where the G5's would suffer is with the elimination of all the Bowl Games that ESPN owns.

I agree. I hope the bowl games go away. It’s a joke to have so many. 6 wins to get a bowl is a sham. Our bowl games in the 70’s and ‘98 and Hawaii Bowl were well earned. The New Orleans Bowl under CJ was a sham. 7-5 should be the least for a bowl. 6-6 is a joke.

[DfromCT]

Isn't it ironic that as the ESPN ship sinks a little deeper into the ocean, JJ is nowhere to be found on our site!

[tpstulane]

The hemorrhaging continues. ESPN loses another 500,000 subscribers in April. http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2018/05 ... ers-april/

[MicMan]

Bad news all around:

ESPN: -500K households
FS1: -328K households
Golf Channel: -505K
NBCSN: -544K
NFLN: -842K (Comcast kicked it up a tier with the Fox TNF news)