ESPN vs Cox

[hukarez]

Not sure if any of you folks out there subscribe to Cox cable...in fact, I'm not quite so sure if Cox is solely a west coast based company. In any case, I'm curious as to whether or not anyone knows what the deal is, in regards to the ESPN and Cox dispute over airtime?

I wasn't aware of it until awhile ago, when I saw something on the ESPN website that was saying Cox was planning on moving EPSN programming into some kind of higher subscription slot or what not. Some commercials are playing around here in the San Diego area, about ESPN raising prices or the like, etc...etc...

Anyone have any more info on the subject? Probably doesn't apply to most other folks, maybe, but seeing as Cox is the cable company that services my area - I have to admit that I'm a bit intrigued about the dispute.

I may never get a chance to witness PBA events anymore, or World's Strongest Man competitions! :eek:

[Eaglesfan27]

Cox serves a significant portion of the country from my understanding and they are the Cable provider for Louisiana and I believe a good portion of the south. Both sides have been bombarding the airwaves with propganda ads. All I know is that if Cox does get rid of ESPN in March, I won't subscribe to Cox for cable anymore.

[gstelmack]

We've had similar issues here in North Carolina with Time Warner vs. Disney. Remember that Disney, ESPN, and ABC all fall under one umbrella. When the contracts come up, public opinion gets used to try and move the dollar amount one way or the other. In the local case, the Disney Channel and local ABC affiliate broadcast rights over Time Warner both got dragged in, with the possibility of us losing the ABC affiliate. They figured it out in time.

Luckily I'm on DirecTV ;)

[yabanci]

I'll make a bold prediction on how this turns out: the consumer will get screwed.

[rkmsuf]

literally?

[Franklinnoble]

Might not be so bad... depending on who does the screwing.

[rkmsuf]

Stuart Scott will be representing ESPN...

[Ksyrup]

I can't see how Cox wins this fight. If it was cable or bust, maybe. But most consumers have the option of switching to satellite, and they're giving away 3-room systems for free right now.

[Blade6119]

i espn goes, i think i def. helps fox sports...im one of those affected since Cox rules Phoenix...i will not pay more for ESPN, but im not sure ill drop cable...but we may...well see how it turns out...

[Cuckoo]

I can't see how Cox wins this fight. If it was cable or bust, maybe. But most consumers have the option of switching to satellite, and they're giving away 3-room systems for free right now.

According to Cox, and you can take this with a grain of salt, they're willing to lose ESPN. They say they'll trim their rates and sell to the nonsports fans. According to polling they've done, they'll lose some customers, but actually a lot who even claim to be sportsfans said they will stay with cable even without ESPN. They think they'll be fine in the end, but ESPN would be hurt the most in advertising dollars.

Who knows what the truth is? Both will hurt most likely, and as someone else has said, it'll be the consumer to hurt the most.

[albionmoonlight]

According to Cox, and you can take this with a grain of salt, they're willing to lose ESPN. They say they'll trim their rates and sell to the nonsports fans. According to polling they've done, they'll lose some customers, but actually a lot who even claim to be sportsfans said they will stay with cable even without ESPN. They think they'll be fine in the end, but ESPN would be hurt the most in advertising dollars.

Who knows what the truth is? Both will hurt most likely, and as someone else has said, it'll be the consumer to hurt the most.
You've got to take it with a grain of salt. They would have no leverage if they didn't claim they were willing to lose ESPN.

[Cuckoo]

You've got to take it with a grain of salt. They would have no leverage if they didn't claim they were willing to lose ESPN.

Agreed completely. The only reason I posted it, and I didn't say this, is because the Daily Oklahoman (OKC paper) did an informal poll as well that seemed to back up their claims.

[Dutch]

But what is ESPN's side of this argument? Cox is saying they are charging a site more than anyboyd else. Is this true or what?

I have COX Cable, but until I move into a house, that's all there is right now.

[Cuckoo]

I think ESPN's argument is that they bring in a significant amount of people to cable over regular programming and should be compensated at a higher rate than other cable networks. I like ESPN, but I think it's bull.

[hukarez]

Whatever the outcome of this thing (I'm not even so sure if there's a supposed deadline?) I guess I'll have to get used to watching FOX Sports West or something. :confused:

[Desnudo]

I don't see how you can lose ESPN and expect not to lose a lot of subscribers. Simply because of the NFL. I don't really watch Sportcenter anymore because I find the announcers incredibly annoying. Booyaah! If the NFL signed with, say FOX Sports, then I'd have no problem keeping cable without ESPN.

[LloydLungs]

Not an expert in the field or anything, but I'd say that I'd guess ESPN feels it can pretty much charge whatever it wants and all cable companies will bend over for them -- because they figure you can't be a credible cable service without ESPN in your lineup. It looks like ESPN's finally hitting the upper limit of what the market will bear in that respect.

On one hand I'm sure ESPN is charging a completely ridiculous rate. On the other hand you have a cable company crying about being overcharged. Irony.

[hukarez]

Saw a commercial earlier today from Cox, promoting this website:

http://www.makethemplayfair.com

...did a little research too. I guess FOX Sports is also increasing it's rates or something, or at least, not as much as ESPN is. Something along the lines thereof. That'll be rather strange, I suppose, to not have any sports-themed channels of any sort.

What a time for me to start subscribing to cable! :rolleyes:

I had satellite for awhile, and I still have the dish. I don't think I'll be using it anytime soon, since my parents like the channels from 'overseas' scheme of things.