WatchESPN should be sold directly to consumers
ESPN’s app – WatchESPN – is currently distributed through cable providers….but it shouldn’t be.
“Cutting the cord” is a relatively new thing. I’ve engaged in it, somewhat, myself.
A few months ago I was paying my DirecTV bill when I realized that $127 per month to watch TV is ridiculous. I was getting about 900 channels but my family watched maybe 15 of them. I set out to cancel the service altogether, but when faced with a $120 contract cancellation charge and the prospects of losing about 25 kids movies on my DVR I settled with the “family” package for $55 a month.
So right now I’m getting all the local channels and a handful of family friendly networks like Hallmark, Nickelodeon, Food Network, HGTV, etc….plus I get to keep that DVR. Honestly, there is not a single channel I miss – except ESPN for live sporting events.
I missed all of the NBA playoffs until the Finals popped up on ABC. But I can live with that. I don’t get to watch the Paul Finebaum show on SEC Network, but I can live with that too.
Come football season, however, what am I going to do? My contract with DirecTV ends in September, so I could sign-up for another 2-year contract – to get all the channels available to man but still pay $55 a month….for a time. But after 10-12 months I’ll be back to paying $127 per month, or more.
All I really want is to watch college football games on my TV. Is this really the price I have to pay? Should I just upgrade for three months and consider the additional $70 per month the cost of my hobby?
More from Mississippi State Bulldogs News
- College football schedule week 4: 3 must-watch under-the-radar games
- M&WN Staff – Week 3 SEC Picks and Best Bets
- Mississippi State football film study: Why did MSU’s defense fail vs. LSU?
- SEC football standings after Mississippi State football steamrolled by LSU Tigers
- College Football Schedule Week 3: Under the Radar Games to Watch
ESPN’s app, WatchESPN, has each of their channels broadcast over the internet. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network – even the Longhorn Network. Plus there’s ESPN3 games which are internet only. And with great devices like Cromecast or Roku you can stream the live feeds from your phone to your TV!
What if ESPN bypassed the cable companies and went straight to the consumer – just pay $10 or $20 per month to enjoy the WatchESPN app. I would pay it.
If this was an option I’d gladly cancel my DirecTV entirely and just pay the traditional cable $5 for the local channels and ESPN $20 or so for some live games.
We could be headed in this direction eventually, but it may take a while. ESPN doesn’t have to market a service like this right now – the cable companies do that for them. And they get top dollar from those companies for inclusion in their packages. It would be a huge risk for ESPN and could take a long time to make up the money they are getting now.
The way for something like this to happen is for folks to start abandoning cable like it’s on fire. That is happening among Millennials, but it may take a while for Generation X and Baby Boomers to catch on.