DISH loses local ABC affiliate in retransmission dispute

Let's not get decoyed by some reports of lower ratings for the NFL. They made a record high revenue number in 2017, and 44 of the top rated Prime Time shows in 2017 were NFL (I had to check that as I didn't realize there even were 44 Prime Time NFL games in 2017!)

The 100 highest-rated TV programs of 2017: 60% sports, 40% everything else

For all of the hand wringing and political talk on both sides regarding the NFL, they still make a crap-ton load of money.
 
I would be very surprised if Directv doesn't pick up the Sunday Ticket exclusive contract again. It is one clear competitive advantage they have. I know quite a few people who subscribe to Directv JUST for Sunday ticket; they are displaced Packers, Cowboys, Bears, 49ers, etc. fans. Plus just about every sports bar in the country carries Directv for Sunday ticket (we were just in a little sports bar in KC this weekend, and even though most people are Chiefs fans they had several TVs playing with other major games on via Sunday Ticket.

Prepare to be very surprised. I think there’s a better than even chance of it, years down the road.

I don’t know anything about any current declining ratings. I just think AT&T will not pay again. And THAT will be a major hit to their revenues. They will try to make up for it by jacking up prices elsewhere, discouraging business. It will enter a self defeating cycle. I think it’s already there. How much to attend a football (pigball) game? How much to attend a soccer (football to the world) game?

The next economic downturn may really tip the scales against big dollar sports. And it could be sudden. I doubt they can cut costs as quickly. After all, what player will take a pay cut from being a multi multi millionaire to being a mere multi millionaire?

And the managers, owners, talent scouts? It might be a repeat of when all those six figure stock brokers were suddenly let go.

While the cheer squad is paid squat.

And the XFL is not for the coming times, unless they pursue a low cost approach, including relatively low pay all around. SEE- I can make a funny!

:rollingeyes

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Prepare to be very surprised. I think there’s a better than even chance of it, years down the road.

I don’t know anything about any current declining ratings. I just think AT&T will not pay again. And THAT will be a major hit to their revenues. They will try to make up for it by jacking up prices elsewhere, discouraging business. It will enter a self defeating cycle. I think it’s already there. How much to attend a football (pigball) game? How much to attend a soccer (football to the world) game?

The next economic downturn may really tip the scales against big dollar sports. And it could be sudden. I doubt they can cut costs as quickly. After all, what player will take a pay cut from being a multi multi millionaire to being a mere multi millionaire?

And the managers, owners, talent scouts? It might be a repeat of when all those six figure stock brokers were suddenly let go.

While the cheer squad is paid squat.

And the XFL is not for the coming times, unless they pursue a low cost approach, including relatively low pay all around. SEE- I can make a funny!

:rollingeyes

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As I said, I don't watch sports, at least on TV, but my personal opinion if the NFL wants to increase revenue on its Sunday Ticket, they should stop giving DirecTV a monopoly on it.
 
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It’ll be a cold day in the theological place of eternal punishment before Dish pays anything for a Sunday Ticket equivalent. Especially in these days. It ain’t gonna bring in more subs.

Increased OTT and Internet fees, caps and slowed services, THAT will bring in more subs. It’ll be a cycle.


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It’ll be a cold day in the theological place of eternal punishment before Dish pays anything for a Sunday Ticket equivalent. Especially in these days. It ain’t gonna bring in more subs.

Increased OTT and Internet fees, caps and slowed services, THAT will bring in more subs. It’ll be a cycle.


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If DirecTV wasn't the only company to carry NFL Sunday Ticket, and there was no monopoly allowed on it, the different cable/satellite carriers could COMPETE and that would drive the prices down for NFL Sunday Ticket. There shouldn't be a monopoly on this. That's also the reason why I am against company mergers, such as AT&T and DirecTV, as well as Sirius and XM. Mergers (even when totally different services/products like AT&T and DirecTV) lead that much closer to a monopoly. I want as much competition as possible. So let NFL Sunday Ticket compete with the cable/satellite carriers.
 
After all, what player will take a pay cut from being a multi multi millionaire to being a mere multi millionaire?

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You might be surprised about pro athletes, after all NHL players agreed to less money in their last contract with many of the superstars taking a percentage pay cut on their existing contracts. 15 yrs ago top NHL players were north of 12M per year, today's highest paid NHL player averages 10.5 per year for the life of the contract. Sure lots of money, but significantly less than they were getting before.
 
You might be surprised about pro athletes, after all NHL players agreed to less money in their last contract with many of the superstars taking a percentage pay cut on their existing contracts. 15 yrs ago top NHL players were north of 12M per year, today's highest paid NHL player averages 10.5 per year for the life of the contract. Sure lots of money, but significantly less than they were getting before.

If I were a multi multi millionaire I wouldn’t mind getting a pay cut. As long as I have enough to make ends meet is all that matters to me.


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If DirecTV wasn't the only company to carry NFL Sunday Ticket, and there was no monopoly allowed on it, the different cable/satellite carriers could COMPETE and that would drive the prices down for NFL Sunday Ticket. There shouldn't be a monopoly on this. That's also the reason why I am against company mergers, such as AT&T and DirecTV, as well as Sirius and XM. Mergers (even when totally different services/products like AT&T and DirecTV) lead that much closer to a monopoly. I want as much competition as possible. So let NFL Sunday Ticket compete with the cable/satellite carriers.
You don't understand. When Sunday Ticket first came about, the NFL had an asking price as a whole. Let's say that was $1.5 billion. That was what they wanted to make annually from all sources. Initially it was offered to everyone. So, in this example DirecTV and Dish might have offered $.5 billion apiece and the cable companies added up to that extra $.5 billion. The thing is that most providers weren't going to put out that kind of money just for NFL football. DirecTV decided that they might be able to make some money by paying the entire asking price and they did it. When the first contract was complete, DirecTV had the rights to continue with a new contract and they did. It is the NFL that has made the cost so high, not so much the monopolistic view that you have. If DirecTV was unwilling to extend the next contract, and that could happen with AT&T at the helm, the entire media supplier arena could tell the NFL to take a hike. Will that happen, probably not but it is still the NFL who is dictating the cost of the package not the providers...
 
Yo be fair, Directv almost did not renew this go around, and ATT said the deal was off if DTV didn’t make it happen. Read that however you want. DTV was done with it, ATt saw a value(even if short lived) in it.

Wonder if they can sell it lease style to other providers. Sublet the NFLST.
 
You don't understand. When Sunday Ticket first came about, the NFL had an asking price as a whole. Let's say that was $1.5 billion. That was what they wanted to make annually from all sources. Initially it was offered to everyone. So, in this example DirecTV and Dish might have offered $.5 billion apiece and the cable companies added up to that extra $.5 billion. The thing is that most providers weren't going to put out that kind of money just for NFL football. DirecTV decided that they might be able to make some money by paying the entire asking price and they did it. When the first contract was complete, DirecTV had the rights to continue with a new contract and they did. It is the NFL that has made the cost so high, not so much the monopolistic view that you have. If DirecTV was unwilling to extend the next contract, and that could happen with AT&T at the helm, the entire media supplier arena could tell the NFL to take a hike. Will that happen, probably not but it is still the NFL who is dictating the cost of the package not the providers...

Well that’s probably one of the very few times I think government should step in, to block monopolies.


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My intention is not to be political, but isn't this because of the whole national anthem thing?
Some, but mostly because they don't actually play real football anymore, at least that's it for me. The idea that two people wearing helmets, playing a contact sport where you have to physically tackle your opponent, are supposed to do it without their helmets touching is ludicrous, and that's just one stupid rules change among many.
 
If DirecTV wasn't the only company to carry NFL Sunday Ticket, and there was no monopoly allowed on it, the different cable/satellite carriers could COMPETE and that would drive the prices down for NFL Sunday Ticket.
I don't think that's how it works. Increasing the number of buyers of a product (in this case, increasing the MVPDs who could purchase it) would theoretically INCREASE the cost. Competition will lower a cost when the number of PROVIDERS increases. Supply and demand. If demand goes up, so does the price. If supply goes up, the price goes down.

Do I think there would be a increase in ST subscribers if other MVPDs had it available? Yes. But I think it would be a small amount. Probably 95%+ of the people who want ST are subscribed to DirecTV already.

I don't think an MVPD would sell ST at a loss because they're not going to gain enough subs to make up for it's cost to them.
 
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I don't think that's how it works. Increasing the number of buyers of a product (in this case, increasing the MVPDs who could purchase it) would theoretically INCREASE the cost. Competition will lower a cost when the number of PROVIDERS increases. Supply and demand. If demand goes up, so does the price. If supply goes up, the price goes down.

Do I think there would be a increase in ST subscribers if other MVPDs had it available? Yes. But I think it would be a small amount. Probably 95%+ of the people who want ST are subscribed to DirecTV already.

I don't think an MVPD would sell ST at a loss because they're not going to gain enough subs to make up for it's cost to them.
But directv will lose customers..season ticket is one of the main reasons directv is popular..if season ticket is on cable many would ditch the dish

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But directv will lose customers..season ticket is one of the main reasons directv is popular..if season ticket is on cable many would ditch the dish

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But you still have about the same amount of people subscribing to ST. Any MVPD carrying ST would need to have the subscribers make that cost up. So you either offer it a la carte or for "free" to everyone (and up everyone's rate). My point is the cost per subscriber won't change (much). The only difference would be who the middle man is.
 
But you still have about the same amount of people subscribing to ST. Any MVPD carrying ST would need to have the subscribers make that cost up. So you either offer it a la carte or for "free" to everyone (and up everyone's rate). My point is the cost per subscriber won't change (much). The only difference would be who the middle man is.
This is why directv will pay a premium to keep it exclusive..its their lifeblood..without season ticket they would be bleeding customers like dish...the NFL wants to keep it exclusive to protect the huge source of income on local games..its a balancing act

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