(04-13-2018 07:35 AM)Psuhockey Wrote:  

(04-12-2018 08:54 PM)bullet Wrote:  Its been obvious the conference network model, which drove the last round of realignment, is dying. But it seemed likely to peter out slowly. This could indicate it could happen much more quickly than I expected.

2020s may be time to think alliances instead of more expansion.

The conference network model is not dying, just changing its revenue stream. Streaming is essentially killing bundling. So the BTN will have to go direct to consumer at a larger price to make up for the lost of cable money bundling from people who don’t want their product. It will eventually happen to all conference networks and essentially kill of espn at some point down the line. Espn is just a middle man who’s only value is content from other entities. Once streaming takes over, conferences will just rehold games and go directly to the consumer killing espns value.

What this will eventually do is cause more realignment not less. Conference networks will have to add bigger brands and more alumni to make them profitable and won’t be able to live off of free cable money anymore.