(07-26-2018 10:31 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(07-26-2018 08:06 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(07-25-2018 03:25 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(07-25-2018 02:55 PM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(07-25-2018 12:18 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Dan Wetzel has a column on this topic. And he has a good point. Sooner rather than later, we'll see the end of the "cable" model in which niche channels collect millions of dollars from people who never watch.

https://sports.yahoo.com/cord-cutting-ca...56228.html

That's a risk that could come back to bite Comcast.

People love their sports. People watch their sports. If Comcast decides to pull BTN/FS1 and people start missing out on their favorite teams playing, it just might have the opposite effect of what they hoped resulting in even MORE people cutting the cord from them.

I know if Charter pulled something where I couldn't watch the B1G, I'd have to seriously think about going elsewhere.

Why should people who don't like the Big Ten or don't watch sports at all pay for the BTN?

Why should those people have to subsidize the Big Ten fans who want the BTN?

Lets all go to the subscription model and call it a day.

If you want the BTN (or ACC Network, or Pac 12 Network), then pay an annual subscription fee that doesn't shift the cost to others who don't.

In a perfect world, cable would ALL be a la carte where you pick the channels and pay a price based on the channels you pick.

Unfortunately, reality (for now) is that the model isn't set up like that and until they change, if you want cable, you get their packages.

That being said, the reason they choose channels like BTN to mess with is that channels like that are the ones that people ACTUALLY want. No one would give a damn if Comcast announced they're dropping the Gem Shopping Network.

The argument you make against the BTN could be made for ANY channel. I do not watch nor will I ever watch the NBA Network or the Golf Channel but I pay for those people.

The sad fact is that people currently have two options, cut the cord and stream thru services or pay for a cable plan (not counting do without). Until there's a third option such as subscription base, I'll grin and bear paying for golf so I can get my BTN.

We tend to think of it as "I'm paying $1 per month for something I don't watch" when, in reality, we are looking at it all wrong... if we accept that the a-la-carte cost of ESPN would be more like $40 per month, etc., then I'm really just paying for the channels I want and the others are tossed in for free.

There are a lot of people who don't want sports and don't want the Disney Channel. They save a bunch of money if those aren't in the bundle.

(07-25-2018 03:25 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(07-25-2018 02:55 PM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(07-25-2018 12:18 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Dan Wetzel has a column on this topic. And he has a good point. Sooner rather than later, we'll see the end of the "cable" model in which niche channels collect millions of dollars from people who never watch.

https://sports.yahoo.com/cord-cutting-ca...56228.html

Quote:Cable television is not a growth industry, with cord-cutting dropping the number of basic cable consumers blindly paying in, and cable providers mindful of keeping bills low as to not scare away existing customers.

It becomes easy to drop low-rated networks, and for all the hype about these channels, they struggle to draw regular viewers, especially beyond live football and men’s basketball games. There are just only so many fans, let alone ones willing to pay for it.

Which is one reason why cable giant Comcast is threatening to pull the Big Ten Network (as well as FS1, which shows league games) off basic cable packages. It already did outside the league footprint on second-tier packages. Now it is saying BTN will no longer be on basic cable in communities in the league area as of September 1.

That's a risk that could come back to bite Comcast.

People love their sports. People watch their sports. If Comcast decides to pull BTN/FS1 and people start missing out on their favorite teams playing, it just might have the opposite effect of what they hoped resulting in even MORE people cutting the cord from them.

I know if Charter pulled something where I couldn't watch the B1G, I'd have to seriously think about going elsewhere.

Why should people who don't like the Big Ten or don't watch sports at all pay for the BTN?

Why should those people have to subsidize the Big Ten fans who want the BTN?

Lets all go to the subscription model and call it a day.

If you want the BTN (or ACC Network, or Pac 12 Network), then pay an annual subscription fee that doesn't shift the cost to others who don't.

In a way, you kinda do pay an annual subscription fee. You just use it to pay for the ACC Network and/or ESPN family of channels. But you do sort of get other channels for free. How many times, on average, have you actually watched the Home Shopping Network?? The Golf Channel??

(07-26-2018 02:33 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  

(07-26-2018 04:21 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I live in the Philly burbs. I hate that I actually have to go to BTN to find a Penn State game now. Or the internet for Temple, Pitt, or another nearby school.

Our TV schedule from last year:

ESPNU x4
ESPNNews x2
ESPN x2
NBC x1
ESPN2 x1
CBSSN x1
ESPN3 x1

Assuming you have the nothing special TV package my parents have, you had to watch exactly 1 of our 12 games online.

Your parents and I have something in common, then, I guess.

I mean, gloat all you want about how money allows you to access your team in its own local market. I find it quite untenable that West Virginia games, a school that's 315 miles from Philly playing schools in a different time zone take over the local ABC, Fox, and ESPN feed. Or gloat that a school that gets less money from its network and conference partners fleeces more money out of its member schools' fans to watch that content than those from P5 schools. I don't spend the money you do because Penn State's usually still an easy game to find.

I have a season ticket for Temple, and don't have a TV subscription, so I'm not paying much.

I hated paying for it when it was on my basic plan in Indiana but I understood. There are a few IU fans in Southern Indiana....
When I moved back to Louisville it really pissed me off I was paying it. When I removed it I was happy.

As for The SEC and soon The ACC Network I will gladly pay more for both of those. Individually or together, I really don't care. I watch both those leagues. The same with Notre Dame. Forced to I would buy their games.

The point is I will gladly pay for what I watch. Don't force me to pay more for something I don't watch.
CJ

(07-27-2018 11:05 AM)CardinalJim Wrote:  The point is I will gladly pay for what I watch. Don't force me to pay more for something I don't watch.
CJ

I agree in spirit. And, while it's nothing really against West Virginia...I just despise getting all of the Big XII and Big Ten content thrown at me locally, putting me in the position to pay to access the other area schools because they are on a more premium platform. Growing up, this stuff was there on the dial, good times or bad (and believe me, during the late 80's and early 90's, getting Temple, Pitt, and Rutgers games were not treasures to behold); what it's become feels like extortion.

I could be like my in-laws and have their cable plan. We love the Big 5, and that plan is great...but it's nice to know he has to pay a boatload of money to get something that used to be part of a somewhat standard/basic package.

And I'm sure the providers know they're losing out on local advertising revenue. Especially Comcast, when this stuff is in their backyard.

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/artic...-the-state

Looks like another obstacle for the BTN. With Comcast dropping the BTN in the region carriage for the Big 10's Network just got more difficult. Charter-Spectrum is most likely getting kicked out of the Empire State.

(08-02-2018 07:21 PM)JRsec Wrote:  https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/artic...-the-state

Looks like another obstacle for the BTN. With Comcast dropping the BTN in the region carriage for the Big 10's Network just got more difficult. Charter-Spectrum is most likely getting kicked out of the Empire State.

Charter-Spectrum got a kick in the butt from NY State. I think you'll see an agreement coming within the next 2-3 months to get cracking on rural installation of cable. The chaos created with kicking out a company the size of Spectrum would be epic. I don't think Albany wants that problem.

(08-06-2018 10:13 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(08-02-2018 07:21 PM)JRsec Wrote:  https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/artic...-the-state

Looks like another obstacle for the BTN. With Comcast dropping the BTN in the region carriage for the Big 10's Network just got more difficult. Charter-Spectrum is most likely getting kicked out of the Empire State.

Charter-Spectrum got a kick in the butt from NY State. I think you'll see an agreement coming within the next 2-3 months to get cracking on rural installation of cable. The chaos created with kicking out a company the size of Spectrum would be epic. I don't think Albany wants that problem.

Mark,

I read on the Syracusefan board this morning that it wouldn't be a sudden thing but a gradual one. They would allow other broadband and tv providers to come in and utilize Spectrums infrastructure so that customers will never notice a change. The infrastructure is already in place, so its not like Spectrum would pack up and leave. In this case, Spectrum would just leave, imo. And I would say Tootaloo to Spectrum.

(08-06-2018 10:57 AM)cuseroc Wrote:  

(08-06-2018 10:13 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(08-02-2018 07:21 PM)JRsec Wrote:  https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/artic...-the-state

Looks like another obstacle for the BTN. With Comcast dropping the BTN in the region carriage for the Big 10's Network just got more difficult. Charter-Spectrum is most likely getting kicked out of the Empire State.

Charter-Spectrum got a kick in the butt from NY State. I think you'll see an agreement coming within the next 2-3 months to get cracking on rural installation of cable. The chaos created with kicking out a company the size of Spectrum would be epic. I don't think Albany wants that problem.

Mark,

I read on the Syracusefan board this morning that it wouldn't be a sudden thing but a gradual one. They would allow other broadband and tv providers to come in and utilize Spectrums infrastructure so that customers will never notice a change. The infrastructure is already in place, so its not like Spectrum would pack up and leave. In this case, Spectrum would just leave, imo. And I would say Tootaloo to Spectrum.

The best thing about Spectrum is the TV Ads with the monsters...the rest of the company sux. My FL Internet bill sky rocketed under Spectrum.

(08-06-2018 11:33 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  The best thing about Spectrum is the TV Ads with the monsters...the rest of the company sux. My FL Internet bill sky rocketed under Spectrum.

Spectrum took over TWC in Raleigh and within a month my bill increased by 50%. When I called them about it their response was basically, "And?" They offered to cut some services to reduce the bill and then acted like I did something wrong when I pointed out they didn't lower my rate, they just cut services. AT&T was 1/2 of TWCs pre-Spectrum rate. Their internet isn't quite as good but it is more than adequate.

(08-07-2018 02:13 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  

(08-06-2018 11:33 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  The best thing about Spectrum is the TV Ads with the monsters...the rest of the company sux. My FL Internet bill sky rocketed under Spectrum.

Spectrum took over TWC in Raleigh and within a month my bill increased by 50%. When I called them about it their response was basically, "And?" They offered to cut some services to reduce the bill and then acted like I did something wrong when I pointed out they didn't lower my rate, they just cut services. AT&T was 1/2 of TWCs pre-Spectrum rate. Their internet isn't quite as good but it is more than adequate.

I cant wait until NYS completes the kicking out process of Spectrum. But I didnt like Time Warner any better.

(08-06-2018 10:13 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(08-02-2018 07:21 PM)JRsec Wrote:  https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/artic...-the-state

Looks like another obstacle for the BTN. With Comcast dropping the BTN in the region carriage for the Big 10's Network just got more difficult. Charter-Spectrum is most likely getting kicked out of the Empire State.

Charter-Spectrum got a kick in the butt from NY State. I think you'll see an agreement coming within the next 2-3 months to get cracking on rural installation of cable. The chaos created with kicking out a company the size of Spectrum would be epic. I don't think Albany wants that problem.

Actually, the rural installation is just an excuse. The real cause is NY wanting to pressure Charter-Spectrum into a settlement of a labor dispute which has been running for over a year.