Cable companies: ESPN's $15-billion NFL will make your cable bill more expensive

[TMC]

http://www.deadline.com/2011/09/pay-tv-companies-say-espn-fumbled-with-its-15b-nfl-deal/

The American Cable Association says ESPN paying 60% more for "Monday
Night Football" will end up being footed by cable users.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/ergen_end_run_e5VtRyDRnE2f9HyESUBTnM

Dish Network is threatening to remove ESPN - The satellite company
doesn't want to pass new rights to its subscribers.

[Dennis M]

In addition to ESPN I don't care for a damn cable network Disney owns with
the possible exception of A&E and History, and I could live without
those...

Disney Cable Networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN PPV, ESPN
Deportes, ESPNU, ESPNHD, ESPN2 HD, ESPNEWSHD and ESPNUHD, Disney Channel
HD, Toon Disney, SOAPnet, ABC Family Channel, A&E Television Networks (42%
equity; includes A&E, the History Channel, the Biography Channel, History
en espanol, Military History Channel, Crime & Investigation Network, A&E
HD, The History Channel HD), Lifetime Entertainment Services (50% equity;
includes Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women).

Dish Network should tell Disney to put their precious ESPN and everything
else on a separate tier, otherwise they'll dump everything.

As long as the politicians are all bought off by companies like Disney and
GE I don't guess we'll see a la carte anytime soon.

[Michael OConnor]

Post by Dennis M
Dish Network should tell Disney to put their precious ESPN and everything
else on a separate tier, otherwise they'll dump everything.
As long as the politicians are all bought off by companies like Disney and
GE I don't guess we'll see a la carte anytime soon.

I support a la carte in theory, but it will never work because half
the cable networks would soon disappear because of lack of interest.
For some of the more fringe or niche cable channels, HGTV or Military
Channel of Lifetime Movie Network as examples but there are others, in
an a la care situation I doubt they could get enough people who would
be winning to pay specifically to have it to make a profit. If, for
example, only five percent of the people choose to purchase HGTV and
pay, I don't know, a dollar a month, it is doubtful they would survive
for long.

As for ESPN, it has grown to the point where it makes more sense to
make it a premium channel, like HBO or Cinemax, where you subscribe
and you get all the ESPN channels. I watch a lot of sports, but I
know a lot of people don't give a hoot about sports and it is unfair
that they have to pay for channels they would never watch.

[aemeijers]

Post by Michael OConnor

Post by Dennis M
Dish Network should tell Disney to put their precious ESPN and everything
else on a separate tier, otherwise they'll dump everything.
As long as the politicians are all bought off by companies like Disney and
GE I don't guess we'll see a la carte anytime soon.

I support a la carte in theory, but it will never work because half
the cable networks would soon disappear because of lack of interest.

You say that like it is a bad thing.

[Obveeus]

Post by aemeijers

Post by Michael OConnor

Post by Dennis M
Dish Network should tell Disney to put their precious ESPN and everything
else on a separate tier, otherwise they'll dump everything.
As long as the politicians are all bought off by companies like Disney and
GE I don't guess we'll see a la carte anytime soon.

I support a la carte in theory, but it will never work because half
the cable networks would soon disappear because of lack of interest.

You say that like it is a bad thing.

He probably should have said '90% would soon disappear because of lack of
interest'. I don't have a problem with the junkier channels going away if
they cannot demand an audience on their own merit, but it is also clear
that, ultimately, package deals are going to bring lower prices to people
than individual channel a-la-carte. If the cable companies are going
'a-la-carte' it is far more likely to be with a hybrid version of the idea
that consists of smaller groups of channels than with every single channel
being offered individually.

[Anim8rFSK]

Post by Obveeus

Post by aemeijers

Post by Michael OConnor

Post by Dennis M
Dish Network should tell Disney to put their precious ESPN and everything
else on a separate tier, otherwise they'll dump everything.
As long as the politicians are all bought off by companies like Disney and
GE I don't guess we'll see a la carte anytime soon.

I support a la carte in theory, but it will never work because half
the cable networks would soon disappear because of lack of interest.

You say that like it is a bad thing.

He probably should have said '90% would soon disappear because of lack of
interest'. I don't have a problem with the junkier channels going away if
they cannot demand an audience on their own merit, but it is also clear
that, ultimately, package deals are going to bring lower prices to people
than individual channel a-la-carte. If the cable companies are going
'a-la-carte' it is far more likely to be with a hybrid version of the idea
that consists of smaller groups of channels than with every single channel
being offered individually.

LOL, okay, I made my "90%" reply before I read yours. :)

[Anim8rFSK]

Post by aemeijers

Post by Michael OConnor

Post by Dennis M
Dish Network should tell Disney to put their precious ESPN and everything
else on a separate tier, otherwise they'll dump everything.
As long as the politicians are all bought off by companies like Disney and
GE I don't guess we'll see a la carte anytime soon.

I support a la carte in theory, but it will never work because half
the cable networks would soon disappear because of lack of interest.

You say that like it is a bad thing.

Half disappearing is a bad thing. 90%? Better.

[TMC]

http://www.deadline.com/2011/09/pay-tv-companies-say-espn-fumbled-wit...
The American Cable Association says ESPN paying 60% more for "Monday
Night Football" will end up being footed by cable users.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/ergen_end_run_e5VtRyDRnE2f9HyES...
Dish Network is threatening to remove ESPN - The satellite company
doesn't want to pass new rights to its subscribers.

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/09/12/the-sportscenter-rebellion/

Scott Woolley at Forbes.com writes that cable operators are ready to
fight ESPN over its huge rights deal for Monday Night Football.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/473595-ACA_Slams_ESPN_Monday_Night_Football_Deal.php

John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable notes that the American Cable
Association is blasting ESPN for its huge rights contract for Monday
Night Football.

http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/football-fans-foot-the-bill-as-networks-nfl-reach-record-breaking-deals/

Eric Deggans from the St. Petersburg Times writes in the Indiana
University National Sports Journalism Center that fans will be footing
the bill for the NFL’s recent megadeal with ESPN.