ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

(01-06-2016 10:27 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

2 billion. Where did you get that number

(01-06-2016 10:52 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:27 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

2 billion. Where did you get that number

It's got a box office of like 1.6 billion right now. Insanity

(01-06-2016 10:52 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:27 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

2 billion. Where did you get that number

Heard $1.7 billion in box office. Still has weeks to go in the theaters and the merchandising/licensing etc., probably end up close to $3 billion. Then you have the fact that they will be integrating Star Wars as a much bigger part of the theme park.

My point is that ESPN is an absolute financial mess right now.

(01-06-2016 11:04 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:52 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:27 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

2 billion. Where did you get that number

Heard $1.7 billion in box office. Still has weeks to go in the theaters and the merchandising/licensing etc., probably end up close to $3 billion. Then you have the fact that they will be integrating Star Wars as a much bigger part of the theme park.

My point is that ESPN is an absolute financial mess right now.

You're absolutely right, and that's why it's impossible to speculate at all. No one has any idea what's going to happen to this industry

Star Wars hasn't even open in China yet. I believe it this weekend for China.

(01-06-2016 03:16 PM)Aztec Since 88 Wrote:  Star Wars hasn't even open in China yet. I believe it this weekend for China.

Shockingly, the Chinese are not huge Star Wars fans. No idea why. Still should add a few $100mm

(01-06-2016 11:04 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:52 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:27 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

2 billion. Where did you get that number

Heard $1.7 billion in box office. Still has weeks to go in the theaters and the merchandising/licensing etc., probably end up close to $3 billion. Then you have the fact that they will be integrating Star Wars as a much bigger part of the theme park.

My point is that ESPN is an absolute financial mess right now.

Yep. Cord cutters.

I believe the network division pushed 70% of total Disney profits a few years ago.

(01-06-2016 11:04 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:52 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:27 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

2 billion. Where did you get that number

Heard $1.7 billion in box office. Still has weeks to go in the theaters and the merchandising/licensing etc., probably end up close to $3 billion. Then you have the fact that they will be integrating Star Wars as a much bigger part of the theme park.

My point is that ESPN is an absolute financial mess right now.

So, why aren't our front office personnel trying to find a network that is willing to give a contract that is a little more comparable to our current contribution to college athletics?

The Big East is getting $5M per team, but they haven't produced a NCAA Men's Basketball or NCAA Women's Basketball champion since the break. The AAC has produced both as well as had two BCS Bowl appearances.

If the Fox Sports Network is will to offer $10M+ per team, why is the AAC willing to engage serious contract talks with them?

Staying in ESPN for a little less money is the best play. Just look how much you hear of CUSA.

With that said ESPN will lose B1G to Fox and that will help balance the books. Also Disney will have to consolidate their channels. The bundle trend is dying and the consolidation is going to be very real soon of cable will be dead.


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(01-06-2016 05:08 PM)TonyTiger Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 11:04 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:52 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:27 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

2 billion. Where did you get that number

Heard $1.7 billion in box office. Still has weeks to go in the theaters and the merchandising/licensing etc., probably end up close to $3 billion. Then you have the fact that they will be integrating Star Wars as a much bigger part of the theme park.

My point is that ESPN is an absolute financial mess right now.

So, why aren't our front office personnel trying to find a network that is willing to give a contract that is a little more comparable to our current contribution to college athletics?

The Big East is getting $5M per team, but they haven't produced a NCAA Men's Basketball or NCAA Women's Basketball champion since the break. The AAC has produced both as well as had two BCS Bowl appearances.

If the Fox Sports Network is will to offer $10M+ per team, why is the AAC willing to engage serious contract talks with them?

Because Fox isn't going to offer $10 m per team. Why would they when they know that ESPN won't out bid them now. They can low ball it and still get the contract without having to bleed themselves to death.

(01-06-2016 05:08 PM)TonyTiger Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 11:04 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:52 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(01-06-2016 10:27 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

2 billion. Where did you get that number

Heard $1.7 billion in box office. Still has weeks to go in the theaters and the merchandising/licensing etc., probably end up close to $3 billion. Then you have the fact that they will be integrating Star Wars as a much bigger part of the theme park.

My point is that ESPN is an absolute financial mess right now.

So, why aren't our front office personnel trying to find a network that is willing to give a contract that is a little more comparable to our current contribution to college athletics?

The Big East is getting $5M per team, but they haven't produced a NCAA Men's Basketball or NCAA Women's Basketball champion since the break. The AAC has produced both as well as had two BCS Bowl appearances.

If the Fox Sports Network is will to offer $10M+ per team, why is the AAC willing to engage serious contract talks with them?

Big East makes $4 million. Fox knew they had to give a decent payday because they had millions of exit money and big east name to pay for to the aac. And Fox started the network and needed content.

(01-06-2016 10:27 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  ESPN is dragging down Disney in a massive way. Despite making almost $2 billion from Star Wars Disney stock continues to go down. This might have a large impact in the AAC's ability to negotiate a better (and deserved) contract.

Tell everyone to bring the family to Star Wars.

This will change when ESPN starts offering its streaming stand alone.

(01-07-2016 09:34 AM)Chappy Wrote:  This will change when ESPN starts offering its streaming stand alone.

In a way, they kind of already do with SlingTV at $20/ month. I tried it over the holidays, and it was fantastic.

However, Sling is challenged with:

-That subscription is limited to 1 TV (I have 7 due to the kids)
- Comcast/Verizon control the pipes, and have priced their higher end internet offerings that assist live streaming at a price that will limit ESPN's ability to offer content directly.

Consumers will need some new Internet providers to enter the market in order for cord cutting to move to the next level.

(01-07-2016 09:34 AM)Chappy Wrote:  This will change when ESPN starts offering its streaming stand alone.

Not really and that is the biggest problem. Right now ESPN charges the highest fees to the cable providers and their channels are bundled forcing many non-sports consumers to pay for content they do not want. Once espn offers stand alone streaming they will actually lose many consumers. This is why investors are running from Disney because there is really no solution. ESPN simply paid way too much for their content.

Some people.... ESPN is still making a ton of cash. They arent anywhere near broke. They will still bid on the AAC. So will NBC, FOX and CBS... we will come out of this with a good contract. It wont be anywhere near $10 million. $6 million TOPS.

(01-07-2016 11:23 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  

(01-07-2016 09:34 AM)Chappy Wrote:  This will change when ESPN starts offering its streaming stand alone.

Not really and that is the biggest problem. Right now ESPN charges the highest fees to the cable providers and their channels are bundled forcing many non-sports consumers to pay for content they do not want. Once espn offers stand alone streaming they will actually lose many consumers. This is why investors are running from Disney because there is really no solution. ESPN simply paid way too much for their content.

They will lose some more subscribers, but many people will prefer to stick with their current cable/satellite providers when they see what the streaming only service will cost.

But they will also gain back some of the customers that they already have lost at a higher price than they were paying before.

(01-07-2016 01:38 PM)Chappy Wrote:  

(01-07-2016 11:23 AM)wavefan12 Wrote:  

(01-07-2016 09:34 AM)Chappy Wrote:  This will change when ESPN starts offering its streaming stand alone.

Not really and that is the biggest problem. Right now ESPN charges the highest fees to the cable providers and their channels are bundled forcing many non-sports consumers to pay for content they do not want. Once espn offers stand alone streaming they will actually lose many consumers. This is why investors are running from Disney because there is really no solution. ESPN simply paid way too much for their content.

They will lose some more subscribers, but many people will prefer to stick with their current cable/satellite providers when they see what the streaming only service will cost.

But they will also gain back some of the customers that they already have lost at a higher price than they were paying before.

I disagree. Very few sports fans dropped cable, they just downgraded the service because espn comes in every package. There really isn't any positive solution for espn other then cutting costs. They already went through layoffs, next up is paying less for content. Hopefully that means cutting ties or reducing content for the SEC/B10 allowing the budget for increase AAC. Time will tell, obviously.