MUScoop

MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: asdfasdf on January 22, 2021, 09:39:56 PM

Title: NBCSN
Post by: asdfasdf on January 22, 2021, 09:39:56 PM
Looks like NBC sports network is shutting down at the end of 2021, with programming moving to the Peacock app and USA network. That doesn't directly impact Marquette, but I wonder if this is a canary in the coal mine with regards to sports networks.

For those in the know, does this tell us anything about the health of Fox Sports 1&2, and  Big East TV rights moving forward?
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 22, 2021, 10:29:42 PM
Looks like NBC sports network is shutting down at the end of 2021, with programming moving to the Peacock app and USA network. That doesn't directly impact Marquette, but I wonder if this is a canary in the coal mine with regards to sports networks.

For those in the know, does this tell us anything about the health of Fox Sports 1&2, and  Big East TV rights moving forward?

We already know that ESPN is hemorrhaging subscribers and laying off staff regularly.

https://www.primetimer.com/barnhart/mnf

But like so many other things happening in “these unprecedented times” (another nonsense phrase), COVID is merely accelerating a trend that was underway before the pandemic. Namely, the death of cable, or at least the death of ESPN as a premium cable brand.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MuggsyB on January 22, 2021, 10:34:43 PM
We already know that ESPN is hemorrhaging subscribers and laying off staff regularly.

https://www.primetimer.com/barnhart/mnf

But like so many other things happening in “these unprecedented times” (another nonsense phrase), COVID is merely accelerating a trend that was underway before the pandemic. Namely, the death of cable, or at least the death of ESPN as a premium cable brand.

Yes WW.  In light of your expertise solving complex issues, will we be alright with FS1? 
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 22, 2021, 10:39:54 PM
Yes WW.  In light of your expertise solving complex issues, will we be alright with FS1?

Since you asked ...

The sports bubble is imploding.  Eventually, we will be streaming on MU.TV as part of the Big East.tv

Everyone will be the same.  For instance, the Packers will stream on packers.tv as part of nfl.com

Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MuggsyB on January 22, 2021, 10:48:44 PM
Since you asked ...

The sports bubble is imploding.  Eventually, we will be streaming on MU.TV as part of the Big East.tv

Everyone will be the same.  For instance, the Packers will stream on packers.tv as part of nfl.com

Fair enough.  But can you not orchestrate a BB jail scene, which was taken from the Corleone baptism scene, that could consolidate our power, and  simultaneously weaken ESPN and their ignominious existence?   Perhaps you can use your wide range of skills??  Just sayin.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Mr. Nielsen on January 23, 2021, 06:54:45 AM
This should be nothing to worry about with FOX Sports. FOX Sports is looking to grow as they look to bid on the NHL rights.

NBC Sports is turning USA Network into TBS/TNT.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 07:01:01 AM
Since you asked ...

The sports bubble is imploding.  Eventually, we will be streaming on MU.TV as part of the Big East.tv

Everyone will be the same.  For instance, the Packers will stream on packers.tv as part of nfl.com


I don't know what you mean by "eventually."  Eventually the sun will grow to be a red giant whisking away earth's atmosphere in the process.  So yes at that point sports will no longer air over broadcast TV.

Meanwhile...

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2020/11/11/expect-tv-rights-fees-for-sports-to-soar/?sh=50f1490b48c2
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 07:03:43 AM
This should be nothing to worry about with FOX Sports. FOX Sports is looking to grow as they look to bid on the NHL rights.

NBC Sports is turning USA Network into TBS/TNT.


Right.  So my hope is that not everything moves to streaming.

I think the danger for the BE is that Fox will sell off more games, push them to regional networks...or online.  Remember that a lot of the old BE games were shown on ESPN3.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: NCMUFan on January 23, 2021, 07:15:43 AM
My question, is technical skills.  How would MU TV and Packer TV staff a crew of film and production pros to stream/televise it at anywhere the level of quality we are accustomed to?  I guess it would go to the level of Midnight madness when they would stream the inter-squad scrimmage.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 07:25:32 AM
My question, is technical skills.  How would MU TV and Packer TV staff a crew of film and production pros to stream/televise it at anywhere the level of quality we are accustomed to?  I guess it would go to the level of Midnight madness when they would stream the inter-squad scrimmage.


They would still use professional production crews and announcers.  It would just be delivered to your home differently.

That being said, this isn't happening anytime soon.  Streaming may be short term profitable for properties like soccer, where the broadcast fees are fairly low, but the audience is younger and passionate about the sport. 

But there is no way the NFL, or other major sports properties, are going to forego the massive rights fees to sell a streaming service.  They will quickly find that people have better things to do.  Maybe at sometime in the future, but that is still decades away when the technology becomes easier to deal with.

Now you could see Sunday Ticket moved to Amazon Prime Video or something like that.  But most people are going to stick with whatever games they can get when they turn on their television.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on January 23, 2021, 07:56:47 AM
Sucks for Stamford, CT who lured NBC Sports to Connecticut earlier this century and helped pay to major renovate a building for them.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: brewcity77 on January 23, 2021, 09:03:27 AM
For some reason, the Peacock app still won't show up on my TV. Been trying to download it ever since they announced it, but not available yet that I can see.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU82 on January 23, 2021, 09:03:46 AM
I have been hearing predictions that something or other would be the death knell for TV sports almost as long as I have been hearing predictions that free agency would be the death knell for sports in general.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 09:20:22 AM
I have been hearing predictions that something or other would be the death knell for TV sports almost as long as I have been hearing predictions that free agency would be the death knell for sports in general.


Cable and broadcast TV is losing audience.  Sports TV ratings are losing audience.  NBCSN is closing.  ESPN is laying off employees. 

Define death knell?
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 09:22:56 AM

Cable and broadcast TV is losing audience.  Sports TV ratings are losing audience.  NBCSN is closing.  ESPN is laying off employees. 

Define death knell?


When they stop shelling out $$$ for sporting events that they broadcast on their networks.  That doesn't look like its going to happen anytime soon.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: GooooMarquette on January 23, 2021, 09:22:57 AM

Cable and broadcast TV is losing audience.  Sports TV ratings are losing audience.  NBCSN is closing.  ESPN is laying off employees. 

Define death knell?


Ringing of bells to announce an actual death. For TV college sports, that would mean you simply couldn't find any games on TV anymore.

'Losing audience' is a bad sign, but the sports channels are still around and broadcasting.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 09:34:14 AM
We will see what happens in the next round of television deals that will be coming due in the next few years.  There could be even greater stratification in the P5 conferences with the SEC and Big 10 making significantly more than the ACC, Big 12 and Pac 12.

Does this possibility mean another round of realignment?  Does Texas make a jump to the Big Ten prior to its contract expiring in 2023?

And what does this mean for the BE when its deal is done in 2025?  I am thinking you are going to see a relative decrease. 
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: naginiF on January 23, 2021, 09:35:16 AM
Available content has grown exponentially over the last pick any time frame why would you be shocked that demand for sports is impacted? Time and technology change every marketplace and capitalistic Darwinism is a constant, companies either adapt and survive or fall off.

You can't argue that the entertainment options available today provide a far better user experience than 5 - 10 years ago and as long as there is CBB/MUBB you'll be able to watch it in your house......unless you just don't want to change with the market/technology.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Dr. Blackheart on January 23, 2021, 09:43:31 AM

Cable and broadcast TV is losing audience.  Sports TV ratings are losing audience.  NBCSN is closing.  ESPN is laying off employees. 

Define death knell?

MU enrollment misses, staff laid off, no in-person sports revenue. The end of higher education is imminent.

Or C19 has caused a market correction that was over-inflated.  The market is seeking equilibrium, a concept you well know.

Lastly, sports teams are relearning how in-person fan experience drives equity to their media audiences. No different than when major sports have gone on strike: It will take two years+ for the brand to rebound.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 10:04:48 AM
MU enrollment misses, staff laid off, no in-person sports revenue. The end of higher education is imminent.

Or C19 has caused a market correction that was over-inflated.  The market is seeking equilibrium, a concept you well know.

Lastly, sports teams are relearning how in-person fan experience drives equity to their media audiences. No different than when major sports have gone on strike: It will take two years+ for the brand to rebound.

To be clear, I never said sports were going away.  I said they were going to shift to online/streaming, and they would eventually lose their bundle with a network and each would stream separately, either at the team level or the conference/league level.  The economics are going that way.

We will always have sports as a form of entertainment available in a video form to watch. If anything we will get more and more of it.  The choices will be endless.

In the meantime, the decline in cable and broadcast TV is terminal.  It is never reversing.  We are moving away from that delivery system to online.  And with it, the economics are shifting. Remember the original post was about what does NBCSN closing mean.  It means overpaying for sports broadcast right is a bad business strategy that does not work, and is not a sign of "health" for the cable/broadcast business.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Big East on January 23, 2021, 10:15:43 AM
To be clear, I never said sports were going away.  I said they were going to shift to online/streaming, and they would eventually lose their bundle with a network and each would stream separately, either at the team level or the conference/league level.  The economics are going that way.

We will always have sports as a form of entertainment available in a video form to watch. If anything we will get more and more of it.  The choices will be endless.

In the meantime, the decline in cable and broadcast TV is terminal.  It is never reversing.  We are moving away from that delivery system to online.  And with it, the economics are shifting. Remember the original post was about what does NBCSN closing mean.  It means overpaying for sports broadcast right is a bad business strategy that does not work, and is not a sign of "health" for the cable/broadcast business.
I think closing NBC Sports Network was nothing more than NBC consolidating certain elements of their sports product into one platform. I think from inception NBC Sports Network never had many premier sports properties thus their economic viability as an independent entity was always in question . This is action is a non event and bears no correlation to the value of sports media properties.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 10:21:38 AM
I think closing NBC Sports Network was nothing more than NBC consolidating certain elements of their sports product into one platform. I think from inception NBC Sports Network never had many premier sports properties thus their economic viability as an independent entity was always in question . This is action is a non event and bears no correlation to the value of sports media properties.


Yeah that is a good synopsis.  NBC hasn't shelled out big $$ for programming that can fill every evening.  They also haven't gone into the "take industry" that dominates the ESPN and FS1 daytimes, which is smart because I doubt there is much room for that.  Putting their sports properties on USA or something similar makes sense.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 10:28:49 AM

They would still use professional production crews and announcers.  It would just be delivered to your home differently.

That being said, this isn't happening anytime soon.  Streaming may be short term profitable for properties like soccer, where the broadcast fees are fairly low, but the audience is younger and passionate about the sport. 

But there is no way the NFL, or other major sports properties, are going to forego the massive rights fees to sell a streaming service.  They will quickly find that people have better things to do.  Maybe at sometime in the future, but that is still decades away when the technology becomes easier to deal with.

Now you could see Sunday Ticket moved to Amazon Prime Video or something like that.  But most people are going to stick with whatever games they can get when they turn on their television.

Correct about professional crews.  They are becoming so cheap to produce that you will soon have the same quality at the high school level, if not already. This cost is no longer an issue.

Professional announcers?  There is an argument that they are going away.  Technology will allow anyone to synch up and announce a sporting event.  They will advertise it on social media and you will watch/listen to their description of the event.  In the future, we could have hundreds of such announcers for an event (a large one like the Superbowl) and you pick the one you like.  Think of this as a version of news broadcasts.  The options are seemingly endless and people gravitate to what they like.  Gone are the three networks nightly news (yes it still exists but it has lost its audience and relevance long ago). Same here.

Yes, as the cable/broadcasters continue to die, they will see their salvation in over-paying for sports properties.  Using the news argument again, 10 to 15 years ago the three networks were paying huge salaries to anchors and that was a signal of "health" for network news.  It was always going to be the most important form of news dissemination.  Instead, we now know it was the act of a desperate industry trying to stay relevant.  Same for cable/broadcast with sports.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MUBurrow on January 23, 2021, 10:34:26 AM
I think from inception NBC Sports Network never had many premier sports properties thus their economic viability as an independent entity was always in question .

This is certainly true. I'm a big IndyCar guy, and NBCSN going away is probably worse news for that series than any other entity (just signed a new NBC deal, aging fan demographic that won't migrate well to online delivery, etc).  So from that perspective I'm bummed.  But NBCSN programming always felt like a shotgun blast.  NHL games outside the sunday afternoon game, the golf that was left over after premier tournaments were picked over and that wasn't otherwise aired on the Golf Channel, olympic sports, some miscellaneous autosports and mecum stuff. You can't really cobble together justification for a whole channel on that.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 10:35:21 AM

Yeah that is a good synopsis.  NBC hasn't shelled out big $$ for programming that can fill every evening.  They also haven't gone into the "take industry" that dominates the ESPN and FS1 daytimes, which is smart because I doubt there is much room for that.  Putting their sports properties on the USA or something similar makes sense.

It makes sense because the economics of the USA Network and the rest are dying and they are desperate to keep it afloat while they figure out what to do next.

If you are not a subscriber to ESPN+ ... that will be the future of sports.  A cheap online aggregator that provides everything on every platform at once.  The days of searching for a sporting event between TBS, TNT, USA etc is the last breathes of a dying cable/broadcast business.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MUBurrow on January 23, 2021, 10:37:47 AM
Yes, as the cable/broadcasters continue to die, they will see their salvation in over-paying for sports properties.  Using the news argument again, 10 to 15 years ago the three networks were paying huge salaries to anchors and that was a signal of "health" for network news.  It was always going to be the most important form of news dissemination.  Instead, we now know it was the act of a desperate industry trying to stay relevant.  Same for cable/broadcast with sports.

+1. We shouldn't be looking at the huge money that ESPN and Fox are (still) willing to shell out for broadcast rights and authomatically assume its a good business proposition or reflects the health of the model.  Its just the least bad option they feel they have left to continue in their current form.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 10:39:01 AM
This is certainly true. I'm a big IndyCar guy, and NBCSN going away is probably worse news for that series than any other entity (just signed a new NBC deal, aging fan demographic that won't migrate well to online delivery, etc).  So from that perspective I'm bummed.  But NBCSN programming always felt like a shotgun blast.  NHL games outside the sunday afternoon game, the golf that was left over after premier tournaments were picked over and that wasn't otherwise aired on the Golf Channel, olympic sports, some miscellaneous autosports and mecum stuff. You can't really cobble together justification for a whole channel on that.

Don't forget the Tour De France during the entire month of July (in non-pandemic years).
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 10:39:57 AM
It makes sense because the economics of the USA Network and the rest are dying and they are desperate to keep it afloat while they figure out what to do next.

If you are not a subscriber to ESPN+ ... that will be the future of sports.  A cheap online aggregator that provides everything on every platform at once.  The days of searching for a sporting event between TBS, TNT, USA etc is the last breathes of a dying cable/broadcast business.


Yes.  We get it.  You are desperate for people to view you as some type of visionary.

How is Apple stock doing these days?
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 10:43:31 AM
+1. We shouldn't be looking at the huge money that ESPN and Fox are (still) willing to shell out for broadcast rights and authomatically assume its a good business proposition or reflects the health of the model.  Its just the least bad option they feel they have left to continue in their current form.


But Heisey's point is that eventually we will be watching Packer games exclusively online.  I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon.  Maybe once the broadcast cable and the internet are even more seemless than they are now, but that is still a ways off.

Sure you will start to see marginal rights deals decrease in value, but you will likely see the big ones actually go up.  Because they are still valuable properties.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 10:45:48 AM

Yes.  We get it.  You are desperate for people to view you as some type of visionary.

How is Apple stock doing these days?

Why do you turn everything into a personal attack? 

You're the one that wrote

But there is no way the NFL, or other major sports properties, are going to forego the massive rights fees to sell a streaming service.  They will quickly find that people have better things to do.  Maybe at sometime in the future, but that is still decades away when the technology becomes easier to deal with.

Now you could see Sunday Ticket moved to Amazon Prime Video or something like that.  But most people are going to stick with whatever games they can get when they turn on their television.

You're just an angry old man shaking your fist at change.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 10:47:55 AM

But Heisey's point is that eventually we will be watching Packer games exclusively online.  I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon.  Maybe once the broadcast cable and the internet are even more seemless than they are now, but that is still a ways off.

Sure you will start to see marginal rights deals decrease in value, but you will likely see the big ones actually go up.  Because they are still valuable properties.

Are you still on AOL dial-up?.  Online/streaming is more seamless and easier to use than cable TV right now.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Galway Eagle on January 23, 2021, 10:48:45 AM
Why do you turn everything into a personal attack? 

You're the one that wrote

You're just an angry old man shaking your fist at change.

Why is asking about apple stock an attack? Did I miss something awhile back?
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 10:51:02 AM
Are you still on AOL dial-up?.  Online/streaming is more seamless and easier to use than cable TV right now.



It's improving every day but it is hardly "easier to use."
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 10:56:10 AM
Why do you turn everything into a personal attack? 

You're the one that wrote

You're just an angry old man shaking your fist at change.



Hardly.  I just look at the landscape and see major broadcast networks looking prepared to write another set of large checks to broadcast sporting events on their networks - not on streaming platforms.  I don't think local audiences will be watching Packer games on those platforms anytime soon, unless that is where the NFL Sunday Ticket goes.

Maybe in the next decade or two. 
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 10:59:15 AM

It's improving every day but it is hardly "easier to use."


Netflix has 200 million subscribers (as they reported last week) which is twice the number of cable subscribers in the United States (and cable growth is negative).  70% of all households in the United States have an Amazon Prime account, more than get digital over the air broadcasts in the United States

Imagine the penetration they will have when they get easy to use!!!

In the end, this statement is more about you (as in your age and resistance to adapt) than a comment on the state of technology.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 11:03:56 AM

Netflix has 200 million subscribers (as they reported last week) which is twice the number of cable subscribers in the United States (and cable growth is negative).  70% of all households in the United States have an Amazon Prime account, more than get digital over the air broadcasts in the United States

Imagine the penetration they will have when they get easy to use!!!

In the end, this statement is more about you (as in your age and resistance to adapt) than a comment on the state of technology.


No it really isn't.  I have both an Netflix account and Amazon Prime.  I also have cable television.  These aren't either/or choices.  They are simply different ways to consume entertainment.

And I doubt the major live sporting events will migrate in that direction anytime soon.  Marginal ones?  Sure.  Left over games like we saw in the old BE?  Yep.  But regular in-market NFL games and other marquee events?  Not soon.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 11:04:24 AM

Hardly.  I just look at the landscape and see major broadcast networks looking prepared to write another set of large checks to broadcast sporting events on their networks - not on streaming platforms. I don't think local audiences will be watching Packer games on those platforms anytime soon, unless that is where the NFL Sunday Ticket goes.

Maybe in the next decade or two.

Or, networks are desperate to stay relevant and they think they have one way to do it, over-pay for sports broadcasting rights.

Netflix and Amazon could easily outbid the networks.  Why don't they?  The answer is they don't need to overpay for sports to stay relevant.

It is not a sign of health, and it is not going to take 20 years to change.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 11:13:18 AM
If you remove sports from ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox, what is their value?  Zero?

What properties or content do they have other than sports that you watch?  Maybe some random show here or there ... which you can get on Hulu anytime you want?

This is why they overpay for sports rights.  And again, how do we know they overpay?  Because if what they paid represented value, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and/or Netflix would outbid them.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: cheebs09 on January 23, 2021, 11:19:03 AM
Aren’t the ratings for live sports still much higher than anything else on TV? NFL for sure. I have to assume the NBA is doing better than many TV shows. Now, maybe not high enough to justify the crazy rights deals we saw the last 10-20 years. But until those rating are more in-line with regular shows, I assume things won’t change too much other than dollar amounts.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MUfan12 on January 23, 2021, 12:12:58 PM
Are you still on AOL dial-up?.  Online/streaming is more seamless and easier to use than cable TV right now.

I don't know about the second part. And as the content gets more segmented and subscription fees add up, you may see a push back the other way.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU82 on January 23, 2021, 12:57:46 PM

Cable and broadcast TV is losing audience.  Sports TV ratings are losing audience.  NBCSN is closing.  ESPN is laying off employees. 

Define death knell?


Something that results in fewer major college and pro sports being available on TV (or some other easily accessible platform) for me to watch.

As I sit here today, on 1/23/21, I am not concerned.



Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Mr. Nielsen on January 23, 2021, 01:25:40 PM
We will see what happens in the next round of television deals that will be coming due in the next few years.  There could be even greater stratification in the P5 conferences with the SEC and Big 10 making significantly more than the ACC, Big 12 and Pac 12.

Does this possibility mean another round of realignment?  Does Texas make a jump to the Big Ten prior to its contract expiring in 2023?

And what does this mean for the BE when its deal is done in 2025?  I am thinking you are going to see a relative decrease.

Why do you see a decrease for the Big East? Other than the next Nascar deal, every sports league is getting an increase.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: GooooMarquette on January 23, 2021, 01:32:09 PM
Don't forget the Tour De France during the entire month of July (in non-pandemic years).


True, but some other sports-centric network will almost certainly pick up the Tour.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on January 23, 2021, 01:47:07 PM
Why do you see a decrease for the Big East? Other than the next Nascar deal, every sports league is getting an increase.

Relative decrease...  So a decrease in comparison to what the other leagues get.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Mr. Nielsen on January 23, 2021, 02:15:52 PM
Relative decrease...  So a decrease in comparison to what the other leagues get.
I get what your saying.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Mr. Nielsen on January 23, 2021, 02:18:15 PM
NBCSN was at $.42/month/subscriber. That is super low.
Meanwhile USA Network was at $1.61/month in 2019, $1.66 in 2020 and a $1.75 in 2021.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: The Big East on January 23, 2021, 02:34:32 PM
NBCSN was at $.42/month/subscriber. That is super low.
Meanwhile USA Network was at $1.61/month in 2019, $1.66 in 2020 and a $1.75 in 2021.
USA can periodically do Monk Marathons. That is worth something.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: BM1090 on January 23, 2021, 03:24:15 PM

It's improving every day but it is hardly "easier to use."

This. I utilize a lot of streaming services but I refuse to watch Marquette games or Packers games on those services. It's far easier and I don't have to deal with the anxiety of a potential bad WiFi connection.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: GooooMarquette on January 23, 2021, 03:34:45 PM
This. I utilize a lot of streaming services but I refuse to watch Marquette games or Packers games on those services. It's far easier and I don't have to deal with the anxiety of a potential bad WiFi connection.


I used to have occasional outages or slowdowns when I had traditional cable-based internet, but I switched to fiber optic several months back and haven't had any problems. It's nice not having to worry about high demand by other users in my area.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: ATL MU Warrior on January 23, 2021, 04:09:13 PM
Aren’t the ratings for live sports still much higher than anything else on TV? NFL for sure. I have to assume the NBA is doing better than many TV shows. Now, maybe not high enough to justify the crazy rights deals we saw the last 10-20 years. But until those rating are more in-line with regular shows, I assume things won’t change too much other than dollar amounts.
Top 50 highest rated telecasts of 2020

THE 50 TOP-RATED PRIMETIME TELECASTS OF 2020 (ADULTS 18-49)
RANK   PROGRAM (NETWORK)   RATING (18-49)   DATE AIRED
1.   SUPER BOWL LIV: Chiefs vs. 49ers (Fox)   30.66   2/2/2020
2.   NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: 49ers vs. Packers (Fox)   12.56   1/19/2020
3.   NFL PLAYOFFS: Packers vs. Seahwaks (Fox)   10.80   1/12/2020
4.   THE MASKED SINGER (Post-Super Bowl Season 3 Premiere) (Fox)   9.36   2/2/2020
5.   AFC WILDCARD PLAYOFF: Titans vs. Patriots (CBS)   9.04   1/4/2020
6.   AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF: Titans vs. Ravens (CBS)   8.38   1/11/2020
7.   COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: LSU vs. Clemson (ESPN)   7.81   1/13/2020
8.   NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL: Chiefs vs. Texans (NBC)   6.82   9/10/2020
9.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Rams vs. Cowboys (NBC)   6.24   9/13/2020
10.   GRAMMY AWARDS (CBS)   5.66   1/26/2020
11.   THE OSCARS (ABC)   5.49   2/9/2020
12.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Chiefs vs. Raiders (NBC)   5.45   11/22/2020
13.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Packers vs. Saints (NBC)   5.38   9/27/2020
14.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Seahawks vs. Patriots (NBC)   5.31   9/20/2020
15.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Saints vs. Buccaneers (NBC)   5.09   11/8/2020
16.   NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Chiefs vs. Ravens (ESPN)   4.97   9/28/2020
17.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Eagles vs. Cowboys (NBC)   4.95   11/1/2020
18.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Packers vs. Bears (NBC)   4.89   11/29/2020
19.   GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS (NBC)   4.87   1/5/2020
20.   NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Buccaneers vs. Bears (Fox/NFL)   4.77   10/8/2020
21.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Patriots vs. Ravens (NBC)   4.52   11/15/2020
22.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Eagles vs. 49ers (NBC)   4.55   10/4/2020
23.   NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Cardinals vs. Seahawks (Fox/NFL)   4.52   11/19/2020
24.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Buccaneers vs. Raiders (NBC)   4.38   10/25/2020
25.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Falcons vs. Eagles (NBC)   4.22   10/11/2020
26.   THE MASKED SINGER, S4 E9 “The Group C Finals” (Fox)   4.17   11/26/2020
27.   NFL MONDAY FOOTBALL SPECIAL: Patriots vs. Chiefs (CBS)   4.10   10/5/2020
28.   NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Packers vs. 49ers (Fox/NFL)   4.01   11/5/2020
29.   NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Rams vs. Buccaneers (ESPN)   3.87   11/23/2020
30.   NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Cardinals vs. Cowboys (ESPN)   3.80   10/19/2020
911: LONE STAR, S1 E1 Pilot (Fox)   3.80   1/19/2020
NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Buccaneers vs. Giants (ESPN)   3.80   11/2/2020
33.   NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: 49ers vs. Rams (NBC)   3.77   10/18/2020
34.   NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Colts vs. Titans (Fox/NFL)   3.66   11/12/2020
35.   ELECTION COVERAGE: SATURDAY (CNN)   3.62   11/7/2020
36.   NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:  Saints vs. Chargers (ESPN)   3.50   10/12/2020
37.   NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Broncos vs. Jets (Fox/NFL)   3.58   10/29/2020
38.   ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE 10PM (Fox News)   3.48   11/3/2020
39.   WORLD SERIES GAME 6: Dodgers vs. Rays (Fox)   3.45   10/27/2020
40.   PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE (Fox News)   3.44   9/29/2020
41.   NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Vikings vs. Bears (ESPN)   3.44   11/16/2020
42.   NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Giants vs. Eagles (Fox/NFL)   3.42   10/22/2020
ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE 9PM (Fox News)   3.42   11/3/2020
44.   NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Rams vs. Bears (ESPN)   3.40   10/26/2020
45.   THE MASKED SINGER, S3 E10 “The Super Nine Masked Singer Special: Groups A, B and C” (Fox)   3.37   4/1/2020
46.   DISNEY FAMILY SING-A-LONG (ABC)   3.35   4/16/2020
47.   NFL DRAFT (ESPN)   3.34   4/16/2020
48.   ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE, 9 PM (CNN)   3.32   11/3/2020
49.   ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE, 10 PM (CNN)   3.29   11/3/2020
50.   NBA FINALS, Game 5: Lakers vs. Heat (ABC)   3.28   10/9/2020
SOURCE: NIELSEN, 1/1/20 – 11/29/20. L7 DATA. ALL TELECASTS, BROADCAST AND CABLE (EXCLUDING TELECASTS WITH DURATIONS UNDER 25 MIN, INCLUDING SB AND NFC). BROADCAST PRIME, TELECAST WITH START TIMES WITHIN DAYPART (M-SAT 8P-11P; SUN 6:30P-11P).


Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 07:16:04 PM


Something that results in fewer major college and pro sports being available on TV (or some other easily accessible platform) for me to watch.

As I sit here today, on 1/23/21, I am not concerned.

This will never happen with streaming.  Soon you'll be able to watch every high school game in the country too (if not now).
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Not A Serious Person on January 23, 2021, 07:21:15 PM
This. I utilize a lot of streaming services but I refuse to watch Marquette games or Packers games on those services. It's far easier and I don't have to deal with the anxiety of a potential bad WiFi connection.

You have the same issue when you Zoom (or whatever service you use) with your office/employees/boss?


I used to have occasional outages or slowdowns when I had traditional cable-based internet, but I switched to fiber optic several months back and haven't had any problems. It's nice not having to worry about high demand by other users in my area.

This ... with 5G building out and fiber-optic widely available, this is a problem few have, and less have every day.

If this is really a problem, you should switch your service.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Mr. Nielsen on January 25, 2021, 09:05:16 AM
NBCUniversal’s Peacock has struck a five-year deal worth more than $1 billion for exclusive streaming rights to World Wrestling Entertainment content. WWE Network now under Peacock
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on January 25, 2021, 09:10:25 AM
Per local news, there will be no layoffs.  Personnel will rep do the sports work for all the NBC platforms. 
Did not realize in 2020, NBC closed Golf Channel operations in Florida and moved to Stamford.


Stamford-based NBC Sports to shut down NBCSN channel
by Paul Schott
Jan. 22, 2021 Updated: Jan. 22, 2021 7:51 p.m.
https://www.nhregister.com/business/article/Stamford-based-NBC-Sports-to-shut-down-NBCSN-15891103.php?src=nhrhpbusiness
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU82 on January 25, 2021, 09:17:27 AM
This will never happen with streaming.  Soon you'll be able to watch every high school game in the country too (if not now).

Then I'm not concerned.

See the post above yours from ATL MU Warrior with the top primetime telecasts of 2020. So many sports. That's why the rights cost what they do. The networks have nowhere else to turn for compelling live entertainment that appeals to tens of millions of Americans.

I thought this was interesting, too. It talks about "streaming wars" being a battle of addition, not attrition. In other words, consumers are just signing up for more and more of them. It's kind of like cable of yesteryear, except consumers can make their own choices.

https://www.lightreading.com/cablevideo/streaming-wars-battle-of-addition-not-attrition---analyst-/d/d-id/766849
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MUBurrow on January 25, 2021, 11:24:46 AM
Did not realize in 2020, NBC closed Golf Channel operations in Florida and moved to Stamford.

NBCUniversal’s Peacock has struck a five-year deal worth more than $1 billion for exclusive streaming rights to World Wrestling Entertainment content. WWE Network now under Peacock

Man. Pour one out for everyone going from handling golf coverage in Florida to WWE coverage in Stamford in the years of our lord 2020-2021.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on January 25, 2021, 11:55:34 AM
Man. Pour one out for everyone going from handling golf coverage in Florida to WWE coverage in Stamford in the years of our lord 2020-2021.

WWE is also based in Stamford.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: BM1090 on January 25, 2021, 05:23:35 PM
You have the same issue when you Zoom (or whatever service you use) with your office/employees/boss?

Nope. It happens very rarely, maybe one day per month. But I don't want that one day to begin halfway through a game I'm invested in.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Billy Hoyle on January 25, 2021, 06:38:39 PM
We already know that ESPN is hemorrhaging subscribers and laying off staff regularly.

https://www.primetimer.com/barnhart/mnf

But like so many other things happening in “these unprecedented times” (another nonsense phrase), COVID is merely accelerating a trend that was underway before the pandemic. Namely, the death of cable, or at least the death of ESPN as a premium cable brand.

That's been a common line from one side of the political spectrum but it's not accurate since viewers have to buy cable packages and cannot subscribe to and unsubscribe from individual channels (which John McCain proposed allowing in 2013 but went nowhere). ESPN may be losing subscribers but it's because of people cutting the cable cord.

As far as NBCSN, man, what will people do without being able to watch car shows now?
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU82 on January 26, 2021, 07:10:49 AM
Just read this little snippet ...

CNN was the top-rated cable news network in prime time in 2020. It ranked 2nd among all cable networks behind ESPN with an average of 3.1 million viewers.

In other words, ESPN is the most-watched network of any kind.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: CTWarrior on January 26, 2021, 09:17:45 AM
Just read this little snippet ...

CNN was the top-rated cable news network in prime time in 2020. It ranked 2nd among all cable networks behind ESPN with an average of 3.1 million viewers.

In other words, ESPN is the most-watched network of any kind.
I don't much about this stuff, but CBS, NBC and ABC don' average 3.1 million viewers?  Or is it because ESPN averages that 24 Hours/day and the big networks don't program that much?
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on January 26, 2021, 09:20:43 AM
I don't much about this stuff, but CBS, NBC and ABC don' average 3.1 million viewers?  Or is it because ESPN averages that 24 Hours/day and the big networks don't program that much?

CBS, NBC and ABC aren't considered "cable" network. 
I think they are classified as "over-the-air broadcast" or something like that.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: shoothoops on January 26, 2021, 10:14:57 AM
2020 TV rankings:

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/network-ratings-2020-top-channels-fox-news-cnn-msnbc-cbs-1234866801/
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU82 on January 26, 2021, 10:35:56 AM
Given the lack of live sports for months, and the growth of competition when there were live sports, I think the fact that ESPN's ratings slid only 16% was remarkable.

Showtime was down 19% and HBO down 38% even though people were trapped at home with nothing to do.

Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: CTWarrior on January 26, 2021, 02:06:27 PM
CBS, NBC and ABC aren't considered "cable" network. 
I think they are classified as "over-the-air broadcast" or something like that.
I was responding to "network of any kind," but I figured it must have excluded broadcast networks.  Thanks for responding.
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: MU82 on January 26, 2021, 10:25:21 PM
I was responding to "network of any kind," but I figured it must have excluded broadcast networks.  Thanks for responding.

Yes, the "network of any kind" line was mine, and I shouldn't have been so inclusive there. Management regrets the error!
Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: WarriorDentist on January 27, 2021, 09:28:35 PM
Do “cable only” companies actually still exist? I have xfinity cable and outside of sports I use it to stream prob 90% of the time.

I just renewed for $130/month for internet and cable companies. The cheapest streaming alternative would have been $120/month (including internet). For $10 more I get the reliability of cable for sports and for non sports is essentially is a streaming service. Oh and I get an actual streaming service (Peacock) included as well.

Title: Re: NBCSN
Post by: Knight Commission on January 28, 2021, 09:25:10 PM
Not sure.