ESPN Layoffs and Future TV Contracts

[GoPokes86]

Not unexpected in any way, shape or form. It does make you wonder how hard the TV revenue bubble is going to bust when everything finally collapses and what the long term effects will be for the Power 5 and Group of 5. It will be interesting to see how the lower tier Power 5 schools will do in the long term (Big XII schools outside of OU and Texas, Wazzu, Oregon State, etc). A lot of schools got really lucky and got to enter into the arms race simply based on conference affiliation. Where does that go once ESPN goes belly up?

http://deadspin.com/a-running-list-of-espn-layoffs-1794664091

 

[wyoair]

Some of the names are suprising but the change seemed palpable. ESPN and their attempts at other programs seemed forced and flat out uninteresting. I believe Mike and Mike will also be parting ways. I rarely watch them anymore and completely stopped watching First Take. Live coverage is the only thing I watch ESPN for.

 

[J-Rod]

There was an article a year ago in The Oregonian about how the revenue for these TV contracts turned out to be a lot less than the lofty numbers boasted when the deals were signed.

I think college football overestimated its worth. Or at least underestimated the tidal wave of cord-cutting that was soon to come. There will be more scaling back in the coming years. Which frankly, I invite. The less money involved, the more amateurism in the sport doesn't feel like a complete scam...only mostly a scam.

 

[MrTitleist]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MichaelJLev/status/857446570685378560[/tweet]

 

[WyoBrandX]

I thought the subscription fee for ESPN was a bit higher than $9 / month.

The bubble was bound to burst. Things started getting out of control back in 2008. With the recession in full force, nobody wanted to spend money, so cable TV made sense as entertainment. Cable got greedy, and now its tough to get a cable bill under $150 a month.

It is just over valued.

 

[stymeman]

Even shows what corporate greed can do for the big boys too

 

[LanderPoke]

Good. The more ESPN dies the better it is for us.

 

[MrTitleist]

Is it? They pay us (UW) money.. quite a bit of it.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Is it? They pay us (UW) money.. quite a bit of it.

I believe all college programs will lose money as a result. The question will be in the re-negotiation of the Power 5 conference TV deals...if those deals come back to earth, I would think the gap would close to an extent.

 

[LanderPoke]

Is it? They pay us (UW) money.. quite a bit of it.

I believe all college programs will lose money as a result. The question will be in the re-negotiation of the Power 5 conference TV deals...if those deals come back to earth, I would think the gap would close to an extent.

Yes. UW will lose exponentially less than the P5, thus evening the playing field.

 

[BJC]

Too bad they are simply awful now....before all the politics, etc.....I would have gladly paid $10+ a month for an espn app, netflix channel etc. Other than live sports....I never watch it and I have cable and paid $20 for sling when I didn't basically just for college FB calls in ESPN. :twocents:

I used to listen live or the recordings on ESPN Radio of Colin, Mike and Mike, SVP and Russilo.........now I'm not even sure who is on there. :thumbdown: