Article says ESPN is losing subscribers so fast Disney analysts are saying they need to spin it off or sell it.

Article goes on to say they have lost 9million subcribers in the last three years.

I'm glad...EPSN ruined college football. I know they orchestrated the Big East demise and they have destroyed rivalries for the sake of $$$.

Suck it ESPN....I hope you go under you losers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-...5a35e9d311

This may be our window/shot to get with Amazon/Netflix, etc. and get streaming live sports going. We could really help put the nail in ESPN's coffin. (When I say nail in coffin, I don't mean ESPN will go away, but we could definitely help drive the current trend downward for them).

Out of the box...that's what we need. Netflix, Amazon, whatever. And add some western schools if at all possible...Boise, BYU, AF, etc.

We have a chance to really do something if we play the cards right.

This is where having Aresco, a former TV exec helps us...he knows the landscape and may be smart enough to pull this off.

ESPN is still the #1 driver of Disney earnings. The demise is slightly overblown. I do think the rights of the major sporting events might be a bubble though. I mean they are paying Northwestern $40 million per year or twice as much as the entire American conference for football and basketball. I can't image anything not including Ohio State, Michigan, and the few others pull in enough dollars to warrant the $40 million.

The thought was adding a bunch of conference networks and putting it with the standard cable package for big $$$. ESPN gets the leverage of saying, hey don't put the SEC network in the standard package and we won't give you the other ESPN's. Who cares the consumer will have to pay for it anyway. There is finally some push back to the skyrocking cable costs. I mean I feel like I do ok and even I dropped cable for the playstation vue. I still have the ESPNs and Fox Sports channels. I lost CBS sports though.

Watch the bubble is going to hit the peak when we need to renegotiate and get just a slight bump. Like $2.5 million each

(12-10-2016 06:46 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  This may be our window/shot to get with Amazon/Netflix, etc. and get streaming live sports going. We could really help put the nail in ESPN's coffin. (When I say nail in coffin, I don't mean ESPN will go away, but we could definitely help drive the current trend downward for them).

Out of the box...that's what we need. Netflix, Amazon, whatever. And add some western schools if at all possible...Boise, BYU, AF, etc.

We have a chance to really do something if we play the cards right.

This is where having Aresco, a former TV exec helps us...he knows the landscape and may be smart enough to pull this off.

Agreed, Hope Aresco can put something together for the AAC during this window of opportunity. I have thought the tv contracts that were being handed out to the P5 were creating a Bubble. I would love to see that bubble burst because we are all used to budgeting with less money but it would be nice to see some of these P5 schools get slapped in the face with a little reality

(12-10-2016 07:53 AM)ShoreBuc Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 06:46 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  This may be our window/shot to get with Amazon/Netflix, etc. and get streaming live sports going. We could really help put the nail in ESPN's coffin. (When I say nail in coffin, I don't mean ESPN will go away, but we could definitely help drive the current trend downward for them).

Out of the box...that's what we need. Netflix, Amazon, whatever. And add some western schools if at all possible...Boise, BYU, AF, etc.

We have a chance to really do something if we play the cards right.

This is where having Aresco, a former TV exec helps us...he knows the landscape and may be smart enough to pull this off.

Agreed, Hope Aresco can put something together for the AAC during this window of opportunity. I have thought the tv contracts that were being handed out to the P5 were creating a Bubble. I would love to see that bubble burst because we are all used to budgeting with less money but it would be nice to see some of these P5 schools get slapped in the face with a little reality

These P5's are in long contracts. The Big 12 is up in like 8-9 years. That will be interesting since Texas is essentially outside of the deal and they still get like $23-24 million per team. Half of the Big 12 is nothing but mid-west AAC teams.

One of their ADs basically admitted it during the October B12 Presidents meeting, something along the lines of if the B12 didn't have Texas and Oklahoma, it would be the AAC.

That's true for most of the P5 conferences. About 4 really premier schools support the entire conference.

I do agree about Aresco exploring streaming.

I am afraid this is happening at the worse possible time for us. renegotiate now and a big bump is highly unlikely, wait 3 more years and who knows what the market will be like..The bad thing, and current good thing about the deal was the coverage we got, problem is it leaves nothing to start up a tier 2 deal.

(12-10-2016 07:38 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  ESPN is still the #1 driver of Disney earnings. The demise is slightly overblown. I do think the rights of the major sporting events might be a bubble though. I mean they are paying Northwestern $40 million per year or twice as much as the entire American conference for football and basketball. I can't image anything not including Ohio State, Michigan, and the few others pull in enough dollars to warrant the $40 million.

The thought was adding a bunch of conference networks and putting it with the standard cable package for big $$$. ESPN gets the leverage of saying, hey don't put the SEC network in the standard package and we won't give you the other ESPN's. Who cares the consumer will have to pay for it anyway. There is finally some push back to the skyrocking cable costs. I mean I feel like I do ok and even I dropped cable for the playstation vue. I still have the ESPNs and Fox Sports channels. I lost CBS sports though.

that may be but the fact is Disney analysts are saying spin it off or sell it...so either way, it's not performing. If being their 'biggest driver' was worth anything to them, they wouldn't be saying get rid of it.

(12-10-2016 08:35 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  I am afraid this is happening at the worse possible time for us. renegotiate now and a big bump is highly unlikely, wait 3 more years and who knows what the market will be like..The bad thing, and current good thing about the deal was the coverage we got, problem is it leaves nothing to start up a tier 2 deal.

depends how you look at it...if you are putting all eggs in ESPN, then yes, it's the worst time. If however the AAC can explore other options (Netflix, Amazon, or some sort of hybrid combo along with ESPN, FS1, NBCSN, etc.) then maybe its the perfect time.

(12-10-2016 08:46 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 07:38 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  ESPN is still the #1 driver of Disney earnings. The demise is slightly overblown. I do think the rights of the major sporting events might be a bubble though. I mean they are paying Northwestern $40 million per year or twice as much as the entire American conference for football and basketball. I can't image anything not including Ohio State, Michigan, and the few others pull in enough dollars to warrant the $40 million.

The thought was adding a bunch of conference networks and putting it with the standard cable package for big $$$. ESPN gets the leverage of saying, hey don't put the SEC network in the standard package and we won't give you the other ESPN's. Who cares the consumer will have to pay for it anyway. There is finally some push back to the skyrocking cable costs. I mean I feel like I do ok and even I dropped cable for the playstation vue. I still have the ESPNs and Fox Sports channels. I lost CBS sports though.

that may be but the fact is Disney analysts are saying spin it off or sell it...so either way, it's not performing. If being their 'biggest driver' was worth anything to them, they wouldn't be saying get rid of it.

Possibility they are saying spin it off because the stock valuation of split companies might be higher than the combined companies. ESPN still makes a ton of money. Recently it was 70% of all Disney profits. You have been to Disney parks or seen the Disney cruises that run $8,000 for a family. ESPN makes more than all of that.

(12-10-2016 08:49 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:35 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  I am afraid this is happening at the worse possible time for us. renegotiate now and a big bump is highly unlikely, wait 3 more years and who knows what the market will be like..The bad thing, and current good thing about the deal was the coverage we got, problem is it leaves nothing to start up a tier 2 deal.

depends how you look at it...if you are putting all eggs in ESPN, then yes, it's the worst time. If however the AAC can explore other options (Netflix, Amazon, or some sort of hybrid combo along with ESPN, FS1, NBCSN, etc.) then maybe its the perfect time.

If you want to look small time, then go to a streaming service on Netflix, youtube, amazon, etc. I can't imagine telling someone, I need to catch the big UCF game on Netflix tonight. I'm not sure how many subscribers they have, but the ratings would be below the C-USA and Sunbelt level.

ESPN still gives us the most exposure for tier #1 rights. We just need to get them to offer more $$$. Plus they own a ton of bowls. We need to be on the side of ESPN. I would like to see a package with Fox for tier #2 rights and CBS for tier #3. This is complete BS that ESPN owns us for $2 million and still sells rights to games to CBS sports.

Hell if we can get $4 million per team, we can still get a large separation from the G4.

(12-10-2016 08:50 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:46 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 07:38 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  ESPN is still the #1 driver of Disney earnings. The demise is slightly overblown. I do think the rights of the major sporting events might be a bubble though. I mean they are paying Northwestern $40 million per year or twice as much as the entire American conference for football and basketball. I can't image anything not including Ohio State, Michigan, and the few others pull in enough dollars to warrant the $40 million.

The thought was adding a bunch of conference networks and putting it with the standard cable package for big $$$. ESPN gets the leverage of saying, hey don't put the SEC network in the standard package and we won't give you the other ESPN's. Who cares the consumer will have to pay for it anyway. There is finally some push back to the skyrocking cable costs. I mean I feel like I do ok and even I dropped cable for the playstation vue. I still have the ESPNs and Fox Sports channels. I lost CBS sports though.

that may be but the fact is Disney analysts are saying spin it off or sell it...so either way, it's not performing. If being their 'biggest driver' was worth anything to them, they wouldn't be saying get rid of it.

Possibility they are saying spin it off because the stock valuation of split companies might be higher than the combined companies. ESPN still makes a ton of money. Recently it was 70% of all Disney profits. You have been to Disney parks or seen the Disney cruises that run $8,000 for a family. ESPN makes more than all of that.

the entire article is about how fast they are losing subscribers and that disney is concerned. If what you said was reality the article would have been called, "ESPN: Disney's Cash Cow" and been all about how great ESPN is for Disney.

(12-10-2016 08:54 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:50 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:46 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 07:38 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  ESPN is still the #1 driver of Disney earnings. The demise is slightly overblown. I do think the rights of the major sporting events might be a bubble though. I mean they are paying Northwestern $40 million per year or twice as much as the entire American conference for football and basketball. I can't image anything not including Ohio State, Michigan, and the few others pull in enough dollars to warrant the $40 million.

The thought was adding a bunch of conference networks and putting it with the standard cable package for big $$$. ESPN gets the leverage of saying, hey don't put the SEC network in the standard package and we won't give you the other ESPN's. Who cares the consumer will have to pay for it anyway. There is finally some push back to the skyrocking cable costs. I mean I feel like I do ok and even I dropped cable for the playstation vue. I still have the ESPNs and Fox Sports channels. I lost CBS sports though.

that may be but the fact is Disney analysts are saying spin it off or sell it...so either way, it's not performing. If being their 'biggest driver' was worth anything to them, they wouldn't be saying get rid of it.

Possibility they are saying spin it off because the stock valuation of split companies might be higher than the combined companies. ESPN still makes a ton of money. Recently it was 70% of all Disney profits. You have been to Disney parks or seen the Disney cruises that run $8,000 for a family. ESPN makes more than all of that.

the entire article is about how fast they are losing subscribers and that disney is concerned. If what you said was reality the article would have been called, "ESPN: Disney's Cash Cow" and been all about how great ESPN is for Disney.

There is debate even on what is a lost subscriber. I'm not sure the analysis is using the new streaming services accurately.

(12-10-2016 08:57 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:54 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:50 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:46 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 07:38 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  ESPN is still the #1 driver of Disney earnings. The demise is slightly overblown. I do think the rights of the major sporting events might be a bubble though. I mean they are paying Northwestern $40 million per year or twice as much as the entire American conference for football and basketball. I can't image anything not including Ohio State, Michigan, and the few others pull in enough dollars to warrant the $40 million.

The thought was adding a bunch of conference networks and putting it with the standard cable package for big $$$. ESPN gets the leverage of saying, hey don't put the SEC network in the standard package and we won't give you the other ESPN's. Who cares the consumer will have to pay for it anyway. There is finally some push back to the skyrocking cable costs. I mean I feel like I do ok and even I dropped cable for the playstation vue. I still have the ESPNs and Fox Sports channels. I lost CBS sports though.

that may be but the fact is Disney analysts are saying spin it off or sell it...so either way, it's not performing. If being their 'biggest driver' was worth anything to them, they wouldn't be saying get rid of it.

Possibility they are saying spin it off because the stock valuation of split companies might be higher than the combined companies. ESPN still makes a ton of money. Recently it was 70% of all Disney profits. You have been to Disney parks or seen the Disney cruises that run $8,000 for a family. ESPN makes more than all of that.

the entire article is about how fast they are losing subscribers and that disney is concerned. If what you said was reality the article would have been called, "ESPN: Disney's Cash Cow" and been all about how great ESPN is for Disney.

There is debate even on what is a lost subscriber. I'm not sure the analysis is using the new streaming services accurately.

lol ok dude...guess we will just assume that the Disney analysts, guys Disney pays and trusts to give them accurate information to make billion dollar decisions, are in fact clueless.
Hey! I know, maybe you should apply. Then you can set them all straight!!

(12-10-2016 08:57 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:54 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:50 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:46 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 07:38 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  ESPN is still the #1 driver of Disney earnings. The demise is slightly overblown. I do think the rights of the major sporting events might be a bubble though. I mean they are paying Northwestern $40 million per year or twice as much as the entire American conference for football and basketball. I can't image anything not including Ohio State, Michigan, and the few others pull in enough dollars to warrant the $40 million.

The thought was adding a bunch of conference networks and putting it with the standard cable package for big $$$. ESPN gets the leverage of saying, hey don't put the SEC network in the standard package and we won't give you the other ESPN's. Who cares the consumer will have to pay for it anyway. There is finally some push back to the skyrocking cable costs. I mean I feel like I do ok and even I dropped cable for the playstation vue. I still have the ESPNs and Fox Sports channels. I lost CBS sports though.

that may be but the fact is Disney analysts are saying spin it off or sell it...so either way, it's not performing. If being their 'biggest driver' was worth anything to them, they wouldn't be saying get rid of it.

Possibility they are saying spin it off because the stock valuation of split companies might be higher than the combined companies. ESPN still makes a ton of money. Recently it was 70% of all Disney profits. You have been to Disney parks or seen the Disney cruises that run $8,000 for a family. ESPN makes more than all of that.

the entire article is about how fast they are losing subscribers and that disney is concerned. If what you said was reality the article would have been called, "ESPN: Disney's Cash Cow" and been all about how great ESPN is for Disney.

There is debate even on what is a lost subscriber. I'm not sure the analysis is using the new streaming services accurately.

ESPN was arguing against Neilsen regarding subs and that the streaming subs weren't included. Neilsen checked the numbers and stated their info is correct. Despite, some people switching to streaming, they are still losing subs.
Also need to mention, that while other sports channels are losing some subs, they are not financially affected that much since they get $1 or less in sub fees. ESPN is affected seriously because they are built on a $6/sub platform. They will soon not be able to payout their sports rights with the amount they will bring in.

The problem is, the Amazons/Netflix's of the world have not generally been willing to pay all that much for any sports properties---especially properties that aren't considered to be "major". I think streaming would be a place we could pick up some extra exposure and maybe a bit of incremental income--but the near term potential of big dollars from a streamer simply isn't there for us.

We should get a hint of what's going on in G5 sports values in 2017. CUSA signed an extremely short 2 year deal. The current CUSA deal's final year is 2017, so talks will begin next year on a new CUSA deal. Since the current CUSA deal represents a reset of CUSA value based on its current membership---any change in its media rights payout would give us a hint as to whether G5 media value is rising or dropping in the current environment.

(12-10-2016 08:54 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:49 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-10-2016 08:35 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  I am afraid this is happening at the worse possible time for us. renegotiate now and a big bump is highly unlikely, wait 3 more years and who knows what the market will be like..The bad thing, and current good thing about the deal was the coverage we got, problem is it leaves nothing to start up a tier 2 deal.

depends how you look at it...if you are putting all eggs in ESPN, then yes, it's the worst time. If however the AAC can explore other options (Netflix, Amazon, or some sort of hybrid combo along with ESPN, FS1, NBCSN, etc.) then maybe its the perfect time.

If you want to look small time, then go to a streaming service on Netflix, youtube, amazon, etc. I can't imagine telling someone, I need to catch the big UCF game on Netflix tonight. I'm not sure how many subscribers they have, but the ratings would be below the C-USA and Sunbelt level.

I don't see Netflix investing in college athletics because their worldwide growth is 12 times more than their current US growth. (Example, Netflix will be up to 24 Million customers in Brazil soon...a market that isn't hungry for LIVE college football or basketball).

In fact, NetFlix might have already hit or is close to hit their peak in US subscribers...as their new subscriber numbers are 80% short as expected...and this summer was their slowest ever since 2011.

ESPN tried to turn college football into the NFL. It's not. Who really gaf if Alabama or Ohio state win another one.

I don't care and won't watch. Boring

Is ESPN trying to kill off all college football except maybe 15 teams
The " allied power schools " need to split from the " axis power schools "