(01-26-2016 09:00 PM)Attackcoog Wrote: (01-26-2016 08:46 PM)MWC Tex Wrote: If you are thinking that ESPN is going to be able to monetize ESPN 3, they won't be able to since the content they have rights to won't be profitable or as profitable. The larger conferences don't need them to run the streaming platform since they area able to do that themselves. The smaller and poorer conferences need outside help.
Except the conferences don't own their rights to stream. That's my point. ESPN is smart to buy up as many rights as they can. The content is where the value is. People don't stream static---they stream content---and frankly---ESPN doesn't make content. They just warehouse content they buy from existing leagues and conferences.
That depends on the conference. ESPN is buying up content like they did with the MAC and Sunbelt. They may only broadcast a game or two over their family of networks, but those conferences gave up their digital rights to ESPN as part of the TV package so that their other games can be streamed. Unlike the MW, the MAC and Sunbelt decided to let ESPN3 handle the digital side of things.
Now the P5 conferences who have their own network, can still stream those games if they want or are setup to do so. Those games not shown over TV are owned by the conference for digital rights, not by ESPN, Fox or CBS. The PAC-12 for example streams their content on their network. (now you have to go through a TV service provider to do so to access it on the TV Everywhere app but that is beside the point.)
The Mountain West has digital rights to all the games not shown on CBS Sports or ESPN or Root. The exception with Root is that the MW has the right to stream that game that is outside the Root area. All other content is owned by the MW.
In my opinion, if the MW Digital Network makes a lot more progress in the next 4 years to where they are making a bit of money, the next TV deal may be just tier 1 only games and the rest will be on the MWDN.
ESPN may be able to monetize ESPN3 content and they do play a bit of ads on the games I did watch, so I do think they are getting some money out of it, but they are not going to be able to monetize to the point to make-up any loss on the cables subscription side.
We'll just have to see how this is all going to play out in the next 5 years.