Apple Reportedly an Ideal Partner to Distribute ESPN, But Deal Unlikely

[Take Flight]

The major 'problem' with ESPN is that is to often structured as part of the basic cable package . Not as an independent 'add on'. Sports and 'so called news' networks drive basic cable prices way up. Go look at Philo which eschews both of those and compare the monthly costs differences.

That is part of the problem here. Is ESPN looking for a bigger monthly price package to deflect blow back from its high cost or are they really looking for a stand alone service with a stand alone value proposition. In the latter case, ESPN app with some mods should be sufficient. In the former case, Apple really doesn't have a big monthly payment bundle to hide inside of. Not for as big as ESPN likely will be. So a bad place to be looking for non ESPN viewers to help subsidize the high costs of ESPN by paying for stuff they aren't going to watch.

This. ESPN and all of the regional sports networks are on the brink because they refuse to give up the old cable model and offer a direct to consumer subscription option for their networks. There is zero technical reason why they can't do this other than that they are still in bed with the legacy cable companies.

Making money solely because your network is trojan horsed into every cable household is no longer viable, with the dwindling cable/sat subscribers.

 

[Take Flight]

Just to clarify a factual point… Big Ten Network, the very first college conference network… was passed over by ESPN. ESPN told the Big Ten they’d never make money. The Big Ten decided to team up with Fox instead. Once ESPN realized what a mistake they’d made, they’ve teamed up with other conferences for networks.

And now they are mostly bundled under the ESPN+ subscription, as they should be, for the people that wish to pay for that directly.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Just to clarify a factual point… Big Ten Network, the very first college conference network… was passed over by ESPN. ESPN told the Big Ten they’d never make money. The Big Ten decided to team up with Fox instead. Once ESPN realized what a mistake they’d made, they’ve teamed up with other conferences for networks.

Ah. I didn't know that. I always assumed Big Ten was also part of ESPN.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Why would Disney sell it to them at the expense of their own streaming services?!

There are already rumors of Disney trying to unload ESPN. I don't think the Disney+ service includes ESPN anyway.

 

[sw1tcher]

The near vacant theme parks are symptomatic of how Disney has alienated its core audience. Next door to Disney World is Universal Studios, which is packed full during the summer and doing quite well

"near vacant" 🤣


"Universal... packed full" 🤣

Attendance decrease at Universal Orlando parks called a 'rebalancing'

Executives attributed the downswing to two factors: an extraordinary period of attendance last year and consumers once again cruising and traveling internationally.

www.travelweekly.com

Attendance decrease at Universal Orlando parks

Jul 27, 2023

Attendance at Universal's Orlando theme parks was down in the second quarter compared to a year earlier.

Executives at parent company Comcast attributed the downswing to two factors: an extraordinary period of attendance last year and consumers once again cruising and traveling internationally.

Responding to an analyst's question about stronger results from Universal Hollywood and weaker results from Universal Orlando, Comcast president Mike Cavanagh said he was "not surprised by that softening" considering the high attendance levels last year.



Wait times at Disney World vs Universal Orlando (per Thrill Data)...

Both are seeing attendance declines. Could it be because tourism is down across Florida in general?

Florida tourism may be down in general

The year started strong, with the highest tourism numbers ever recorded in the first quarter of 2023, but figures compiled by the premiere hotel analytics firm STR show the three most-watched benchmarks — occupancy rates, the average daily rate per room, and revenue per available room — all dropped in April and May in comparison to the same months in 2022. Occupancy rates began their slide in March.

Official tourism numbers for the spring and early summer have not yet been released.


Could it be because more people are choosing to travel internationally (outside of U.S.) this year?

While domestic leisure travel shows signs of calming — people are still vacationing in big numbers, but prices for hotels and flights are moderating as demand proves strong but not insatiable — foreign trips are snapping back with a vengeance. Americans are boarding planes and cruise ships to flock to Europe in particular, based on early data.


JetBlue's earnings report today confirms that international travel trend...

JetBlue Airways slashed its 2023 outlook and warned of a potential loss in the current quarter as travelers opt for destinations abroad...

Airline executives this earnings season have noted a shift in demand toward long-haul international travel, which was hurt during the Covid pandemic.

That change along with increased capacity is driving down domestic airfare, as travelers opt for new destinations abroad, they said on recent earnings calls.

JetBlue’s COO, Joanna Geraghty, said the shift is “pressuring demand for domestic travel during the peak summer travel period.


Delta Airlines reported the same thing 3 weeks ago...

Delta Air Lines posted its highest quarterly revenue and earnings ever thanks to scorching travel demand that has defied fears of an economic slowdown for months.

International travel and demand for premium seats like first class were standouts during the second quarter...

Bastian said international demand remains robust into the fall and he expects a slow but steady increase in corporate travel bookings.

Trans-Atlantic travel was particularly strong in the spring and early summer, with revenue from those trips up more than 60% from a year ago, compared with an 8% increase in domestic revenue and 21% rise in passenger revenue overall. Delta and its rivals have ramped up capacity to Europe this year in anticipation of the resurgence.

 

[Trusteft]

huh? not everyone a sports fan in your assumption

I....*sigh*.

 

[Phantom iCloud tabs]

Uh, there's an ESPN app for people to stream ESPN content.

‎ESPN: Live Sports & Scores

‎Watch thousands of live events and shows from the ESPN networks plus get scores, on-demand news, highlights, and expert analysis. With an active subscription, access ESPN+ content featuring live sports, exclusive originals, and much more. Watch on ESPN: • NFL (Monday Night Football) • NBA •...

apps.apple.com

You can subscribe to ESPN on an à-la-carte basis already. It's called ESPN+

Live Sports Streaming, Original Shows & Award-Winning Documentaries

Stream exclusive live sports from UFC, Baseball, College Basketball, Soccer, Golf, and more. Plus, get ESPN+ for the cost of $11.99 monthly or $119.99 with an annual subscription

plus.espn.com

The ESPN and ESPN2 linear feeds are only available to people with cable/satellite/OTT subscription packages. It is true you can download the ESPN app and watch some stuff that isn't behind a subscription paywall. Also, ESPN+ is distinct from ESPN. You can subscribe to ESPN+ even without ESPN, but it gives you access to a different set of things. ESPN+ does not give you access to linear ESPN/ESPN2 channels.

 

[besler3035]

Apple should just buy ESPN and all related sports (ESPN2, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, etc) networks. It would be huge for their tv service.

Big Ten Network is owned by FOX, not ESPN.

It'd be ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, ESPNews, ESPN U, Longhorn Network, ACC Network, ESPN Deportes.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

More than anything else I want the NHL to get out of this deal and improve their out of market service. It was a downgrade when they moved to ESPN.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Just to clarify a factual point… Big Ten Network, the very first college conference network… was passed over by ESPN. ESPN told the Big Ten they’d never make money. The Big Ten decided to team up with Fox instead. Once ESPN realized what a mistake they’d made, they’ve teamed up with other conferences for networks.

I’ve never liked ESPN’s approach to things. Fox Sports has always been better in every way.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Big Ten Network is owned by FOX, not ESPN.

It'd be ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, ESPNews, ESPN U, Longhorn Network, ACC Network, ESPN Deportes.

Yeah. Someone pointed that out to me above. I never knew, I just always assumed ESPN owned it all.