(03-21-2021 10:49 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 10:33 PM)tj_2009 Wrote:  

(03-15-2021 12:37 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(03-15-2021 12:29 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(03-14-2021 10:36 PM)tj_2009 Wrote:  It is coming but not in a way that anybody mentioned. The game is changing in a big way and the value of content is going up, way up. I am a couple months late on this thread.
I suppose you would have to follow the Equity markets closely to realize the seismic changes coming in the streaming world. For those who do not follow the equity markets would miss out on the fact that the valuations of all of these streaming services Disney (ESPN/ABC), Paramount+ (CBS - symbol viac ), Comcast (NBC), Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime etc. These companies are trading at really high valuations because they can make money directly to subscribers without the middleman cable networks in the way. The companies that are offering streaming services are on the hunt for content and it would not surprise me if they start throwing money around to get more content. I am not sure how it will play out but the more money there is available, the more chances there could be massive re-alignment.

Obviously, the ACC has no intentions of releasing the text of its contract with Disney/ABC/ESPN. I don't think Disney wants it out in public, either. That said, we'll eventually find out how smart/stupid the ACC was in answer to this question: does the current contract include all streaming rights, or can the ACC still sell to ESPN+?

I think it's worth noting that
1) so far no ACC home games in any sport (AFAIK) has been on ESPN+
2) the new SEC contract specifically includes the right to put games on ESPN+
3) the last Big XII contract included rights to stream on ESPN+

Another question: the ACC Network is always referred to as a linear cable network; would it require an amendment to the contract to allow ESPN to sell ACCN direct to customers?

If the ACC did, in fact, bundle streaming rights and this is all they're getting for it, this conference is in deep doo doo; OTOH, if they retained those rights, there's still hope for a decent bump...

A few things:

1. ESPN has utilized "change by mutual agreement" language in past contracts, specifically referring to the LHN. I don't think they are so shortsighted as an entity as to paint themselves into a corner but I do think "mutual agreement" both enforces aspects of a contract that either party may want in order to have some leverage, but also allows the freedom for both to abandon an aspect of a contract that is no longer in either's self interest.

2. If the SECN, ACCN, or any other linear channel is offered via streaming expect the carriage fees to remain the same for the conferences. This will be easily handled by Disney who will profit even more if they don't have to pay carriage fees to the cable companies for the subscriptions that switch from cord to OTA.

3. Disney isn't going to give a bump for anything unless their profits justify it. So I do think expansion with the right schools would open that window.

I don't know the details of the contract but the very fact that no league is currently on the streaming services indicates to me, that there may be some sort of negotiations required to put it on the streaming services. The money is huge in the streaming services because companies like Apple TV, Netflix, Disney+ (ABC/ESPN), Paramount+ (CBS), Comcast (NBC), Amazon don't pay anything to the cable companies and are charging $10 (plus or minus a few dollars) per month per subscriber. The stakes are huge and when there is this kind of money involved, who knows what will happen with re-alignment of conferences. With all of these streaming services, the need for content is growing and so are the dollars to pay for that content. If the ACC content is not currently allowed as per the contract on the streaming services then they will have to negotiate the dollars with the possible streaming services (not sure whether the ACC would have to sell to Disney+
or if they could sell to another streaming service). In this type of scenario where streaming has to be negotiated, then all bets are off on conference re-alignment or for example if it might be in Notre Dame's best interest to join a conference. The money is huge it is hard to say what may happen.

OTA > Cable > Streaming.

Amazon is different because they're spending Prime money for that. Prime is way more than just streaming. Prime also cost way more than just streaming.

When a streamer buys an over-the-air then I'll believe the hype. It wouldn't surprise me if ESPN makes less money on ESPN+ than it does from cable even in today's degraded market.

The big losers right now are the crappy bundlers like Discovery. Viacom and Paramount are right at the edge of that precipice.

If stadium actually covers the entire country over the air and then starts bidding for real content I think they could give ESPN a run for their money. OTA sports is a juicy untapped market. OTA has quietly been in a renaissance. Even a bad antenna in my lower end Top 50 media market gets 40+ channels in higher quality than streaming or cable or satellite broadcast in.

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Don't count out Paramount+ (CBS Viacom - symbol viac). Streaming companies have inflated stock prices right now. Viacom has an inflated stock price and just announced that they are selling $3 billion dollars more shares that they are going to use for their streaming service Paramount+. This is what i meant about the amount of money that the streaming services have.