(10-02-2017 01:43 PM)Hood-rich Wrote:  

(10-02-2017 11:57 AM)TodgeRodge Wrote:  well the actual ESPN stream sucks worse than about any other stream out there so there is that issue

plus the issue that many people are not set up to stream more than one game at a time Vs people that have multiple TVs and cable boxes

this gets back to the ability of companies to continue to create and pay for content that competes with the content they already own.....it is a poor investment

I've very rarely had an issue with it. And that's with a fairly typical internet speed (up to 50mbps, NEVER actually 50, more like 20 or 25) and multiple devices running.

I don't have the largest available bandwidth by choice, but the average US bandwidth is 10.7 Mbps and with that ESPN is going to buffer if anyone else is using the connection most likely and it does for me

while I can stream their same games on bootleg sites free and easy with no issues and the same or better video quality

their overall product is worse than what free Hulu used to be like several years ago

ESPN's stream totally crashed during Week 1. All games blacked out that Saturday evening for a couple of hours. I haven't trusted ESPN enough to rely on the app/stream since.

Not saying the numbers would be double if that hadn't happened, but that at least explains why one viewer (me) hasn't been streaming ESPN lately.

Have you ever think about that people that are cutting the cord are not sports fan, and that they are going to online providers for tv shows and movies who are not sports fans? It is the exact opposite than what you guys were saying. That is why Altice was putting up a fight against ESPN because they want to keep the non-sports fans from leaving.

(10-02-2017 05:32 PM)madizoned-level2004 Wrote:  ESPN's stream totally crashed during Week 1. All games blacked out that Saturday evening for a couple of hours. I haven't trusted ESPN enough to rely on the app/stream since.

Not saying the numbers would be double if that hadn't happened, but that at least explains why one viewer (me) hasn't been streaming ESPN lately.

Because it blacked out...once...

ok then.

(10-03-2017 06:14 PM)panama Wrote:  

(10-02-2017 05:32 PM)madizoned-level2004 Wrote:  ESPN's stream totally crashed during Week 1. All games blacked out that Saturday evening for a couple of hours. I haven't trusted ESPN enough to rely on the app/stream since.

Not saying the numbers would be double if that hadn't happened, but that at least explains why one viewer (me) hasn't been streaming ESPN lately.

Because it blacked out...once...

ok then.

If only it were just once.

(10-02-2017 07:14 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Have you ever think about that people that are cutting the cord are not sports fan, and that they are going to online providers for tv shows and movies who are not sports fans? It is the exact opposite than what you guys were saying. That is why Altice was putting up a fight against ESPN because they want to keep the non-sports fans from leaving.

I think your under the impression that few watch sports. The Game of Thrones season finale drew 12.1 million (16.5 million when streaming views are added). Nielson indicated that 12.35 million watched Alabama vs FSU (plus whatever their streaming numbers were). The previous high for GOT was 10.7 million, set a few weeks prior to the record setting finale. Michigan vs Florida piled up 7.65 million viewers in the same day Alabama and FSU played. That same week Tenn vs Georgia Tech or Ohio vs Indiana combined for another 10.3 million viewers. Keep in mind, there arent alot of shows pulling Game of Thrones numbers. A combined 59 million viewers watched the 26 college games rated by AC Nielson during week one. That doesnt even count games on networks like CBS-Sports, STADIUM, and BIEN. I would also add---those are just the college football numbers. The NFL numbers blow college football away. Then there is the NBA, MLB, Hockey, golf, NASCAR, and soccer---all with large loyal audiences. Currently, "sports" is the most watched single category of content on cable TV. Second is "news"....and its not even a close second.

Like it or not----the cable networks are still holding onto the bundle system. As long as they do, the carriers cannot dump the sports networks without automatically losing nearly half of their customer base. Hard to negotiate with networks like ESPN when ESPN knows you really have no choice but to carry them.

(10-04-2017 12:43 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(10-02-2017 07:14 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Have you ever think about that people that are cutting the cord are not sports fan, and that they are going to online providers for tv shows and movies who are not sports fans? It is the exact opposite than what you guys were saying. That is why Altice was putting up a fight against ESPN because they want to keep the non-sports fans from leaving.

I think your under the impression that few watch sports. The Game of Thrones season finale drew 12.1 million (16.5 million when streaming views are added). Nielson indicated that 12.35 million watched Alabama vs FSU (plus whatever their streaming numbers were). The previous high for GOT was 10.7 million, set a few weeks prior to the record setting finale. Michigan vs Florida piled up 7.65 million viewers in the same day Alabama and FSU played. That same week Tenn vs Georgia Tech or Ohio vs Indiana combined for another 10.3 million viewers. Keep in mind, there arent alot of shows pulling Game of Thrones numbers. A combined 59 million viewers watched the 26 college games rated by AC Nielson during week one. That doesnt even count games on networks like CBS-Sports, STADIUM, and BIEN. I would also add---those are just the college football numbers. The NFL numbers blow college football away. Then there is the NBA, MLB, Hockey, golf, NASCAR, and soccer---all with large loyal audiences. Currently, "sports" is the most watched single category of content on cable TV. Second is "news"....and its not even a close second.

Like it or not----the cable networks are still holding onto the bundle system. As long as they do, the carriers cannot dump the sports networks without automatically losing nearly half of their customer base. Hard to negotiate with networks like ESPN when ESPN knows you really have no choice but to carry them.

Seems there's a simple way to solve the whole bundle issue, Go to an a la carte programming package. Let people who want the sports bundles subscribe to them without having to pay for WE TV, the shopping channels, the religious channels, etc. I'd even go a step further and let people choose which channels from a bundle they want. For example, I don't give a rat's backside about Golf or the NBA, but would love to have the NHL channel and keep the various college sports networks, why shouldn't I be able to have that choice?

It's merely an opinion, but if cable wishes to survive past the next decade, they'll need to offer more user friendly programming. Give the people what they want!

Nerds have other interest. Sex n video games.

(10-04-2017 06:32 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(10-04-2017 12:43 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(10-02-2017 07:14 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Have you ever think about that people that are cutting the cord are not sports fan, and that they are going to online providers for tv shows and movies who are not sports fans? It is the exact opposite than what you guys were saying. That is why Altice was putting up a fight against ESPN because they want to keep the non-sports fans from leaving.

I think your under the impression that few watch sports. The Game of Thrones season finale drew 12.1 million (16.5 million when streaming views are added). Nielson indicated that 12.35 million watched Alabama vs FSU (plus whatever their streaming numbers were). The previous high for GOT was 10.7 million, set a few weeks prior to the record setting finale. Michigan vs Florida piled up 7.65 million viewers in the same day Alabama and FSU played. That same week Tenn vs Georgia Tech or Ohio vs Indiana combined for another 10.3 million viewers. Keep in mind, there arent alot of shows pulling Game of Thrones numbers. A combined 59 million viewers watched the 26 college games rated by AC Nielson during week one. That doesnt even count games on networks like CBS-Sports, STADIUM, and BIEN. I would also add---those are just the college football numbers. The NFL numbers blow college football away. Then there is the NBA, MLB, Hockey, golf, NASCAR, and soccer---all with large loyal audiences. Currently, "sports" is the most watched single category of content on cable TV. Second is "news"....and its not even a close second.

Like it or not----the cable networks are still holding onto the bundle system. As long as they do, the carriers cannot dump the sports networks without automatically losing nearly half of their customer base. Hard to negotiate with networks like ESPN when ESPN knows you really have no choice but to carry them.

Seems there's a simple way to solve the whole bundle issue, Go to an a la carte programming package. Let people who want the sports bundles subscribe to them without having to pay for WE TV, the shopping channels, the religious channels, etc. I'd even go a step further and let people choose which channels from a bundle they want. For example, I don't give a rat's backside about Golf or the NBA, but would love to have the NHL channel and keep the various college sports networks, why shouldn't I be able to have that choice?

It's merely an opinion, but if cable wishes to survive past the next decade, they'll need to offer more user friendly programming. Give the people what they want!

I think thats exactly what will eventually happen.....but apparently its going to take longer than most would hope. The cost for individual networks will likley end up being higher under that system and some networks wont survive (meaning fewer choices), but most people will have lower cable bills because they wont be buying hundreds of networks they dont want.