ESPN Insider Thoughts

[albionmoonlight]

As I was browsing ESPN earlier today, I noticed that they are slowly but surely moving more of their content to their Insider subscription section. As a business decision, I have no problem with this change. Why give something away if people will pay for it.

I wonder, however, if people really will pay for this service. With mainstream competitors out there (cnnsi.com), local news pages for all teams, and message boards for both national and local level sports news, does ESPN really give us anything worth paying for? Even conceding that ESPN has more polished writing and more in depth coverage than its competitors, is it really that much better than a cnnsi or a profootballweekly?

I figure if any demographic would be willing to pay for access to Insider, it would be this one. So what do you think? Does it really provide an advantage over free content? Is it worth it? Do you think that large numbers of people ever will be convinced to pay for it?

[Subby]

I pay for it and it is worth every penny...the access to the Mel Kiper stuff alone is good for me, but I think theyhave done a great job of centralizing content - going to ESPN Insider versus going to 50 different on-line newspapers is fabulous.

[Fritz]

I stopped using the Sporting News when most of their content went pay.

gosh I miss sportstalk.com

[Subby]

Originally posted by Fritz
I stopped using the Sporting News when most of their content went gay.Crap! How did I miss that?

[Fritz]

Originally posted by Subby
Crap! How did I miss that?

must have been when you were doing "mission work" with the Boy Scouts.

[fflix]

I pay for Espn Insider and for me it's worth it. I read it everyday, usually for the nba and nfl sections. I don't think espn the magazine articles are free anymore, but they are available through insider, which is nice once in awhile.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I can't see me paying for the Insider stuff from ESPN when so much of the factual stuff is out there elsewhere. And I guess the truth is there just isn't anything there I don't think I can't live without.

[JeeberD]

I haven't paid for it in years yet I still have access. I'm not sure why, but I ain't complaining...

[Airhog]

I would never pay for something you can get for free.

[Blade6119]

like girls?

[Samdari]

I have insider and would not consider dropping it. I think Chad Ford (the NBA guy) is ten times better than anyone they have writing on their free pages. I also found the NFL Insider, and their 'rumors' pages to be invaluable during fantasy football season.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I have it. Only thing I've ever paid for on the web. I think it's excellent. Great way to keep track of interesting stories and follow your "home" teams, no matter where you are.

The PTI clips are a huge bonus for me. I miss all that stuff here in Belgium.

I was most seriously displeased when they dropped the NHL Insider for a while and seemingly replaced it with a NSCAR Insider (the horror... the horror...), but NHL Insider is back. Phew!

[Bee]

Originally posted by Airhog
I would never pay for something you can get for free.

[lynchjm24]

Originally posted by Honolulu_Blue

I was most seriously displeased when they dropped the NHL Insider for a while and seemingly replaced it with a NSCAR Insider (the horror... the horror...), but NHL Insider is back. Phew!

One of my best friends from high school writes the NASCAR Insider. We always made fun of him for taping all these stupid races, but I guess it worked out for him.

I can't read more then a paragraph before my eyes glaze over.

[Taur]

Why can't I supersize it? Or TSN either.

In the late 80's early 90's I subscribed to 6 - 8 mags a month. Now, ZERO. Why, simple the internet. Magazine companies have to be seriously hurting since the internet went main-stream.

So, why is nobody Packaging their magazine with their internet product? I want the #1 combo please. And, let me SuperSize that.

Hey, Sports or Porn it is all the same. I want the Magazine and the Site for one low price!