Golden: ESPN+ is a bait-and-switch

[MissouriValleyUnite]

http://www.tribstar.com/sports/todd-aar ... 3eb5d.html

To go with that, the pay wall move is troubling for mid-major conferences like the MVC, who banked on the virtually free exposure they were getting via ESPN3 as a trade-off for lack of revenue from a traditional broadcasting rights agreement.

And, oh by the way? Guess how much revenue the MVC and its schools get from this new paywall arrangement? Other than a production subsidy, the answer is nothing. You lose. Good day, sir.

So the money that league schools invested, ISU included, to subsidize their part in the ESPN production costs with the idea they would get "paid back" in free exposure? Forget it.

Viewing it through the schools' prism, and the money they spent, this is a bait-and-switch. It's wrong that ESPN isn't kicking back a percentage of the ESPN+ proceeds back to the leagues like the MVC who provide the programming. After all, MVC schools helped pay for programming that grew ESPN3 to be spun into a paywall proposition in the first place. Ripoff seems to be the appropriate term.

[tribecalledquest]

http://www.tribstar.com/sports/todd-aaron-golden-isu-mvc-and-fans-lose-with-espn/article_b4bea5d7-99d0-55c2-9e36-097f8bf3eb5d.html

To go with that, the pay wall move is troubling for mid-major conferences like the MVC, who banked on the virtually free exposure they were getting via ESPN3 as a trade-off for lack of revenue from a traditional broadcasting rights agreement.

And, oh by the way? Guess how much revenue the MVC and its schools get from this new paywall arrangement? Other than a production subsidy, the answer is nothing. You lose. Good day, sir.

So the money that league schools invested, ISU included, to subsidize their part in the ESPN production costs with the idea they would get "paid back" in free exposure? Forget it.

Viewing it through the schools' prism, and the money they spent, this is a bait-and-switch. It's wrong that ESPN isn't kicking back a percentage of the ESPN+ proceeds back to the leagues like the MVC who provide the programming. After all, MVC schools helped pay for programming that grew ESPN3 to be spun into a paywall proposition in the first place. Ripoff seems to be the appropriate term.

The problem is the MVC needs ESPN and ESPN+ more than ESPN and ESPN+ needs the MVC.

[VU2014]

ESPN+ was the long-term plan all along for ESPN3 back when they introduced this. Every AD, Conference commissioner knew this was in the works long before fans and the public knew they were coming out with the service.

To be honest, I think it's 100% worth it. $5 a month or $50 for a annual subscription is completely worth it to me. The era of getting "free" content is coming to an end in many industries.

[tribecalledquest]

ESPN+ was the long-term plan all along for ESPN3 back when they introduced this. Every AD, Conference commissioner knew this was in the works long before fans and the public knew they were coming out with the service.

To be honest, I think it's 100% worth it. $5 a month or $50 for a annual subscription is completely worth it to me. The era of getting "free" content is coming to an end in many industries.

Exactly. For a 20 dollar bill I can watch every MVC men's basketball game live streaming or the replay anytime I want? That's a hell of a deal.

[Red]

What's funny is that when I click on the link to read the article the Terre haute paper blocks it and asks me to log in to read the article. Pot, kettle.

BTW I am at work and there is a ad-blocker on all company PCs so I assume that is why?

[VUGrad1314]

What's funny is that when I click on the link to read the article the Terre haute paper blocks it and asks me to log in to read the article. Pot, kettle.

BTW I am at work and there is a ad-blocker on all company PCs so I assume that is why?

I think so because I was able to read the article just fine last night at home.

[Red]

What's funny is that when I click on the link to read the article the Terre haute paper blocks it and asks me to log in to read the article. Pot, kettle.

BTW I am at work and there is a ad-blocker on all company PCs so I assume that is why?

I think so because I was able to read the article just fine last night at home.

While I get that, it is somewhat comical to me that a dying industry like newspapers can print an article criticizing an online/digital company for trying to make money and survive.

[glm38]

ESPN+ was the long-term plan all along for ESPN3 back when they introduced this. Every AD, Conference commissioner knew this was in the works long before fans and the public knew they were coming out with the service.

To be honest, I think it's 100% worth it. $5 a month or $50 for a annual subscription is completely worth it to me. The era of getting "free" content is coming to an end in many industries.

I think it's worth it too. But I don't think there's any doubt it will reduce exposure. Casual fans of each MVC school that tuned in for games on espn3 won't pony up the $5 like us hard core fans will.

[RacerJoeD]

One of the few good things about the Ohio Valley Conference is the fact that all games are free (barring broadcast on other stations) at www.ovcdigitalnetwork.com

[tribecalledquest]

ESPN+ was the long-term plan all along for ESPN3 back when they introduced this. Every AD, Conference commissioner knew this was in the works long before fans and the public knew they were coming out with the service.

To be honest, I think it's 100% worth it. $5 a month or $50 for a annual subscription is completely worth it to me. The era of getting "free" content is coming to an end in many industries.

I think it's worth it too. But I don't think there's any doubt it will reduce exposure. Casual fans of each MVC school that tuned in for games on espn3 won't pony up the $5 like us hard core fans will.

How many people do you think casually streamed MVC games on ESPN3? The one thing with streaming--its not like you just stumble upon it flipping channels.