What happens to SEC Network if ESPN collapses? cord-cutter question

#1

VolNExile

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#1
Mods: If you feel this needs to be moved somewhere, could you please merge with the Official Jon Gruden thread, whichever number is going? We are friendly folks there who aren't terribly perturbed by non-trollish OT posts. I don't want to have to deal with the foaming rage in the other FF threads. Thanks :hi:

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So after calling Charter to cancel cable TV, 15 minutes after the TN-USC fiasco (rates had been jacked), we finally worked through our paralysis by analysis and went with a Roku Ultra ($99 marked down to $49 through Sling) along with Sling Orange plus the sports add-on ($24.99/month.) The Roku thingy is in the mail, or FedEx anyway.

Sling has confusingly split up its basic package into Orange and Blue versions. The main difference (to me) is that Orange has ESPN products for $20 and Blue has Fox Sports products for $25. SEC Network is available in the $5 sports add-on for Orange, but not for Blue. :question:

So does anyone have any information/ speculation/ SWAG's/ drunken comments about what might happen to SEC Network when ESPN starts cutting way back? Will it still be linked to what's left of ESPN, get picked up by another entity, go solo?

The only reason we watch TV is for UT sports, Game of Thrones, and NBA when the West Coast games aren't broadcast at dark-thirty, so we truly don't care about Nick Jr. and whatnot.
 
#3
#3
whatever happens you're gonna always pay more for less...SECN makes money...IMHO ESPN will try to hold on to SECN, but if they can't, I can see it becoming its own entity...possibly being bought out by the SEC, sorta like the Longhorn Network...:twocents:

PS. my opinion is for entertainment purposes only...:)

GO VOLS...BEAT VANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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#9
#9
whatever happens you're gonna always pay more for less...SECN makes money...IMHO ESPN will try to hold on to SECN, but if they can't, I can see it becoming its own entity...possibly being bought out by the SEC, sorta like the Longhorn Network...:twocents:

PS. my opinion is for entertainment purposes only...:)

GO VOLS...BEAT VANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the long horn network is maybe with ESPN like the partnership between the SECN and ESPN now
 
#11
#11
Mods: If you feel this needs to be moved somewhere, could you please merge with the Official Jon Gruden thread, whichever number is going? We are friendly folks there who aren't terribly perturbed by non-trollish OT posts. I don't want to have to deal with the foaming rage in the other FF threads. Thanks :hi:

***************************

So after calling Charter to cancel cable TV, 15 minutes after the TN-USC fiasco (rates had been jacked), we finally worked through our paralysis by analysis and went with a Roku Ultra ($99 marked down to $49 through Sling) along with Sling Orange plus the sports add-on ($24.99/month.) The Roku thingy is in the mail, or FedEx anyway.

Sling has confusingly split up its basic package into Orange and Blue versions. The main difference (to me) is that Orange has ESPN products for $20 and Blue has Fox Sports products for $25. SEC Network is available in the $5 sports add-on for Orange, but not for Blue. :question:

So does anyone have any information/ speculation/ SWAG's/ drunken comments about what might happen to SEC Network when ESPN starts cutting way back? Will it still be linked to what's left of ESPN, get picked up by another entity, go solo?

The only reason we watch TV is for UT sports, Game of Thrones, and NBA when the West Coast games aren't broadcast at dark-thirty, so we truly don't care about Nick Jr. and whatnot.

I wouldn’t worry too much about this. Disney (who owns ESPN) has been working on they’re own streaming network. I imagine that’s the direction sports would go.
 
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#12
#12
If Disney gets desperate, they could sell channels and packages to another network.

Disney may even work out a swap with Fox which is in talks to off load their movie studio/drama TV to focus on News Media...IDK if they intend to keep Fox Sports as well.

Long term, ESPN should get out of expensive, poorly located Bristol Conn studio. I would recommend Charlotte which is where the SEC/ACC Networks are located. They could also do away with a few channels unless one is just primarily to show events/classics.
 
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#13
#13
ESPN isnt going to totally collapse

No, I didn't figure they would, but I can see them selling off bits and pieces, and there I'd be, stuck with the ACC network due to my zip code and no SECN.

As a battle-scarred consumer, I am never foolish enough to believe that the big corps are making sure that I'm happy.
 
#14
#14
Directv Now is much better than slingtv. I pay $60 per month and get all ESPN channels with no confusing pacakages. There is one cheaper package and one more expensive package. I also get all local channels except fox through Directv now.
 
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#15
#15
I wouldn’t worry too much about this. Disney (who owns ESPN) has been working on they’re own streaming network. I imagine that’s the direction sports would go.
If Disney gets desperate, they could sell channels and packages to another network.

Disney may even work out a swap with Fox which is in talks to off load their movie studio/drama TV to focus on News Media...IDK if they intend to keep Fox Sports as well.

Long term, ESPN should get out of expensive, poorly located Bristol Conn studio. I would recommend Charlotte which is where the SEC/ACC Networks are located. They could also do away with a few channels unless one is just primarily to show events/classics.

These seem like reasonable speculations. I could live without having to pay for traditional Disney junk, but until we are true a la carte, I guess that's the deal...
 
#16
#16
Directv Now is much better than slingtv. I pay $60 per month and get all ESPN channels with no confusing pacakages. There is one cheaper package and one more expensive package. I also get all local channels except fox through Directv now.

Yes, I looked at the reviews and considered it, but $60 vs $25, when we can cancel after 3 months (the Roku deal), tilted us toward Sling. We'll see how it goes.

The only time we watch local TV (most of which isn't really local anyway, coming from Greenville SC) is to see what the roads are like during a snow. We can always go with a fancy antenna if needed.
 
#17
#17
No, I didn't figure they would, but I can see them selling off bits and pieces, and there I'd be, stuck with the ACC network due to my zip code and no SECN.

As a battle-scarred consumer, I am never foolish enough to believe that the big corps are making sure that I'm happy.

ESPN is one of the bits and pieces. It's one of Disney's most valuable properties. Even if their subscriber revenue crashes due to cord cutting they'll continue to take in massive amounts in AD sales. Their problem is the ridiculous contracts that they have with the NCAA, conferences, and other sports content providers. Those contracts will be normalized once they come up for renewal. ESPN isn't going anywhere. The question is what will happen once the SEC's agreement with them is renogiated in the next contract cycle. TN and other schools are spending hundreds of millions on stadium upgrades and tens of millions on coaches. Billions in total. The battle for fewer dollars will be interesting to follow.
 
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#20
#20
Playstation vue is a great way to go for streaming. Get an Amazon Fire, plug it in, pick your favorites, there are add on's that are free, and some that have a monthly fee added on to your monthly charge, and like sling or direct tv now, you are not locked in to a contract. You can stop it anytime. They have, if I'm not mistaken, 3 different packages, and some of your local channels may be available at no extra charge. My local CBS station is on it, out of Chattanooga. You can also get an OTA antennae for local channels too. There are other possibilities out there, such as Droidstream tv, which I also have. You can get a year subscription with them for $84.00 and your viewing possibilities are almost endless, along with a lot of pay for view. Just some options for you.
 
#22
#22
Marvel - Like IDK billion a year in movies
Star Wars - IDK Like a Billion a year in movies plus a billion in merch
ABC - IDK like one of the 3 Networks
Disney - IDK like its Disney FFS
Pixar - IDK like a Billion every movie

They're all a team with ESPN And I can't believe I'm saying this I hope people aren't hoping for ESPN to fail. What you gonna go to Huff Post... CBS Sportsline for sports info.. idiots.

I dislike ESPN for becoming activists for left-of-center politics and for politicizing sports on a level never before seen. I don't want them to fail or go away, I want them to show sports, leave political biases off the air, and simply present sports information, rather than trying to drive some agenda or promote social justice warrior-type causes.
 
#23
#23
Mods: If you feel this needs to be moved somewhere, could you please merge with the Official Jon Gruden thread, whichever number is going? We are friendly folks there who aren't terribly perturbed by non-trollish OT posts. I don't want to have to deal with the foaming rage in the other FF threads. Thanks :hi:

***************************

So after calling Charter to cancel cable TV, 15 minutes after the TN-USC fiasco (rates had been jacked), we finally worked through our paralysis by analysis and went with a Roku Ultra ($99 marked down to $49 through Sling) along with Sling Orange plus the sports add-on ($24.99/month.) The Roku thingy is in the mail, or FedEx anyway.

Sling has confusingly split up its basic package into Orange and Blue versions. The main difference (to me) is that Orange has ESPN products for $20 and Blue has Fox Sports products for $25. SEC Network is available in the $5 sports add-on for Orange, but not for Blue. :question:

So does anyone have any information/ speculation/ SWAG's/ drunken comments about what might happen to SEC Network when ESPN starts cutting way back? Will it still be linked to what's left of ESPN, get picked up by another entity, go solo?

The only reason we watch TV is for UT sports, Game of Thrones, and NBA when the West Coast games aren't broadcast at dark-thirty, so we truly don't care about Nick Jr. and whatnot.

I tried to use Sling for a while. I loved the price but tbh I cancelled it due to their inability to fix issues surrounding popular TV shows (i.e. GOT, Walking Dead, Football games, ect.). The shows would constantly freeze, then buffer, then jump around. One UT game I was watching last year froze then when it started playing again was back in the first half when the live game was almost in the 4th quarter.

Their customer service always said it was either my device or my network causing the issues. I then told them that I experience the same issues on my Firestick, Roku 2, Xbox One, MacBook Pro, and Alienware laptop. I also informed them of the results of many speed tests I performed as well and that I tested both wired and wireless connections.

With all of that said I really hope your experience is better than mine. Please keep me updated as to how it works out for you. Hopefully they have added more servers to handle the high demand shows/events.
 
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