ESPN Opts-out of MLB Deal

[DaBadGuy7]

 

[varsaku]

ESPN going to broadcast over the summer? MLS in exile on Apple MLB leaving World Cup on Fox

Its a doubled edged sword going to full streaming. As a fan it is now so easy to tune into MLS games, since it is all in one place with now blackouts. The consistent scheduling also makes it easy to know when to expect games to be on. However, this puts all games behind a pay wall that would deter casual fans and slow down any growth.

Surprised MLB on ESPN lasted this long. ESPN does nothing for marketing anything other than NBA and NFL. I think one of the the streaming channels like Netflix or Amazon steps in with a huge contract.

They focus on those two sports the most because they result in the most viewers. They are a for profit company that is looking to maximize the number of viewers and improve the bottom line. They will follow where the money is.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

They focus on those two sports the most because they result in the most viewers. They are a for profit company that is looking to maximize the number of viewers and improve the bottom line. They will follow where the money is.

True on the viewership numbers, but why spend $billions and barely market the sport? For a for-profit company, that seems odd to me

 

[StreetHawk]

It would help, seeing as Game 7 last year was like four days before the draft and a week before free agency. More breathing room would help teams.

ESPN doesn't want the NHL/NBA finals at the same time. So, one of them has to end before the other begins.
MLB gives ESPN summer programming (mid June to the start of college FB), but if the numbers don't make sense, then ESPN moves on without it.

 

[DaveG]

Not a good move by MLB. As hockey fans we know how bad it is going away from the mothership. No matter how many channels there are now or streaming services ESPN is still the zeigeist of sports in America.

yep, if MLB thinks coverage is bad now just wait until they're actively being shut out the way ESPN did to the NHL for ~15 years. As much as I hate it ESPN still is the force that drives sports discussion.

Its a doubled edged sword going to full streaming. As a fan it is now so easy to tune into MLS games, since it is all in one place with now blackouts. The consistent scheduling also makes it easy to know when to expect games to be on. However, this puts all games behind a pay wall that would deter casual fans and slow down any growth.

They focus on those two sports the most because they result in the most viewers. They are a for profit company that is looking to maximize the number of viewers and improve the bottom line. They will follow where the money is.

I mean yes and no there. In a lot of ways they drive the viewers because that's what ESPN chooses to talk about. The NFL, sure, that's been the 500lb gorilla in the room as far as sports go for basically my entire life. But even remembering back to the 90s for college football things were all over the map (literally) for high end programs until ESPN started talking about the SEC like it was the end all be all of CFB turning things into a self-fulfilling prophecy as far as that goes.

 

[S E P H]

Not a good move by MLB. As hockey fans we know how bad it is going away from the mothership. No matter how many channels there are now or streaming services ESPN is still the zeigeist of sports in America.

I am very interested in what the NBC deal will do to the NBA. People were complaining of not finding NHL games when it was on NBC, I wonder if the NBA will suffer from the same? NBC never ever really promotes or markets its product.