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  1. #1
    Sam the Sheepdog LA Ute's Avatar
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    A sports television thread

    ESPN Has Lost 7 Million Subscribers The Past Two Years

    Excerpt:


    Now that ESPN has officially admitted the loss of seven million subscribers over the past two years, we're left with the big question that continues to leave executives up late at night -- how massive is the potential subscriber loss going to be in the years to come? Are these seven million subscribers the beginning of a cord cutting onslaught or will subscriber losses lessen from this point forward? And here's the most important question: how many subscribers can ESPN lose before the business is no longer profitable enough to be the engine that drives the Disney bus?

    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
    --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
    --Yeats

    “True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”

    --John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell

  2. #2
    Interesting because ESPN is the sole reason I would ever sign back up for cable. I know more and more people cutting the cord and it is because cable rates are outrageous at this point. Just think of it, between cell phones Internet and TV most of us here are probably spending near $400/mo if not more that 10 -15 years ago you weren't spending.


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  3. #3
    Administrator U-Ute's Avatar
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    Disney has started rolling out subscriptions to their content via the Internet. You can already pay to stream ESPN sans a cable/internet provider.

    People don't like the packaging model that includes all the stuff they don't want.

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by U-Ute View Post
    Disney has started rolling out subscriptions to their content via the Internet. You can already pay to stream ESPN sans a cable/internet provider.

    People don't like the packaging model that includes all the stuff they don't want.
    I am in the process of cutting the cord. I picked up a FireTV and did a free trial of SlingTV. It actually contains effectively all of the channels we watch (all of the ESPNs, A&E, HGTV, all the Disneys, Cartoon Network, etc. It has a decent picture over Wi-Fi but the picture was very good when plugged into the network.

    That is a decent option, but it still is $20 per month + $5 for kids programming and another $15 each if you want HBO or Showtime, plus taxes. Plus Netflix. Plus a good high-speed internet connection.

    That means the savings from cutting cable is pro ably not necessarily worth the marginal cost savings.

    Side note: the Fire TV is great. And it is easy to modify since it runs on the Android/Fire TV operating system. I discovered how to install XBMC/Kodi on it and it will dual boot to either gui. Kodi gives access to (illegal) streams for essentially everything. Every TV show and every sports program you can think of is probably out there, along with every movie (including shows currently in the theater as well as screeners for upcoming movies). This fact must terrify the content providers out there.
    Last edited by NorthwestUteFan; 02-08-2016 at 08:53 AM.

  5. #5
    I'm worried... I think I might get opioid induced constipation. Should I ask my doctor?

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    "Be a philosopher. A man can compromise to gain a point. It has become apparent that a man can, within limits, follow his inclinations within the arms of the Church if he does so discreetly." - The Walking Drum

    "And here’s what life comes down to—not how many years you live, but how many of those years are filled with bullshit that doesn’t amount to anything to satisfy the requirements of some dickhead you’ll never get the pleasure of punching in the face." – Adam Carolla

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death View Post
    I'm worried... I think I might get opioid induced constipation. Should I ask my doctor?

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    I always wondered what was causing that.


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  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death View Post
    I'm worried... I think I might get opioid induced constipation. Should I ask my doctor?

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    Ask your doctor whether you should switch to The Chronic (MJ) for your chronic pain. It won't really cure you, but it will make what amounts to a shitty existence (living with chronic pain) far more tolerable.

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by NorthwestUteFan View Post
    Ask your doctor whether you should switch to The Chronic (MJ) for your chronic pain. It won't really cure you, but it will make what amounts to a shitty existence (living with chronic pain) far more tolerable.
    But the church says it is real bad for me. Much worse than taking multiple percosets every day!

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    "Be a philosopher. A man can compromise to gain a point. It has become apparent that a man can, within limits, follow his inclinations within the arms of the Church if he does so discreetly." - The Walking Drum

    "And here’s what life comes down to—not how many years you live, but how many of those years are filled with bullshit that doesn’t amount to anything to satisfy the requirements of some dickhead you’ll never get the pleasure of punching in the face." – Adam Carolla

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death View Post
    But the church says it is real bad for me. Much worse than taking multiple percosets every day!

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    The Church also says beer is bad, but the D&C says beer is ok, but the D&C says meat is bad, but a lot of the 12 are obese....soooooooo....

    "The philosophies of men mingled with scripture" perfectly describes the word of wisdom as it is nowadays.

  10. #10
    Sam the Sheepdog LA Ute's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Utah View Post
    but a lot of the 12 are obese....
    Actually, the current group puts a lot of other men their age to shame:

    official-portrait-quorum-twelve-2015-1584058-gallery.jpg

    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
    --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
    --Yeats

    “True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”

    --John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell

  11. #11
    Sam the Sheepdog LA Ute's Avatar
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    The PAC-12 Network has hired someone to help get that Direct TV deal:

    http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/J...2Networks.aspx

    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
    --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
    --Yeats

    “True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”

    --John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell

  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by LA Ute View Post
    The PAC-12 Network has hired someone to help get that Direct TV deal:

    http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/J...2Networks.aspx
    How come all of the titles to those type of positions seem like something from an Onion article?

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  13. #13
    http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...nap-story.html

    Helps explain ESPN and Fox squawking about the Big-12's expansion rumblings.

  14. #14
    Administrator U-Ute's Avatar
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  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by U-Ute View Post
    Anyone here using SlingTV exclusively, and can comment on the quality and price? I'm looking to ditch Comcast, and would rather not go with either of the satellite companies.
    “To me there is no dishonor in being wrong and learning. There is dishonor in willful ignorance and there is dishonor in disrespect.” James Hatch, former Navy Seal and current Yale student.

  16. #16
    Set up the free demo and see what you think. The quality was decent, but I doubt they stream 1080 (let alone 4k ). The interface is kludgy.

    But this is a valid option. I will try it again this year.

  17. #17
    SlingTV is owned by Dish Networks.

    . Also, when I tried it I couldn't get any better than 720p quality. Granted most sports broadcasts are in 720p, so maybe that is something that will improve later.

    But no feed from Comcast or streaming has ever approached the quality of the OTA feed (e.g. Seahawks games). That is just the nature of the beast, and OTA will always kill everything when it comes to bandwidth (at least within the near future).
    Last edited by NorthwestUteFan; 09-08-2016 at 11:26 AM.

  18. #18
    Five-O Diehard Ute's Avatar
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    Comcast is a game. Always has been, but having had satellite they're certainly no worse.

    My bill jumped 2 months ago. I called and in 10 minutes it was lower than what I had been paying.


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  19. #19
    If you pay for 3 months of Sling they will give you a Roku 2 or a discounted Appletv.

  20. #20
    Five-O Diehard Ute's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NorthwestUteFan View Post
    If you pay for 3 months of Sling they will give you a Roku 2 or a discounted Appletv.
    Better to spend the $140 on a new AppleTV. I have an old and new. New one is a big leap, much better remote, better resolution, 7.1 sound compatibility, Siri (which if you have an iPhone allows HomeKit) etc


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  21. #21
    Also, only the USC and ASu games are on FS1. You won't really need to keep the full package all season. That is something to keep in mind.

  22. #22
    Five-O Diehard Ute's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NorthwestUteFan View Post
    Also, only the USC and ASu games are on FS1. You won't really need to keep the full package all season. That is something to keep in mind.
    You will if you want basketball games.

    You'll need Orange/Sports for ESPNU, PAC12 and ESPN News. (You do get access to the watch ESPN app)



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  23. #23
    Quote Originally Posted by Diehard Ute View Post
    You will if you want basketball games.

    You'll need Orange/Sports for ESPNU, PAC12 and ESPN News. (You do get access to the watch ESPN app)



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    This is great news, because that app is much better than the Sling app.

  24. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by Diehard Ute View Post
    You will if you want basketball games.

    You'll need Orange/Sports for ESPNU, PAC12 and ESPN News. (You do get access to the watch ESPN app)



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    Does the WatchESPN app come only with the Orange package, or is it part of the Sports pack?

    Also for some reason I can't sign up for the Blue package without the order also including the Orange. And then I have to add the Sports pack on top. At this rate the new Dish (pseudo) a la carte plans will be cheaper.

  25. #25
    Five-O Diehard Ute's Avatar
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    I think the App comes with Orange, but you have to have the sports pack to get Pac-12/Fox Sports so it's kind of a moot point.


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  26. #26
    No actually Fox Sports is only on Blue, can't be added to Orange. Fs1 is the only thing I really need to buy. I don't mind getting the Blue plus Sports pack, but was hoping that would include WatchESPN.

  27. #27
    I need to call them. It is too confusing.

    I actually just want *legal* access to the WatchESPN app, and will need to think of something else for FS1. I can very easily find illegal access to the app and feeds or borrow a friend's. It is only messy when I want to get them legally.

  28. #28
    This looks promising. For $35, you get all the college football you want (though I don't see the pac-12 network on there):

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.75732d6ae311

    That's a much better deal that Sling.

  29. #29
    Five-O Diehard Ute's Avatar
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    A sports television thread

    They cut Chantel Jennings as well. Pretty much gutted their long term Pac-12 coverage. (With Gemmell leaving a few months ago)


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  30. #30
    Five-O Diehard Ute's Avatar
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    Andy Katz, no longer with ESPN


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