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Topic: ESPN+ to Launch April 12
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GoCats105
4/2/2018 12:46 PM
The MAC and other smaller leagues are mentioned in this press release from ESPN. It doesn't say anything about ESPN3, but it does mention the new ESPN app, which I'm assuming will be replacing WatchESPN.

I'm guessing what this means is if you're a cable cutter, good luck getting ESPN programming without having to go through this $4.99 paywall. I'd like to know how this affects providers like Hulu, Sling, etc.

https://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2018/04/espn-... /
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Brian Smith (No, not that one)
4/2/2018 1:57 PM
I'm assuming they're eventually building up to an even more encompassing all-in-one Disney streaming service that will put Disney and ESPN content all under one umbrella for one price.

They've been pretty savvy working with the smaller conferences. They've built the system up with ESPN3 and WatchESPN for like 15 years now to make you rely on them to watch smaller-conference games. Now they're going to start reaping the benefits of building that infrastructure.

Add in the fact that they now own BAMTech and all the Fox Sports RSNs, it makes this perceived notion that Disney/ESPN is a crumbling empire kinda ridiculous.

They essentially just were able to outsource the talent for their products. They can make more money than ever with fewer people.

Once they get out from under that Monday Night Football contract and that NBA contract starts to wind down, they're going to be a great position.
Last Edited: 4/2/2018 2:14:44 PM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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Jeff McKinney
4/2/2018 2:17 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
The MAC and other smaller leagues are mentioned in this press release from ESPN. It doesn't say anything about ESPN3, but it does mention the new ESPN app, which I'm assuming will be replacing WatchESPN.

I'm guessing what this means is if you're a cable cutter, good luck getting ESPN programming without having to go through this $4.99 paywall. I'd like to know how this affects providers like Hulu, Sling, etc.

https://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2018/04/espn-... /

What do you mean by "cable cutter"? Will those who subscribe to cable be able to avoid the $4.99 charge or will all have to pay this amount?
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Ohio69
4/2/2018 3:07 PM
Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
The MAC and other smaller leagues are mentioned in this press release from ESPN. It doesn't say anything about ESPN3, but it does mention the new ESPN app, which I'm assuming will be replacing WatchESPN.

I'm guessing what this means is if you're a cable cutter, good luck getting ESPN programming without having to go through this $4.99 paywall. I'd like to know how this affects providers like Hulu, Sling, etc.

https://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2018/04/espn-... /

What do you mean by "cable cutter"? Will those who subscribe to cable be able to avoid the $4.99 charge or will all have to pay this amount?
Right now the WatchESPN app asks me verify the cable company I use before I can watch events. I have to log in using my cable company account log in info. It will be interesting to see if I can still do that or if I have to pay the $4.99.
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OhioStunter
4/2/2018 4:57 PM
The whole point of the "plus" in ESPNPlus is to charge for it. So your cable provider fee/login will not grant you access to this "plus" content. There may be a small grace period, but the point is to make online viewers dependent on paying ESPN, not the cable companies.
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L.C.
4/2/2018 8:37 PM
Interesting. I currently have access to ESPN through my ISP, but only to things on ESPN3. I wonder how this will be affected? My guess is that it will go, and I'll have to pay the $4.99, but perhaps I'll get to see things that are on ESPN/2/U/News in addition to the content now on ESPN3.
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Deciduous Forest Cat
4/2/2018 10:42 PM
This seems like the old bait and switch if some of these comments are to be believed. But the official comments seem to indicate that espn+ will be mostly new content won't impact espn3 content that much.
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UpSan Bobcat
4/3/2018 10:43 AM
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
This seems like the old bait and switch if some of these comments are to be believed. But the official comments seem to indicate that espn+ will be mostly new content won't impact espn3 content that much.
That's what I've seen too, but I agree with you. I expect eventually ESPN3 pretty much will be dissolved into ESPN+ so that none of it is free access via your internet provider.
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C Money
4/3/2018 12:16 PM
L.C. wrote:expand_more
Interesting. I currently have access to ESPN through my ISP, but only to things on ESPN3. I wonder how this will be affected? My guess is that it will go, and I'll have to pay the $4.99, but perhaps I'll get to see things that are on ESPN/2/U/News in addition to the content now on ESPN3.
My understanding is that ESPN+ will not include ESPN/2/U/News--you will have to have a cable subscription to pick up that content. But maybe if your ISP gives you the access, those channels will still be available.

I am going to wait and see whether they have addressed the stream quality issues before jumping on board. $4.99 isn't a terrible price point, even for limited content, but I want to make sure I can actually watch the content...
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Pataskala
4/3/2018 12:40 PM
They mention ESPN3 as a separate channel available through customers' pay TV subscription and refer to the ESPN+ service as offering "additional live sporting events." Apparently, then, cable and satellite subscribers will still be able to get ESPN3 events without paying extra ... for now. (And that may include MAC football and b-ball.) This is Disney's not-too-veiled realization that, unlike we fogeys, millenials aren't as willing to pay subscription fees that include video services they don't want or need, but are willing to spend their money on stuff they really want.

It's a bit disconcerting that the MAC is one of only two G5 conferences mentioned in connection with ESPN+ and that the other is the Sun Belt. Even if they're not referring to football or b-ball, it seems to make the MAC a lesser conference. (I know that CUSA doesn't have a contract with ESPN, but it still seems to put the MAC in with the lower major conferences.
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93Bobcat
4/3/2018 1:20 PM
So the games are moved to weeknights when many fans cannot travel to games. Then the games are put on an ESPN channel that requires fans to pay extra to watch. It is almost like we don't want a fan base.
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L.C.
4/3/2018 1:26 PM
C Money wrote:expand_more
Interesting. I currently have access to ESPN through my ISP, but only to things on ESPN3. I wonder how this will be affected? My guess is that it will go, and I'll have to pay the $4.99, but perhaps I'll get to see things that are on ESPN/2/U/News in addition to the content now on ESPN3.
My understanding is that ESPN+ will not include ESPN/2/U/News--you will have to have a cable subscription to pick up that content. But maybe if your ISP gives you the access, those channels will still be available.

I am going to wait and see whether they have addressed the stream quality issues before jumping on board. $4.99 isn't a terrible price point, even for limited content, but I want to make sure I can actually watch the content...

My ISP does NOT give me access to ESPN/2/U/News. They give me access to ESPN3 only. Perhaps that will remain as it is, and I'll still have access to ESPN3, or perhaps I'll need to buy ESPN+ to see MAC games.
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C Money
4/3/2018 4:00 PM
L.C. wrote:expand_more
My ISP does NOT give me access to ESPN/2/U/News. They give me access to ESPN3 only. Perhaps that will remain as it is, and I'll still have access to ESPN3, or perhaps I'll need to buy ESPN+ to see MAC games.
Ahhh, gotcha. I was confusing WatchESPN and ESPN3, I think. My former work ISP allowed me to stream ESPN from the WatchESPN app, but my home ISP didn't allow me to stream anything. There were a couple times when I found an excuse to go into the office on a fall Saturday....
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D.A.
4/3/2018 5:47 PM
Pataskala wrote:expand_more
It's a bit disconcerting that the MAC is one of only two G5 conferences mentioned in connection with ESPN+ and that the other is the Sun Belt. Even if they're not referring to football or b-ball, it seems to make the MAC a lesser conference. (I know that CUSA doesn't have a contract with ESPN, but it still seems to put the MAC in with the lower major conferences.
If you are getting the same or better "channel" exposure, and you are getting more exposure for FB/BB PLUS the ability to have other non-revenue generating sports plus more FB/BB on the pay service, isn't that actually a better deal that the MAC had before this contract? And by extension, make you a first class citizen?
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OhioStunter
4/3/2018 7:30 PM
93Bobcat wrote:expand_more
So the games are moved to weeknights when many fans cannot travel to games. Then the games are put on an ESPN channel that requires fans to pay extra to watch. It is almost like we don't want a fan base.
I'm not so sure that our games will be behind that ESPN+ paywall. No one has ever seen the MAC/ESPN contract, so I can't be 100% certain, but that really would not seem very advantageous for the MAC if that's how this turns out. My hope is that MAC games are grandfathered in and we can still access through our cable provider without paying an additional 5 bucks.

However, if that IS the case and all you live for is Ohio sports, then I may just cut the cable cord and go with a 5 buck plan to save myself on my ever-growing cable bill.
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Alan Swank
4/3/2018 8:44 PM
D.A. wrote:expand_more
It's a bit disconcerting that the MAC is one of only two G5 conferences mentioned in connection with ESPN+ and that the other is the Sun Belt. Even if they're not referring to football or b-ball, it seems to make the MAC a lesser conference. (I know that CUSA doesn't have a contract with ESPN, but it still seems to put the MAC in with the lower major conferences.
If you are getting the same or better "channel" exposure, and you are getting more exposure for FB/BB PLUS the ability to have other non-revenue generating sports plus more FB/BB on the pay service, isn't that actually a better deal that the MAC had before this contract? And by extension, make you a first class citizen?
First class citizens play on Saturday.
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L.C.
4/3/2018 9:00 PM
C Money wrote:expand_more
My ISP does NOT give me access to ESPN/2/U/News. They give me access to ESPN3 only. Perhaps that will remain as it is, and I'll still have access to ESPN3, or perhaps I'll need to buy ESPN+ to see MAC games.
Ahhh, gotcha. I was confusing WatchESPN and ESPN3, I think. My former work ISP allowed me to stream ESPN from the WatchESPN app, but my home ISP didn't allow me to stream anything. There were a couple times when I found an excuse to go into the office on a fall Saturday....

My ISP does allow me to watch ESPN/2/U/News, but they don't pay for it. I need to have credentials from a cable provider. Since I have no TV, I have no cable, obviously.
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Bobcat Jerry
4/4/2018 8:17 AM
Will ESPN 3 be a fee charged sports package too?
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D.A.
4/4/2018 9:22 AM
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
It's a bit disconcerting that the MAC is one of only two G5 conferences mentioned in connection with ESPN+ and that the other is the Sun Belt. Even if they're not referring to football or b-ball, it seems to make the MAC a lesser conference. (I know that CUSA doesn't have a contract with ESPN, but it still seems to put the MAC in with the lower major conferences.
If you are getting the same or better "channel" exposure, and you are getting more exposure for FB/BB PLUS the ability to have other non-revenue generating sports plus more FB/BB on the pay service, isn't that actually a better deal that the MAC had before this contract? And by extension, make you a first class citizen?
First class citizens play on Saturday.

And by extension I assume you include Wednesday/Saturday in hoops season?
Last Edited: 4/4/2018 9:22:46 AM by D.A.
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OhioCatFan
4/4/2018 11:05 AM
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
This seems like the old bait and switch if some of these comments are to be believed. But the official comments seem to indicate that espn+ will be mostly new content won't impact espn3 content that much.
Fear mongering on BA? Say it ain't so, Joe!
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GoCats105
4/4/2018 12:01 PM
OhioStunter wrote:expand_more
So the games are moved to weeknights when many fans cannot travel to games. Then the games are put on an ESPN channel that requires fans to pay extra to watch. It is almost like we don't want a fan base.
I'm not so sure that our games will be behind that ESPN+ paywall. No one has ever seen the MAC/ESPN contract, so I can't be 100% certain, but that really would not seem very advantageous for the MAC if that's how this turns out. My hope is that MAC games are grandfathered in and we can still access through our cable provider without paying an additional 5 bucks.

However, if that IS the case and all you live for is Ohio sports, then I may just cut the cable cord and go with a 5 buck plan to save myself on my ever-growing cable bill.
Maybe not the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday MACtion games that are on the big channels like ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU, but I wouldnt put it past ESPN to put Saturday MAC games or non-conference games behind the paywall. I'm actually expecting it.
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UpSan Bobcat
4/4/2018 12:40 PM
Bobcat Jerry wrote:expand_more
Will ESPN 3 be a fee charged sports package too?
No. This is how things stand as far as information provided so far.

You can watch ESPN3 online or through the ESPN app and will continue to be able to do so so long as it a service provided by your internet service provider. So this is "free," although you likely pay for it whether you use it or not as part of your regular fees to your internet provider.

You can and still will be able to watch ESPN network games (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN News, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, Longhorn Network, SEC Network) online or on the ESPN app as long as you subscribe to those networks through a cable provider. You can't watch games from networks you don't subscribe to.

You will have to pay a monthly $4.99 fee to have access to ESPN+ online or through the ESPN app. ESPN+ will include one MLB game every day, one NHL game every day starting with next season, all MLS games and boxing. Local blackout restrictions apply in all of those cases. There also will be college sports of all sorts, including the MAC but no major conference. What's not clear is which MAC broadcasts will be on ESPN+ and which will remain on ESPN3.
Last Edited: 4/4/2018 12:43:02 PM by UpSan Bobcat
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OhioCatFan
4/4/2018 2:47 PM
There used to be a guy who posted on here regularly who actually worked for ESPN. He always had the inside scoop on such things. Anyone remember his handle, and know where he is now? If he's still at ESPN, he'd know the answer to all these burning questions about ESPN+.
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L.C.
4/4/2018 7:04 PM
One additional note is that you can use WatchESPN and ESPN3 to watch replays as well as live content.
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Tymaster
4/5/2018 7:37 AM
This is a way to appease the cable satellite gods and create an app. You really need BOTH subscriptions to get all the good stuff. Not really good for the consumer especially the cord cutter.
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