General Discussion

tabbycat31

(6,336 posts)

88. Considering sports drive up the cost of TV

Fri Jan 2, 2015, 01:31 PM

Jan 2015

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/hiestand-biz/2013/02/28/espn-cable-tv-regional-sports-networks-verizon-fox/1947197/

http://www.xconomy.com/national/2013/10/18/please-keep-paying-80-month-cable-can-enjoy-cheap-tv/

https://medium.com/off-the-field/why-our-cable-bills-are-getting-so-expensive-1d7043ed024b

http://www.thewrap.com/cable-bill-battle-subscribers-providers-carriage-fees/

(I could provide more, this is just a sample).

ESPN is the most expensive cable channel to run on basic cable (last time I had TV, I had a lower tier package and they had it). There are so many people I know who would opt out of ESPN if the cable companies offered channels on an a la carte basis (as much as I love baseball, I wouldn't pay extra for it considering it's on in so many businesses and I can get scores, etc online. I can even follow it online on Gameday).

Even if you don't have pay TV, there's always a bar that's going to be airing the game and you can follow by other means (radio, online, etc). When the Yankees got into a dispute with Cablevision, I watched some games at sports bars, but mostly I listened to them on the radio. I survived.

There are many things worthy of a complaint to Congress, but IMO sports on TV is not one of them.

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All The College Championship Football Games Games Are On Pay TV. [View all] JEFF9K Jan 2015 OP

I have Dish - they no longer carry Fox tularetom Jan 2015 #1

Temporarily anyway. Calista241 Jan 2015 #74

Maybe for you, but I'm perfectly happy that they're gone tularetom Jan 2015 #81

its a wonderful world full of meaningful things to when the TV is off :-) nt msongs Jan 2015 #2

That's true. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #3

Area Man Constantly Mentioning He Doesn't Own a TV joeglow3 Jan 2015 #58

I hardly watch mine - LiberalElite Jan 2015 #96

You complained to your Congressman over where football games are being shown? n/t SickOfTheOnePct Jan 2015 #4

Public universities are answerable ... JEFF9K Jan 2015 #16

Not really SickOfTheOnePct Jan 2015 #22

It's a "public good" issue. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #26

Watching football is a "public good" issue? SickOfTheOnePct Jan 2015 #38

For many people, their sports teams ... JEFF9K Jan 2015 #48

If their sports team is the most important thing in their lives SickOfTheOnePct Jan 2015 #50

Not everyone can afford basic cable, Rush. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #82

Basic cable doesn't get you ESPN rusty fender Jan 2015 #101

Lol yeoman6987 Jan 2015 #42

Well, all the important Congressional issues have been dealt with..... brooklynite Jan 2015 #43

Congress intervened on the issue of NFL blackouts. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #83

Im fine with it -- cable has the best tv. aikoaiko Jan 2015 #5

The best picture quality is on broadcast TV. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #12

Everything is digital now. There is no discernible difference. Takket Jan 2015 #33

There is no intermediary with broadcast TV. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #36

I meant the best content. aikoaiko Jan 2015 #60

You are a Democrat and don't watch PBS? JEFF9K Jan 2015 #84

Of course I do, but the content on AMC, Showtime, and HBO is the best TV has ever seen. aikoaiko Jan 2015 #86

Since when did PBS because the purity point? Blue_Adept Jan 2015 #91

Only Republicans fail to watch Antiques Roadshow Capt. Obvious Jan 2015 #95

That's probably the one show they watch Blue_Adept Jan 2015 #99

The highbrow content appeals to smart people. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #102

Given the PBS ratings former9thward Jan 2015 #92

I don't approve of purges. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #103

No, you are just questioning whether someone is a Democrat former9thward Jan 2015 #116

Prove it. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #117

Look at the PBS ratings. former9thward Jan 2015 #119

There may come a time when all yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #6

They would have done that a long time ago if they felt they'd make more money that way JonLP24 Jan 2015 #9

Maybe they know if they did that yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #11

That is a very likely factor JonLP24 Jan 2015 #21

Radio is good option. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #13

Besides I love listening to yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #17

The best broadcasters are on the radio. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #39

That day is bssicly already here. Calista241 Jan 2015 #75

I dont mind since I have ESPN. Travis_0004 Jan 2015 #7

Their profits would be only slightly less huge ... JEFF9K Jan 2015 #18

What actually bothers me JonLP24 Jan 2015 #8

What bothers me is not just The money issue. Initech Jan 2015 #115

Should the schools just give the rights away to "free tv"? onenote Jan 2015 #10

"Public TV" is not the same as "broadcast TV." JEFF9K Jan 2015 #14

So you don't mind Fox or Disney or Comcast NBCU making money by broadcasting the games onenote Jan 2015 #24

The networks offer substantial money to carry the games. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #27

But you won't have cable because FoxNews is on cable, but you'd like Fox Network, same owners, to Bluenorthwest Jan 2015 #70

Broadcast Rupert isn't blatant propaganda. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #90

When you live 60 miles or a little less Go Vols Jan 2015 #87

In addition, taxpayers supply < 20% of the budget in many of those state subsidized schools. spooky3 Jan 2015 #19

The Minnesota Gophers' game was carried on one of the local stations dflprincess Jan 2015 #15

I get perfect reception with a $35.00 antenna. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #20

Mom lived in the metro area dflprincess Jan 2015 #25

I have a TV with a built-in tuner. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #28

I did try that dflprincess Jan 2015 #46

Sorry to hear that. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #49

I'm sorry to hear about your Mom. dflprincess Jan 2015 #114

I dropped extended cable and saved $500/yr exboyfil Jan 2015 #23

The whole system of semi-professional sports melded onto higher education is KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #29

A chart showing highest paid state employee exboyfil Jan 2015 #30

The evidence for that for the vast majority of schools is sketchy at best mythology Jan 2015 #47

I guess you can cook the books exboyfil Jan 2015 #59

Those coaches win games and make money Travis_0004 Jan 2015 #31

It's all relative. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #34

It's a reality that lots of people ... JEFF9K Jan 2015 #32

What you are really upset about is... Takket Jan 2015 #37

No, that's not what I'm upset about. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #51

On behalf of all who can no longer afford even basic cable or satellite..I agree with you. tokenlib Jan 2015 #35

Espn paid for the right to broadcast these games Takket Jan 2015 #40

the answer is that they make more money on ESPN than on ABC onenote Jan 2015 #45

Maybe public institutions should act in the public good. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #52

They are acting in the public good. Takket Jan 2015 #78

Luxuries and essentials ... JEFF9K Jan 2015 #104

I have been watching all day. yeoman6987 Jan 2015 #41

This isn't REPUBLICAN UNDERGROUND, for God's sake! JEFF9K Jan 2015 #53

Oh FFS SickOfTheOnePct Jan 2015 #57

It's called 'Trolling' nt RandiFan1290 Jan 2015 #65

You might want to look up the definition of "trolling." JEFF9K Jan 2015 #106

"Cheerleading" and "up in arms" aren't the only choices. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #105

And???? yeoman6987 Jan 2015 #63

Stop it. You're being transparent and silly. nt Codeine Jan 2015 #68

To answer the original question SickOfTheOnePct Jan 2015 #44

Rush Limbaugh agrees with you. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #54

I wouldn't know SickOfTheOnePct Jan 2015 #55

Was just listening to OSU vs Alabama free on the radio. oldandhappy Jan 2015 #56

I caught the end of the game. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #93

Glad for you oldandhappy Jan 2015 #98

I now have Direct TV but ChazII Jan 2015 #61

You won't take a minute to express the view that you expressed here? JEFF9K Jan 2015 #108

espn is only sort of pay tv bluestateguy Jan 2015 #62

But there are many families Capt. Obvious Jan 2015 #67

Publically supported institutions ... JEFF9K Jan 2015 #110

I'm talking about the specific case of college football. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #111

So, college football is a necessity and not a luxury? joeglow3 Jan 2015 #118

I think it all depends nilesobek Jan 2015 #64

Only a Republican would not see this as the civil rights issue of our day Capt. Obvious Jan 2015 #66

Fewer people than ever are watching tv. Calista241 Jan 2015 #76

How is it "civil rights?" JEFF9K Jan 2015 #112

I know how you feel. NutmegYankee Jan 2015 #69

Since when do public universities act in the public interest? AngryAmish Jan 2015 #71

I long for the days when we (the D's) did not make an issue out of every little life-burp DrDan Jan 2015 #72

I'm fine with it (nt) bigwillq Jan 2015 #73

There's a great text book by George Sage -Power and Ideology in American Sport malaise Jan 2015 #77

I do have an issue with this. alarimer Jan 2015 #79

noticed that pissed me off but fuck em dembotoz Jan 2015 #80

That's the best option.... sendero Jan 2015 #85

Considering sports drive up the cost of TV tabbycat31 Jan 2015 #88

Complaints about the NFL blackout rule were successful. JEFF9K Jan 2015 #94

Everyone? tabbycat31 Jan 2015 #97

No, not everyone Capt. Obvious Jan 2015 #100

There are websites Go Vols Jan 2015 #89

I think is sucks and I hate ESPN/ABC for doing it. JanMichael Jan 2015 #107

Didn't we have a similar conversation last week, about malls? X_Digger Jan 2015 #109

You are not a sports fan ... JEFF9K Jan 2015 #113