CougarCorner

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-04T08:23:26-06:00

I'm wondering if perhaps ESPN was not distinguishing between those who simply had the internet provider vs. an entire bundle and then saw cable/tv service numbers drop significantly so they changed things this year. The reason I'm asking is that I probably wouldn't keep my tv service except for sports. If I could get ESPN content streaming, I'd just live with my Roku/netflix/hulu/BYUtv and drop my tv altogether.
Amen. I'd pay a Netflix-esque fee to have the ability to stream ESPN online (Roku/hulu/etc). I'd drop my tv service too.

Yep, I just use the Roku and whatever comes over the digital bunny ears--which in SEC country is still a surprising amount of football.

While it is not ideal that I have to watch the BYU games a day late streaming it on BYU TV through my Roku, I am grateful ESPN gave BYU a contract that allows me to do that. Instead of the $84 a month I was paying for sattelite on top of my internet, I still get to watch all of the BYU games--albeit a day late. For me, the $84 wasn't worth it just to watch the game a day earlier. And most people around here aren't going to spoil it for me before I find out what happened. The added bonus is that the game does not take up as much time with the commercials and half-time cut out. I'm sure my wife appreciates it.

There is really no room to complain about BYU's current TV deal. Pay for cable/sattelite, or wait a day and watch it on BYU TV. And I would absolutely pay a hulu plus type fee to have ESPN streamed on my ROKU. Perhaps there are legal issues with it, but I don't think ESPN would have signed an exclusivity deal with any television provider.

Statistics: Posted by Cougarfan87 — Tue Sep 04, 2012 8:23 am

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-03T18:28:58-06:00

I'm wondering if perhaps ESPN was not distinguishing between those who simply had the internet provider vs. an entire bundle and then saw cable/tv service numbers drop significantly so they changed things this year. The reason I'm asking is that I probably wouldn't keep my tv service except for sports. If I could get ESPN content streaming, I'd just live with my Roku/netflix/hulu/BYUtv and drop my tv altogether.

Amen. I'd pay a Netflix-esque fee to have the ability to stream ESPN online (Roku/hulu/etc). I'd drop my tv service too.

Statistics: Posted by SpiffCoug — Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:28 pm

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-03T12:40:03-06:00

I'm wondering if perhaps ESPN was not distinguishing between those who simply had the internet provider vs. an entire bundle and then saw cable/tv service numbers drop significantly so they changed things this year. The reason I'm asking is that I probably wouldn't keep my tv service except for sports. If I could get ESPN content streaming, I'd just live with my Roku/netflix/hulu/BYUtv and drop my tv altogether.

This is my real beef with this whole thing. I was so used to getting ESPN content online (for the past 5 years years with my internet provider) and never having to deal with TV that I was REALLY disappointed when I found out this year would be different. I never lived somewhere that I could get the .mtn so never had a TV provider (that's the only reason I would have had tv, to get more BYU games.).

I think you hit it on the head. ESPN is THE driver for providing subscriptions for TV companies and I think they have seen their subscriptions dropping in the last couple years with more and more people doing what I have done for years now.

Still not going to get a TV subscription though. Just not worth it, I'd rather go to a restaurant or a friends house and bring the pizza. Still waiting for the day when I can pay ESPN directly for their channel and online content. I'd gladly pony up for that.

Statistics: Posted by BroncoBot — Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:40 pm

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-03T12:38:49-06:00

Uh yeah let's black out the game so we can get 3,000 more people sitting in their seats even know the tickets have usually always been bought up for a sell out, and by the end of the 3rd quarter the same and 10,000 more people will have already left because we're knocking the puss out Out of New Mexico St.
Blacking out ESPN/ESPN2 games on ESPN3 is not about getting people in seats--it's about getting people to subscribe to a cable package that has ESPN or ESPN2.

ESPN wants people that are paying for access to the games on TV to be able to have the flexibility to watch the game other media. I think it's perfectly understandable that ESPN wants to prevent people who didn't pay for a TV package with ESPN from watching ESPN-broadcast games for free.
In my state, Time Warner (which essentially has a monopoly) won't let you access ESPN3 unless you buy their cable package. So if the blackouts are about forcing people to buy cable, they're pretty much already doing that.

I have Comcast internet and TV service. When I'm using my computer on my home Comcast network, I can access ESPN3 with no login--i.e., no check for TV subscription. When I want to watch ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU streams, have to authenticate through Comcast to verify I have a TV subscription to the channels.

ESPN is making ESPN3 programming available on ISPs with agreements with ESPN to do so. On the other hand, starting this year, ESPN is blacking out ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU games on ESPN3 in order to get people to buy TV service.

Statistics: Posted by Mingjai — Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:38 pm

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-03T12:25:34-06:00

I'm wondering if perhaps ESPN was not distinguishing between those who simply had the internet provider vs. an entire bundle and then saw cable/tv service numbers drop significantly so they changed things this year. The reason I'm asking is that I probably wouldn't keep my tv service except for sports. If I could get ESPN content streaming, I'd just live with my Roku/netflix/hulu/BYUtv and drop my tv altogether.

Statistics: Posted by Schmoe — Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:25 pm

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-03T12:20:02-06:00

ESPN doesn't hate their customers. Like most businesses, they don't like to give away their services for free.
I've heard this several times and don't understand it. What part of paying for an internet subscription with a company that is paying ESPN for online content makes it "free"?
Which internet provider? Where in your contract does it talk about specific ESPN content?

Honestly, haven't read the contract, nor will I. But last year at this time I was able to watch any game covered by ESPN or ABC with ESPN3/WE. I was paying for a internet subscription that ESPN recognized as an affiliate and provided content. It even allowed me to remotely access ESPN content. Now, it looks like I get to watch DII schools duke it out. Are you suggesting that ESPN was simply "giving" this service to certain providers but not others? Because my parents were NOT able to stream espn3 with their provider last year.

Point is, it wasn't free.

EDIT- Still haven't read that pesky contract, but here is an affiliate (I guess "free" list according to some on here) listing for ESPN3 and it does have my provider.

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/affList" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Statistics: Posted by BroncoBot — Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:20 pm

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-03T12:09:50-06:00

ESPN doesn't hate their customers. Like most businesses, they don't like to give away their services for free.
I've heard this several times and don't understand it. What part of paying for an internet subscription with a company that is paying ESPN for online content makes it "free"?

Which internet provider? Where in your contract does it talk about specific ESPN content?

Statistics: Posted by Schmoe — Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:09 pm

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-03T11:20:20-06:00

ESPN doesn't hate their customers. Like most businesses, they don't like to give away their services for free.

I've heard this several times and don't understand it. What part of paying for an internet subscription with a company that is paying ESPN for online content makes it "free"?

Statistics: Posted by BroncoBot — Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:20 am

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-03T10:13:13-06:00

Uh yeah let's black out the game so we can get 3,000 more people sitting in their seats even know the tickets have usually always been bought up for a sell out, and by the end of the 3rd quarter the same and 10,000 more people will have already left because we're knocking the puss out Out of New Mexico St.
Blacking out ESPN/ESPN2 games on ESPN3 is not about getting people in seats--it's about getting people to subscribe to a cable package that has ESPN or ESPN2.

ESPN wants people that are paying for access to the games on TV to be able to have the flexibility to watch the game other media. I think it's perfectly understandable that ESPN wants to prevent people who didn't pay for a TV package with ESPN from watching ESPN-broadcast games for free.
In my state, Time Warner (which essentially has a monopoly) won't let you access ESPN3 unless you buy their cable package. So if the blackouts are about forcing people to buy cable, they're pretty much already doing that.

Unrelated, but when I lived in Texas I had Time Warner and it was possibly the greatest tv access I've ever had. It was cheap, no contract, and no problems with my service. Although the customer service was kind of a joke...

I relied on Espn 3 a little bit last year to be able to watch some games, so I understand the frustration. It kind of sucks that they offered the service before and now have backed out. It seems everyone has kind of gone with the Olympic coverage model, where you had to have one of the big name services in order to watch one of the channels of 10 kabillion hours of streaming that they had to offer. ESPN 3 was a neat thing, kind of
Makes me sad that they'd do this, but at the same time I understand they're probably getting pressured by the cable and satellite companies, who are begging to struggle. (which by the way I find awesome).

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Statistics: Posted by JamieVallen — Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:13 am

Re: So, ESPN hates its customers?

2012-09-03T10:00:42-06:00

ESPN doesn't hate their customers. Like most businesses, they don't like to give away their services for free.

Statistics: Posted by SpiffCoug — Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:00 am