Will ESPN360's ISP Business Model Work?

Will ESPN360's ISP Business Model Work?
Applying television business models to the Internet...
(old news - 08:31AM Monday Feb 09 2009)
tags: business · alternatives · content · consumers

Wired News is exploring ESPN's interesting business model for their ESPN360 Internet video content, which involves negotiating contracts with ISPs instead of having customers pay for the service directly. ESPN's essentially taking the TV business model to broadband -- the result is that some customers get the service as part of their subscription costs, while other ISPs don't offer it at all. "My gut reaction is that it's a terrible business model," consumer advocate Ben Scott tells Wired. "If you begin walling off your content and selling network operators [the right to distribute content], that defeats the whole idea of maximizing the exposure of your content."

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Forums » Will ESPN360's ISP Business Model Work?


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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

·Comcast

This Must Be Stopped

This is the last thing we need. Our broadband subscription prices shouldn't have to go up to line the pockets of a website that most of us never visit. If people want to watch the content on ESPN360, they can pay for subscriptions themselves.

If ESPN succeeds, then expect every other website to ask your ISP for a cut... that you end up paying for in the form of higher subscription prices. Do we really want our ISP bills to look more like our cable TV bills?
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012!

permalink · 2009-02-09 08:38:09 · Print ·

Steimes
I make internets
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Belle Vernon, PA

·Verizon Online DSL

Re: This Must Be Stopped

It would only take one big name ISP to agree to the terms to cause the snowball effect.

Personally I stopped using ESPN's website as Yahoo sports does not auto play a video as soon as the page loads. The auto playing video is just a bout the worst idea since the decline of the terrible MIDI sound on a person's personal webpage from the 90s.
--
Making procrastination an art form since Pluto was still a planet.

permalink · 2009-02-09 08:41:18 ·

BF69

join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

Re: This Must Be Stopped

said by Steimes

:

It would only take one big name ISP to agree to the terms to cause the snowball effect.

at&t already offers this. So do many others

Personally I stopped using ESPN's website as Yahoo sports does not auto play a video as soon as the page loads. The auto playing video is just a bout the worst idea since the decline of the terrible MIDI sound on a person's personal webpage from the 90s.

you can shut the autoplay OFF.

permalink · 2009-02-09 11:33:14 · Print ·

darcilicious Cyber Librarian Premium join:2001-01-02 Forest Grove, OR	Verizon Internet customers have free access to ESPN 360 currently and have for a while.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 13:45:07 ·

Lazlow join:2006-08-07 Saint Louis, MO	Re: This Must Be Stopped darcilicious Do not kid yourself, you are paying for that access. They just lump it in with the rest of your bill. Which means that many Verizon Internet customers are paying for a service that they will never use.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 14:56:14 ·

darcilicious
Cyber Librarian
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join:2001-01-02
Forest Grove, OR

·Verizon FIOS

·Comcast

1 edit

Re: This Must Be Stopped

said by Lazlow

:

darcilicious

Do not kid yourself, you are paying for that access. They just lump it in with the rest of your bill. Which means that many Verizon Internet customers are paying for a service that they will never use.

I never said otherwise. That's why we take advantage of it

Edit: Er, I guess I did say we have it for "free". Let me put it this way, we're not charged directly for using it unlike say premium channels which explicitly cost more.

Saying we're paying for a service we never use is also like say we're paying for channels we never watch. True, but not really the point given how media services are delivered these days.

permalink · 2009-02-09 21:22:55 · Print ·

Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
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join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

i will just cut and paste my theory from other reports on this.

Disney(the parent of ESPN) will require ESPN360 to be part of the next contract revision for their TV channels. seeing how the big ISPs where already cable or are now cable providers.

basicly they will tell Comcast for example that if you want to carry our cable channels you must also add ESPN360 to your Internet service.
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

permalink · 2009-02-09 09:20:20 ·

pnh102 Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty Premium join:2002-05-02 Mount Airy, MD	Re: This Must Be Stopped Exactly. That's the whole plan. -- Blagojevich / Madoff 2012!
	permalink · 2009-02-09 10:17:45 ·

BF69

join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

said by Kearnstd

:

i will just cut and paste my theory from other reports on this.

Disney(the parent of ESPN) will require ESPN360 to be part of the next contract revision for their TV channels. seeing how the big ISPs where already cable or are now cable providers.

basicly they will tell Comcast for example that if you want to carry our cable channels you must also add ESPN360 to your Internet service.

Well they could add ESPN360 to eveyone's internet service NOW if they didn't wall it off. I think what you mean is that they must offer it and PAY for it.

Any ISPs that make these kinds of deal then those websites should NOT count against any caps.

permalink · 2009-02-09 11:35:38 · Print ·

Lazlow join:2006-08-07 Saint Louis, MO 1 edit	Re: This Must Be Stopped IF they do not count against your caps, I think they would get into net neutrality territory. This another one of those situations of forcing people to pay for stuff they do not want(there are many examples already, as you know).
	permalink · 2009-02-09 13:41:17 ·

turls Premium join:2004-05-23 Carlinville, IL	Re: This Must Be Stopped said by Lazlow : IF they do not count against your caps, I think they would get into net neutrality territory. As far as Frontier goes, no it won't count against your caps. Very definitely into net netrality territory. And they don't seem to care. . .
	permalink · 2009-02-09 15:07:39 ·

spewak
R.I.P Dadkins
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join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA

·SureWest Internet

·FrontierNet Intern..

said by pnh102

:

This is the last thing we need. Our broadband subscription prices shouldn't have to go up to line the pockets of a website that most of us never visit. If people want to watch the content on ESPN360, they can pay for subscriptions themselves.

Exactly my feeling.
Example: Frontier DSL was using
ESPN360 as a ValueAdd proposition. Never mind that for the most part, their speed tiers were not sufficient enough to enjoy the site. I think it is the start of Bundling gone awry. No chance to Un-bundle what one is not interested in paying for.

--
The weekend is here, grab a can of beer!

permalink · 2009-02-09 10:34:52 · Print ·

Smith6612 Premium join:2008-02-01 united state ·Dish Network ·Verizon Online DSL ·FrontierNet Intern..	Re: This Must Be Stopped I could enjoy the site on a 768kbps broadband connection while missing one or two of the images that stream at the bottom. Surely Frontier had something faster unless your line was that bad? My Frontier DSL Line could do the 6 vidoes without issue. Their plugin just loves to eat CPU though on the older computers.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 15:00:12 ·

spewak R.I.P Dadkins Premium join:2001-08-07 Elk Grove, CA ·SureWest Internet ·FrontierNet Intern..	Re: This Must Be Stopped said by Smith6612 : Surely Frontier had something faster unless your line was that bad? Exactly why after many promises of Fiber to the node for my little corner of Laguna, I switched, nay, jumped to Surewest FTTH when they bacame available. -- The weekend is here, grab a can of beer!
	permalink · 2009-02-09 22:39:46 ·

NetAdmin CCNA join:2008-05-22	said by pnh102 : If people want to watch the content on ESPN360, they can pay for subscriptions themselves. Exactly. I don't want it and don't assume that I will want it. -- "This is a bus. You know how big a bus is?"
	permalink · 2009-02-09 14:42:22 ·

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

·AT&T Yahoo

·AT&T DSL Service

·Cox HSI

·AT&T Southwest

Yeah, this is totally screwed. In fact it's even worse then the Pay-TV model because you can't "just use the other Internet" because there isn't one.

If this idea works, then all kinds of sites, groups (like the RIAA and MPAA) will pile on and the result is that ISP's will charge huge bills to users irregardles of whether they want the "Content" or not.

This is a way to force everyone to pay for things they don't want.
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini

permalink · 2009-02-10 04:33:32 · Print ·

mlbSAE join:2000-08-01 Dayton, OH	AT&T and Verizon have already signed up... TWC and Comcast have not given in. I don't think most customers care about ESPN360... I doubt people are clamoring for it.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 09:16:03 ·

niblifar join:2004-02-12 Ohio	Re: AT&T and Verizon have already signed up... I sure don't give a rat's scrotum about ESPN360. I'm still bitter about Verizon dropping binary newsgroups. Hearing this news is like someone sitting on my cheesecake. -- Vita est bona.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 11:16:26 ·

devnuller

join:2006-06-10
Hollis, NH

Re: AT&T and Verizon have already signed up...

said by niblifar

:

I sure don't give a rat's scrotum about ESPN360. I'm still bitter about Verizon dropping binary newsgroups. Hearing this news is like someone sitting on my cheesecake.

Look on the bright side. You get ESPN360 with Verizon

quote:
ESPN360.com is free to fans and is currently available in more than 17 million homes nationwide that receive their high-speed Internet connection from Verizon and certain other service providers.

»newscenter.verizon.com/press-rel···s-1.html

permalink · 2009-02-09 13:20:41 · Print ·

jester121 join:2003-08-09 Lake Zurich, IL ·surpasshosting ·ViaTalk	said by niblifar : I'm still bitter about Verizon dropping binary newsgroups. That's okay, 90% of their subscribers have never even heard of binary newsgroups and didn't want to pay for your use of them.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 23:41:55 ·

niblifar join:2004-02-12 Ohio 1 edit	Re: AT&T and Verizon have already signed up... They didn't know because they didn't look at BBR FAQs. Also, I paid for it and it added value to the service unlike ESPN360... -- Vita est bona.
	permalink · 2009-02-10 18:50:49 ·

jester121 join:2003-08-09 Lake Zurich, IL ·surpasshosting ·ViaTalk	Re: AT&T and Verizon have already signed up... said by niblifar : Also, I paid for it So did they... and it added value Not for them.
	permalink · 2009-02-10 19:08:50 ·

niblifar join:2004-02-12 Ohio ·Verizon Online DSL	Re: AT&T and Verizon have already signed up... said by jester121 : said by niblifar : Also, I paid for it So did they... and it added value Not for them. The point is that I paid for my access to it, and they did not pay for my access for it because they paid for their own access to it. -- Vita est bona.
	permalink · 2009-02-10 19:13:10 · Print ·

jester121 join:2003-08-09 Lake Zurich, IL ·surpasshosting ·ViaTalk	Re: AT&T and Verizon have already signed up... said by niblifar : The point is that I paid for my access to it, and they did not pay for my access for it because they paid for their own access to it. Just like the ESPN360 service. QED.
	permalink · 2009-02-10 19:35:12 ·

niblifar join:2004-02-12 Ohio ·Verizon Online DSL	Re: AT&T and Verizon have already signed up... said by jester121 : That's okay, 90% of their subscribers have never even heard of binary newsgroups and didn't want to pay for your use of them. So it's agreed that they (the 90% magic statistic) are not paying for my newsgroup service? -- Vita est bona.
	permalink · 2009-02-10 19:44:12 · Print ·

jester121 join:2003-08-09 Lake Zurich, IL ·surpasshosting ·ViaTalk	Re: AT&T and Verizon have already signed up... said by niblifar : So it's agreed that they (the 90% magic statistic) are not paying for my newsgroup service? Not any more they're not. It's been turned off.
	permalink · 2009-02-11 11:25:20 ·

niblifar join:2004-02-12 Ohio	Re: AT&T and Verizon have already signed up... The binary newsgroups were dropped. The ones where you can just discuss stuff were not. -- Vita est bona.
	permalink · 2009-02-11 19:34:53 ·

cornelius785 join:2006-10-26 Worcester, MA	refund? so can i get a refund if i've never used the espn360 service, nevermind even going to espn site? class action lawsuit anyone? there's bound to be a lawyer willing to take the case . i sure hope a set of comprehensive net nuetrality laws gets implemented soon to stop the crap we are seeing with espn, caps, throttling, and other stuff in recent years.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 09:17:26 ·

openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA

·AT&T Southeast

Re: refund?

said by cornelius785

:

so can i get a refund if i've never used the espn360 service, nevermind even going to espn site? class action lawsuit anyone? there's bound to be a lawyer willing to take the case

This is not different than paying your cable bill for the seven ESPN channels that you never watch.

said by cornelius785

:

i sure hope a set of comprehensive net nuetrality laws gets implemented soon to stop the crap we are seeing with espn, caps, throttling, and other stuff in recent years.

What will net neutrality help with in these situations?

permalink · 2009-02-09 09:33:39 · Print ·

nitzan
Premium,VIP
join:2008-02-27

·ViaTalk

·Comcast

Re: refund?

said by openbox9

:

This is not different than paying your cable bill for the seven ESPN channels that you never watch.

It is different. With Cable TV you're buying a "package" of channels. You know and agree to have ESPN or whatever other crap channel in there as part of the package.

With internet - you are buying an internet connection. If ESPN wants to sell service - they need to sell it as a subscription. They cannot take an internet connection and force us to pay for content bundled with that connection.

It seems to be a trend lately- the entire world (or content industry at least) thinks that it can march in and put taxes or other fees on our internet. ISPs would be wise to tell them to F*** OFF. I know as a consumer I will.

permalink · 2009-02-09 10:17:41 · Print ·

openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA

·AT&T Southeast

Re: refund?

said by nitzan

:

They cannot take an internet connection and force us to pay for content bundled with that connection.

What about your ISP's portal? What about your ISP's mail server? What about your ISP's DNS servers. I can go on, but the point is that you're already paying for bundled services, whether you like it or not.

said by nitzan

:

ISPs would be wise to tell them to F*** OFF. I know as a consumer I will.

I wouldn't get your hopes up. Pay TV providers have yet to put the content providers in their place and I doubt the ISPs are in any better position to do so.

permalink · 2009-02-09 22:27:00 · Print ·

turls Premium join:2004-05-23 Carlinville, IL	said by openbox9 : What will net neutrality help with in these situations? Well, hopefully they will still want to sell stuff like online backup and "sell" stuff like ESPN360. Then I would hope the net neutrality laws would at least force them to allow me to use CrashPlan or Hulu cap free. And hopefully that would get so complicated they would just drop the whole ideas of caps completely . . .
	permalink · 2009-02-09 15:15:16 · Print ·

openbox9 join:2004-01-26 Alexandria, VA	Re: refund? Unless the caps apply to the ISPs' services as well, like was recently announced by Comcast. I don't believe net neutrality legislation (which I doubt even comes to fruition) will be the savior that some around here believe it will be.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 22:37:03 ·

turls
Premium
join:2004-05-23
Carlinville, IL

Re: refund?

said by openbox9

:

Unless the caps apply to the ISPs' services as well, like was recently announced by Comcast. I don't believe net neutrality legislation (which I doubt even comes to fruition) will be the savior that some around here believe it will be.

Well, nothing is definite, but word from Frontier is that their own services/partners will not be capped. There is no way they can sell an online backup service (which they promote heavily) and expect that to fit under a 5GB/month cap (which is their last known proposal).

permalink · 2009-02-10 14:17:57 · Print ·

kontos xyzzy join:2001-10-04 West Henrietta, NY	said by cornelius785 : so can i get a refund if i've never used the espn360 service, nevermind even going to espn site? class action lawsuit anyone? there's bound to be a lawyer willing to take the case Be careful what you wish for. Your argument could be one for metered billing as well. I mean they're charging you for bytes that you don't even download.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 10:14:44 · Print ·

nitzan Premium,VIP join:2008-02-27 ·ViaTalk ·Comcast	Re: refund? And internet bundle is a very different thing than internet and content bundle. ISPs should not be allowed to force consumers to bundle content with their internet connection. I don't want ESPN - or ANY other content (no matter how good!) - to be bundled in my internet connection. If I want it - I'll buy it separately!
	permalink · 2009-02-09 10:19:57 ·

kontos
xyzzy

join:2001-10-04
West Henrietta, NY

Re: refund?

said by nitzan

:

And internet bundle is a very different thing than internet and content bundle.

I don't know. There are a lot of services/content that the ISPs bundle already. I don't think that things like e-maill addresses, spam filtering, or tech support, have a very large component of their expense that is based on popularity or usage. I think you could be suprised how expensive those things could get if only those that used them paid.

said by nitzan

:

I don't want ESPN - or ANY other content (no matter how good!) - to be bundled in my internet connection. If I want it - I'll buy it separately!

It's the cable TV a la cart argument all over again. I wonder if there would be much less content available if it was supportend only be those who are willing to pay a premium for it.

permalink · 2009-02-09 11:29:48 · Print ·

nitzan
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join:2008-02-27

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Re: refund?

said by kontos

:

I don't know. There are a lot of services/content that the ISPs bundle already.

Yes, but free email for example is sponsored by banner and in-text advertising. I seriously doubt ISPs are paying much (if anything) for this.

ESPN on the other hand is expensive. Why should consumers have their bill raised by even $1 for a service a very small fraction even cares about?

It's the cable TV a la cart argument all over again. I wonder if there would be much less content available if it was supportend only be those who are willing to pay a premium for it.

It is not the same. It would be cheaper for us to get health insurance too if it was bundled in, but would this too be bundled with an internet connection? It's a completely different product. There is no consumer advantage or justification to having it bundled in except pure corporate greed.

permalink · 2009-02-09 11:57:22 · Print ·

kontos xyzzy join:2001-10-04 West Henrietta, NY	Re: refund? said by nitzan : Yes, but free email for example is sponsored by banner and in-text advertising. I seriously doubt ISPs are paying much (if anything) for this. Your ISP cost perceptions are way out of whack.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 13:13:11 ·

nitzan Premium,VIP join:2008-02-27 ·ViaTalk ·Comcast	Re: refund? said by kontos : said by nitzan : Yes, but free email for example is sponsored by banner and in-text advertising. I seriously doubt ISPs are paying much (if anything) for this. Your ISP cost perceptions are way out of whack. That's great. Care to elaborate?
	permalink · 2009-02-09 13:32:21 · Print ·

TKJunkMail Enjoy the sun Premium join:2002-03-03 Avalon, NJ	Earlier discussion from weekend on this topic: »I Want My -360 Discount
	permalink · 2009-02-09 10:24:09 ·

thevorpal join:2007-11-16 Alexandria, VA	Re: refund? said by TKJunkMail : Earlier discussion from weekend on this topic: »I Want My -360 Discount It's a bit chilly down in the 9th circle don't you think? I agree TKJunkmail an a few others that I normally am ALWAYS in opposition to.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 12:19:38 ·

SLD Premium join:2002-04-17	They lost me We wanted to catch a couple of the AU Open tennis finals that were advertised on ESPN's analog broadcast, so we didn't record them. When we went to watch, we were locked out for not being on the right network. ESPN has lost us as tv customers.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 10:30:27 ·

Steimes I make internets Premium join:2002-01-08 Belle Vernon, PA ·Verizon Online DSL	Re: They lost me Unfortunately unless you cancel your cable subscription you are still paying for them. They would be counting you on the ratings share any more, but you are still giving them some money. -- Making procrastination an art form since Pluto was still a planet.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 11:24:29 ·

SLD Premium join:2002-04-17	Re: They lost me I did.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 18:24:59 ·

Steimes I make internets Premium join:2002-01-08 Belle Vernon, PA	Re: They lost me You did what many can't then
	permalink · 2009-02-09 18:46:17 ·

Millenniumle

join:2007-11-11
Fredonia, NY

As much as I dislike the idea as it stands to increase ISP subscription costs for the consumer, I think it will work and work well for ESPN and many others who put together highly desirable content. ESPN is very clever in capitalizing on the very structure of the internet, allowing access only to IP ranges controlled by subscribing ISPs and collecting fees for every ISP subscriber rather than just interested subscribers.

Ben Scott's gut reaction that it is "a terrible business model" seemingly couldn't be farther from reality. In fact, the RIAA and MPAA should take note at how to actually sell their material. Given their own numbers as to the popularity of their material it would seem ISPs would jump at the opportunity to include such an offering.

permalink · 2009-02-09 12:37:05 · Print ·

Skippy25

join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Re: Will ESPN360's ISP Business Model Work?

What do you think the RIAA have been trying to do with ISP's that last few months?

This business model will not fly for 2 reasons... one it is going to jack up the price of internet just like it does the price of cable and two (more importantly) it will start isolating the internet and pretty much begin closing off those that are not in an agreement with these ISP's.

permalink · 2009-02-09 14:59:35 ·

Millenniumle

join:2007-11-11
Fredonia, NY

Re: Will ESPN360's ISP Business Model Work?

I've read of the RIAA:

1) Trying to impose a tax.
2) Entering into DMCA notice agreements with ISPs.
3) Suing and threatening to sue those they accuse.

I haven't read of them implementing their own content service and bargaining with ISP's to subscribe. Perhaps I missed it?

==========================================

The business model has already begun to fly.

permalink · 2009-02-09 15:21:44 ·

JazzJRabbit

join:2003-09-27
Wheaton, IL

·WOW Internet and C..

Irony

I find it all too ironic. ISPs are working hard at introducing caps to prevent competing online content providers from ever becoming viable alternative and to force customer to buy content from them. And now they are being forced to pay extra to provide access to online content, the very same thing they're currently trying to repress.

The irony is strong with this one.

The sad thing is that it's the regular folk who lose. This is why we need network neutrality laws.

permalink · 2009-02-09 12:55:50 ·

Millenniumle

join:2007-11-11
Fredonia, NY

3 edits

ESPN's Instructions for access to ESPN360

»espn.go.com/broadband/espn360/index

quote:
ESPN360.com is available at no charge to fans who receive their high-speed internet connection from an ESPN360.com affiliated internet service provider. ESPN360.com is also available to fans that access the internet from U.S. college campuses and U.S. military bases.

Your current computer network falls outside of these categories. Here’s how you can get access to ESPN360.com.

1. Switch to an ESPN360.com affiliated internet service provider or to [sic] contact your internet service provider and request ESPN360.com. Click here to enter your ZIP code and find out which providers in your area carry offer [sic] ESPN360.com

2. For Verizon Customers Only:
Sign-in using remote access if you already get ESPN360.com

permalink · 2009-02-09 13:09:09 · Print ·

BF69

join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

Re: ESPN's Instructions for access to ESPN360

said by Millenniumle

:

»espn.go.com/broadband/espn360/index

quote:
ESPN360.com is available at no charge to fans who receive their high-speed internet connection from an ESPN360.com affiliated internet service provider. ESPN360.com is also available to fans that access the internet from U.S. college campuses and U.S. military bases.

Your current computer network falls outside of these categories. Here’s how you can get access to ESPN360.com.

1. Switch to an ESPN360.com affiliated internet service provider or to [sic] contact your internet service provider and request ESPN360.com. Click here to enter your ZIP code and find out which providers in your area carry offer [sic] ESPN360.com

2. For Verizon Customers Only:
Sign-in using remote access if you already get ESPN360.com

"ESPN360.com is available at no charge to fans who receive their high-speed internet connection from an ESPN360.com affiliated internet service provider."

except that

A) those ISP probably pass the cost off onto customers.

B) useage caps mean it DOES cost to use espn360

permalink · 2009-02-09 13:32:22 · Print ·

Millenniumle join:2007-11-11 Fredonia, NY	Re: ESPN's Instructions for access to ESPN360 I wonder why campuses and bases get a pass?
	permalink · 2009-02-09 13:38:50 ·

SLD Premium join:2002-04-17	Re: ESPN's Instructions for access to ESPN360 Yeah...but they block .edu proxy servers. They really went out of their way to prevent anyone from getting around the system.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 18:26:46 ·

jkeelsnc

join:2008-08-22
Boone, NC

ESPN360

I am not that opinionated on this subject. Having said that I do have access to ESPN360 because I am an AT&T DSL subscriber. I have used it on a few occasions to watch college football or basketball coverage. It is OK but there is one huge problem as far as I am concerned. Their video application that is downloaded is sometimes a little buggy. I especially do not like how it loads thumbnail versions of different sporting events. It slows down the connection, the computer, and sometimes crashes the application. If they would eliminate that and simply focus on providing links to the different evens televised on 360 I would be happy with that.

I am not so sure that its a good idea to negotiate only with a few ISP's though. I doubt it increases my DSL bill that much but it does exclude others who cannot easily access it.

permalink · 2009-02-09 13:51:00 · Print ·

nnaarrnn join:2004-09-30 Nitro, WV	ESPN sucks Screw ESPN and their monopoly. I'm friends with a higher up at our cable company and he says 60% of what they charge for basic/expanded cable is to cover the cost of ESPN. F*!@#king @$$holes.
	permalink · 2009-02-09 14:02:16 ·

devnuller join:2006-06-10 Hollis, NH	Re: ESPN sucks From: »tvbythenumbers.com/2008/12/31/co···gs/10102 Network Cost/Sub ESPN 3.65 TNT 0.93 NFLN 0.83 USA 0.52 ESPN2 0.52 CNN 0.47 TBSC 0.46 NICK\NAN 0.45 FOXNC 0.42 FX 0.37 MTV 0.32
	permalink · 2009-02-09 14:54:49 ·

BillRoland Premium join:2001-01-21 Ocala, FL clubs:	At least At least the commercials for ESPN360.com with Billy Mays were funny. -- "Don't steal. The government hates competition."
	permalink · 2009-02-09 16:14:21 ·

SuperWISP

join:2007-04-17
Laramie, WY

Boycott!

ISPs should -- in fact, must -- boycott ESPN360. Think about what would happen if this business model caught on: ISPs would be nickeled and dimed to death by every site that got popular. And they would continuously be raising rates -- something that cable consumers justifiably hate -- to force customers to pay for services that most of them do not use. And ESPN's fees, even now, are ridiculous. They quoted me $0.79 per user.... Do they have any idea that most ISPs, especially small ones, make between $2.50 and $5.00 per customer per month in profit? (That means that ESPN would be taking 1/3 of my profit on a basic residential user.)

Worse still, ESPN360's "red box," which tells users of ISPs who have not agreed to pay ransom to switch to another ISP, constitutes tortious interference with business relationships and contracts. There should be a class action lawsuit as well as a boycott.

permalink · 2009-02-10 15:11:33 · Print ·

GregS

@comcast.net

Not that unusual

ESPN360 has been using this distribution method since 2005. Disney, ESPN's owners, also used it with a web site for kids but gave up when they couldn't get enough ISPs to sign up. What has changed with 360 is that ESPN has given up on it being a traditional web site and has now positioned it as a cable channel (or set of channels) sent via the net instead of satellite.

The distribution model isn't inherently different than the one that utility vendors use with ISPs. Almost every ISP has a contract with a utility vendors that pays that vendor x cents per subscriber, whether or not subscribers use that software. That amount is probably really small, but it's still just as much in your bill as ESPN360 is or would be.

permalink · 2009-02-10 20:15:34 · Print ·

your comment..

Forums » Will ESPN360's ISP Business Model Work?


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