ESPN's New Streaming App Isn't What Cordcutters Asked For ESPN says the company will launch its new ESPN+ streaming video service on April 12 as part of the company's belated effort to get ahead of the cord cutting phenomenon. According to an ESPN announcement, ESPN+ will provide sports fans "hundreds" of MLB, NHL, MLS games, "thousands" of college sports events, as well as streaminmg acces too boxing, PGA TOUR Golf, Grand Slam Tennis, and other events. ESPN says the new app will be part of a "completely redesigned and reimagined ESPN App" that will be "the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans."

But is it really? One recent survey suggested that 56% of cable customers would drop ESPN if it meant not having to pay the $8 per month the channel is estimated to cost each cable subscriber. And among those that do want ESPN, many would like to be able to pay for a streaming version of the company's core ESPN channel offerings. But, topheavy with b-grade content from some of its lesser channels, that's not what this new ESPN+ product offers. ESPN however was quick to insist that ESPN+ represents the company's attempt to evolve in the face of a changing market. “The launch of ESPN+ marks the beginning of an exciting new era of innovation for our media businesses--one defined by an increasingly direct and personal relationship with consumers," Disney executive Kevin Mayer said of the looming launch. "This new product reflects our direct-to-consumer strategy focused on combining our beloved brands with our proprietary, industry-leading technology to give users unparalleled access to our world-class content.” ESPN has lost more than 11 million subscribers over the last few years, primarily thanks to cord cutting and the rise of so-called "skinny" TV bundles, which provide bundles of fewer channels for less money. While the market evolved, ESPN doubled down on bad ideas like ESPN has lost more than 11 million subscribers over the last few years, primarily thanks to cord cutting and the rise of so-called "skinny" TV bundles, which provide bundles of fewer channels for less money. While the market evolved, ESPN doubled down on bad ideas like suing cable companies that tried to offer customers more flexible channel bundles. The company then fired more than 100 longstanding employees and sports journalists , but not the executives that failed to adapt to the cord cutting paradigm shift in the first place.







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mist668

join:2011-02-15

Middleburg, PA 37 recommendations mist668 Member Yawn Boring. How about you just die espn Qixotl

join:2002-02-08

New Milford, CT 9 recommendations Qixotl Member Goodbye ESPN3



»deadspin.com/espns-new-4 ··· 24262409



It feels similar to what NBC did with the unbroadcasted English Premier League matches, shoving them on the NBC Sports Gold pay service after years of including them with cable subscriptions via NBC Sports Live Extra. The same is happening with the Champions League on the Turner channels next year, with most matches being on another new pay streaming service. Looks like this is the new attempt at a norm: nickel-and-dime-ing people instead of giving them one big cable bill. I guess we'll see how much people will be willing to pay for multiple OTT services going forward. Despite some quotes from ESPN reps, the official press release strongly suggests that much of the ESPN3 content that we have been paying for through our ISPs will be added to ESPN+, primarily the college sports programming from smaller conferences. Fans of those conferences will now probably need to pay an extra $5 a month to follow their schools. I doubt if Disney will lower the ESPN3 fees to compensate for the reduced content amount or make it easy for ISPs who are also TV providers to drop the service despite a reduction in programming.It feels similar to what NBC did with the unbroadcasted English Premier League matches, shoving them on the NBC Sports Gold pay service after years of including them with cable subscriptions via NBC Sports Live Extra. The same is happening with the Champions League on the Turner channels next year, with most matches being on another new pay streaming service. Looks like this is the new attempt at a norm: nickel-and-dime-ing people instead of giving them one big cable bill. I guess we'll see how much people will be willing to pay for multiple OTT services going forward.

Unbundled

But When ? ?

Premium Member

join:2010-09-13

Irving, TX 9 recommendations Unbundled Premium Member Same Old Song & Dance In 1982 or so Cable TV finally came to Dallas. The original cable company was Time-Warner. We even had that electronic LED readout controller with a very long cord attached to it.



Anyway, my roommate and I went for the whole "Enchilada", ie we opted for all four Movie channels (there was no East West offerings). So we got HBO, The Movie Channel, Showtime, and Cinemax.)



So besides the Giant Blockbuster movie that each seemed to have each month, once you watched that thing a few times... then there was little to watch that wasn't "B" grade or lower, even though there were many "A" movies in existence.



And this pattern repeated itself, month after month.



Yes, there was the occasional exceptional offering, ie Showtime airing much of the US Festival.



But it was really disappointing, to get home from work at 1am, and find such a dearth of B movies to watch, even with subscribing to 4 Premium Movie Channels. It became very much like that Pink Floyd song "Nobody's Home", except that I had about "130 channels of shit on TV to choose from."



But this was their model, and much like the ESPN+ offering, it looks the song remains the same for these corporate giants. Sell the "Sizzle" because there's not very much meat to eat when it gets down to it. firedrakes

join:2009-01-29

Arcadia, FL 5 recommendations firedrakes Member right mostly likely to be tied with some many loop holes

Packeteers

Premium Member

join:2005-06-18

Forest Hills, NY 2 recommendations Packeteers Premium Member so what's missing you just know they are not going to give you everything for $5.