Blackout Looms of ESPN on YouTubeTV

[HtownOrange]

if you only watch games on espn you still could be watching 20-30-40 hrs a week. I doubt any other channel even comes close to that.

Excellent point. However, that probably applies more to college sports fans of the SEC and ACC. ESPN has lost too much of the other power conferences and are lesser players in other sports. Plus, every game/sport is on YouTube videos within a few hours after the event, those that cannot watch live will have opportunity to catch up and don't need to DVR the event.

Reading the articles others have posted leads me to believe that YTTV id not as heavily impacted as ESPN/Disney is gambling.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Excellent point. However, that probably applies more to college sports fans of the SEC and ACC. ESPN has lost too much of the other power conferences and are lesser players in other sports. Plus, every game/sport is on YouTube videos within a few hours after the event, those that cannot watch live will have opportunity to catch up and don't need to DVR the event.

Reading the articles others have posted leads me to believe that YTTV id not as heavily impacted as ESPN/Disney is gambling.

I think a lot of people are surprised that YTTV subscribers are not missing ESPN, etc. as much as was anticipated. Even some posters on here have said they haven't. There's too much else on. Of course posters here want to watch SU games and they're finding other ways to do that, like the one day passes. I know someone in PA who did that Monday night for the Eagles game. Disney has to be surprised, disappointed, and weakening. Their worst nightmare is viewers realizing they can live without ESPN (and ABC). That could spread. Disney cannot afford to let that happen.

[I wonder if anyone at Disney HQ reads this board. I bet some SU alums at ESPN do.]

 

[FloridaCuse]

I normally watch PTI as I've watched it from the start since I read Kornheiser's & Wilbon's columns in the Washington Post (Tony's Sunday Style Section nonsports columns were the best). But I've gone through periods when I haven't. I hardly ever watch SportsCenter unless I'm looking for SU highlights.

BTW, PTI has historically been the highest rated non event show on ESPN. I know it was a few years ago. Might still be.

 

[OburgOrange]

I think a lot of people are surprised that YTTV subscribers are not missing ESPN, etc. as much as was anticipated. Even some posters on here have said they haven't. There's too much else on. Of course posters here want to watch SU games and they're finding other ways to do that, like the one day passes. I know someone in PA who did that Monday night for the Eagles game. Disney has to be surprised, disappointed, and weakening. Their worst nightmare is viewers realizing they can live without ESPN (and ABC). That could spread.

I’m actually surprised how much I don’t miss it. Those week night JV football games I would turn on just for background noise, could care less. There is plenty of Saturday game choices on as well. Now…. If this drags on to next season and I’m going to miss some SU games…. I will reevaluate.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Disney CFO points out the upside to Disney of the blackout --> YTTV subscribers can move to Disney platforms. [Antitrust?] I wonder how long before the media starts reporting that some YTTV subscribers who are ESPN viewers don't miss it. Time for YTTB to push that story.

https://www.sfgate.com/disneyland/article/disney-youtube-tv-battle-isnt-ending-21171908.php

 

[MSOrange]

BTW, PTI has historically been the highest rated non event show on ESPN. I know it was a few years ago. Might still be.

PTI is the one I still watch when I can. I think Tony and Mike are actually saying what they believe and not playing some characters and saying stuff to get attention.

 

[FloridaCuse]

PTI is the one I still watch when I can. I think Tony and Mike are actually saying what they believe and not playing some characters and saying stuff to get attention.

Nor necessarily what ESPN wants them to say.

 

[Hoo's That]

I think a lot of people are surprised that YTTV subscribers are not missing ESPN, etc. as much as was anticipated. Even some posters on here have said they haven't. There's too much else on. Of course posters here want to watch SU games and they're finding other ways to do that, like the one day passes. I know someone in PA who did that Monday night for the Eagles game. Disney has to be surprised, disappointed, and weakening. Their worst nightmare is viewers realizing they can live without ESPN (and ABC). That could spread. Disney cannot afford to let that happen.

[I wonder if anyone at Disney HQ reads this board. I bet some SU alums at ESPN do.]

Speaking for myself, I can say so far I haven't missed the ESPN channels because I have a workaround that gets me UVa's football games and UVa has been playing tomato cans in bball that weren't must-see TV. It would have been really bad without the workaround, forcing me to do some something like the Day Pass option.

 

[Nicknack]

PTI is the one I still watch when I can. I think Tony and Mike are actually saying what they believe and not playing some characters and saying stuff to get attention.

Yeah, and that's refreshing. I don't watch the show much but when I do, I always seem to like it. I often turn on Get Up in the morning with Mike Greenberg. I don't really like the show much (the cast gets on my nerves), but I often want to listen to some sports talk in the am so it gets turned on because there is nothing else. I make sure to turn off the tv when that Stephen A bozo comes on afterwards. I despise that show. My favorite sports talk show is on Fox... First Things First.

 

[007]

Disney CFO points out the upside to Disney of the blackout --> YTTV subscribers can move to Disney platforms. [Antitrust?] I wonder how long before the media starts reporting that some YTTV subscribers who are ESPN viewers don't miss it. Time for YTTB to push that story.

https://www.sfgate.com/disneyland/article/disney-youtube-tv-battle-isnt-ending-21171908.php

Personally, I am a fan of ESPN despite their many flaws. Always have been. As a sports fan, there is a certain nostalgia surrounding their aura and their undeniable impact on sports culture.

For those of you old enough, think about when they first started broadcasting as a network dedicated entirely to broadcasting sports. Most thought it would never work. Instead, ESPN reshaped how we think about sports and being a fan.

Yeah, there are other options today - ironically because of ESPN's success. But there is no question this viewer would miss not having ESPN as an option.

 

[Scooch]

When should I buy some Disney stock?

15 years ago.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

15 years ago.

Yup, Feb 27, 2009. Selling for under $17/share.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Personally, I am a fan of ESPN despite their many flaws. Always have been. As a sports fan, there is a certain nostalgia surrounding their aura and their undeniable impact on sports culture.

For those of you old enough, think about when they first started broadcasting as a network dedicated entirely to broadcasting sports. Most thought it would never work. Instead, ESPN reshaped how we think about sports and being a fan.

Yeah, there are other options today - ironically because of ESPN's success. But there is no question this viewer would miss not having ESPN as an option.

Reminder - I think the E stands for "Entertainment". Even at the beginning they were ready to commit to just sports.

 

[djorange1989]

Glad I dumped YTTV and got Hulu. At least until Hulu gets into a dispute with a network group not named Disney and those channels go away