YouTubeTV potentially losing ESPN channels (and other Disney channels)

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MplsGopher

MplsGopher

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In a Dec. 13 blog post, YouTube TV parent company Google announced that it was still in negotiations with Disney over a renewal of its carrier agreement. In a statement to Variety, Disney confirmed that the current contract was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17—meaning that 17 of the live channels owned by the media conglomerate could be dropped from the popular live streaming TV platform by the end of the week, plus eight local ABC stations.

"Our ask to Disney, as with all our partners, is to treat YouTube TV like any other TV provider—by offering us the same rates that services of a similar size pay, across Disney's channels for as long as we carry them," YouTube said wrote in the blog post.

Because of Disney's broad ownership of a diverse array of networks, many channels stand to be impacted by the potential blackout. Failed negotiations would see ABC News Live, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, FX, FXX, FXM, National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, and ACC Network go dark on the service.

...

Still, both parties hinted that they were willing to continue negotiating. "Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution has a highly successful track record of negotiating such agreements with providers of all types and sizes across the country and is committed to working with Google to reach a fair, market-based agreement," Disney said in a statement on Dec. 13. "We are optimistic that we can reach a deal and continue to provide their YouTube TV customers with our live sporting events and news coverage plus kids, family, and general entertainment programming."

Google also appeared optimistic, cordially writing in their blog post: "We appreciate Disney's partnership and will share any further updates as we have them."
 

Quite honestly, I don't care that much. Gophers are on ESPN channels relatively few times. Same with other teams I care about. I mostly don't watch MNF.

Don't watch much cable TV outside of live sports and national/local news.


That said, they'll figure it out. They always do.
 

It was inevitable that YouTube/Hulu etc. would eventually be no better/worse price wise than regular cable/satellite. It's the same service coming in on a different pipe. They offered cheap deals out of the gate to attract a customer base, but they have to pay ESPN etc. the same as everyone else. So you either pay the same as the end user or get less product.
 

the kicker to this is that Bally Sports North - along with all of the other RSN's owned by Sinclair, got dropped from YouTube TV and Hulu live a while back, and have never returned. If YouTube TV loses the ESPN family during bowl game season, that could drive some customers to look for another option or even go back to cable.

I still have local cable TV service, but my provider is talking about dropping the traditional "wired" cable TV and replacing it with a streaming option, due to the cost of programming going up every year.

As it is, I pay extra for the High-Def package and a HD DVR, so I would be fine with streaming and a cloud-based DVR.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
the kicker to this is that Bally Sports North - along with all of the other RSN's owned by Sinclair, got dropped from YouTube TV and Hulu live a while back, and have never returned. If YouTube TV loses the ESPN family during bowl game season, that could drive some customers to look for another option or even go back to cable.

I still have local cable TV service, but my provider is talking about dropping the traditional "wired" cable TV and replacing it with a streaming option, due to the cost of programming going up every year.

As it is, I pay extra for the High-Def package and a HD DVR, so I would be fine with streaming and a cloud-based DVR.
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They weren't dropped. Bally's/Sinclair pulled them. Dish/Sling too. B.S. is planning on setting up a direct to consumer operation. Though the start date keeps getting pushed back..
 


MplsGopher said:
Quite honestly, I don't care that much. Gophers are on ESPN channels relatively few times. Same with other teams I care about. I mostly don't watch MNF.

Don't watch much cable TV outside of live sports and national/local news.


That said, they'll figure it out. They always do.
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lol. Just had this discussion a few weeks back. Losing the ESPN channels would be a major blow. Again....why streaming services won't be a decent substitute for cable for a while.
 

Iceland12 said:
They weren't dropped. Bally's/Sinclair pulled them. Dish/Sling too. B.S. is planning on setting up a direct to consumer operation. Though the start date keeps getting pushed back..
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Does ESPN have a direct to consumer service? I know there's ESPN+ but does that get the regular ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPN News programing?

So if they are dropped from youtube TV, can I keep youtube TV for everything else, then pay for an extra service through ESPN directly to get their channels?
 

GophersInIowa said:
Does ESPN have a direct to consumer service? I know there's ESPN+ but does that get the regular ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPN News programing?
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No. Though there has been speculation over the last year or so, that it's coming.

ESPN likely to become direct-to-consumer product within five years

ESPN will become a standalone direct-to-consumer product, likely to happen within five years, maybe earlier.
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

www.subscriptioninsider.com

ESPN to Lay Off 300 as Disney Focuses on Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Video

ESPN is laying off 300 people, or 6% of workforce, as parent Disney focuses on its direct-to-consumer streaming video subscription services.
www.subscriptioninsider.com www.subscriptioninsider.com
 

Iceland12 said:
No. Though there has been speculation over the last year or so, that it's coming.

ESPN likely to become direct-to-consumer product within five years

ESPN will become a standalone direct-to-consumer product, likely to happen within five years, maybe earlier.
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

www.subscriptioninsider.com

ESPN to Lay Off 300 as Disney Focuses on Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Video

ESPN is laying off 300 people, or 6% of workforce, as parent Disney focuses on its direct-to-consumer streaming video subscription services.
www.subscriptioninsider.com www.subscriptioninsider.com
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People wanted "choice" in what channels they paid for. They're going to get it. Pretty soon to get the basic networks and most sports, you're going to need the Peacock App, the CBS/Paramount App, The ESPN App, the Fox Sports App, etc. on top of Hulu and Netflix.
 



howeda7 said:
People wanted "choice" in what channels they paid for. They're going to get it. Pretty soon to get the basic networks and most sports, you're going to need the Peacock App, the CBS/Paramount App, The ESPN App, the Fox Sports App, etc. on top of Hulu and Netflix.
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That's what Charlie Ergen of Dish told Congressional Committee a while back. Dish and DirectV wanted to merge and Congress and the FCC turned it down. Ergen said that the competition in the near future won't be between cable and satellite, but between them and the streaming services.

He said they'd be carving up the market and rising prices when they did.

He still hoping to buy DirecTV, but until then he's already founded Sling.
 
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Glad I don't have these issues with Xfinity very often. For the price YouTube TV is charging, nobody should accept the constant contract issues they have.
 

Iceland12 said:
That's what Charlie Ergen of Dish told Congressional Committee a while back. Dish and DirectV wanted to merge and Congress and the FCC turned it down. Ergen said that the competition in the near future won't be between cable and satellite, but between them and the streaming services.

He said they'd be carving up the market and rising prices when they did.

He still hoping to buy DirecTV, but until then he's already founded Sling.
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I don't think Dish/DirecTV will be allowed to merge. At least not until we have universal broadband. They are still the only option for large chunks of rural America.

FWIW, DirecTV now has a streaming only service, but I've heard it sucks.
 

I'd think they'd do a short extension of the current deal if they can't get the new agreement in place by tonight.

 



GophersInIowa said:
I'd think they'd do a short extension of the current deal if they can't get the new agreement in place by tonight.

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stop and think about that. a $15/month refund for not having ESPN. that tells you how much of the monthly charge for YTTV is based on the cost of carrying ESPN. and that is what keeps pushing the cost of cable or streaming services up - the cost of acquiring the big sports channels.
 

Good riddance, ESPN. The downward spiral continues.... it's really amazing how far this shit network has fallen in the last 8-10 years. "The Worldwide Leader"..... oh boy....
 





There is another thread on this.

Hulu Live is offering a new deal where you get all the Hulu Live channels and they have added Disney+ and ESPN+ for (I think) about $75 a month.

I don't think they get Bally, but it includes all the other major sports channels including BTN.
 


short ornery norwegian said:
stop and think about that. a $15/month refund for not having ESPN. that tells you how much of the monthly charge for YTTV is based on the cost of carrying ESPN. and that is what keeps pushing the cost of cable or streaming services up - the cost of acquiring the big sports channels.
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It's the same with cable. ESPN gets an outrageous amount per subscriber.
 


short ornery norwegian said:
stop and think about that. a $15/month refund for not having ESPN. that tells you how much of the monthly charge for YTTV is based on the cost of carrying ESPN. and that is what keeps pushing the cost of cable or streaming services up - the cost of acquiring the big sports channels.
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$15/month seems pretty reasonable in my opinion. $0.50 per day, I'm sure I am getting my money's worth on that deal.
 

been looking at different streaming options.

from what I can tell, as of right now, if you want all of the major MN sports channels - Bally + BTN + the ESPN channels, the only option that offers all of them is DirectTV Streaming, which runs around $85 a month depending on what package you want.

Other options have some of those, but not all of them. Hulu Live and Fubo do not have Bally's.
 


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