[NU Sports] TV for Wisconsin Game

[Jonathan Hodges]

When the web started out everyone basically expected everything to be free -
including internet access.  After the bubble, though, I think most people
have come to their senses, myself included.  I would definitely pony up the
cash to pay for this week's game on ESPN360 if I had the chance. Instead
they are trying to force something else down the throat of the service
provider - just like cable.

Of course with cable there are people trying to bring about change and give
you an a la carte choice for cable channels instead of the 2 or 3 options
you have now, which are basically nothing, everything plus everything you
don't need, and everything plus everything you don't want.

The internet was supposed to speed that change and make it cheaper and
easier for the content providers to get their information to you whenever
you want it.  It's getting there (see on-demand video of primetime shows on
ABC, part of the Disney empire) but still not there yet (ESPN's antics).

Jonathan

PS: Props to ESPN for putting us on TV so many times over the past few years
- I think at this point we may be getting a little spoiled.  At least that
was one good thing they provide.

On 10/4/06, Roy Lamberton <rstetson at capps-assoc.com> wrote:
>
> There always has been a "free internet" theory running about the web.
>
> But the problem is that advertising, the typical broadcast model, doesn't
> work
> because of the normally small numbers involved in internet access.
>
> A good example is the Senior Softball World Series web site - we had well
> over a
> million hits over the 6 days, but when you look at the actual numbers
> those hits
> represent just over 200 people, not a very attractive market for an IBM or
> GM
> budget.
>
> Major League Baseball, the Porno guysand even ESPN Gameplan have it right
> - they
> charge you a fee [monthly or otherwise] to access the information or now
> with
> better streaming video, the movies. ESPN360 was a off the wall system,
> primarily
> built so ESPN could support gaming.
>
> While the gameplan images are usually smooth [altho they run about 4
> seconds
> behind the action], 360 is jerky, even on a P4 with lotsa ram.
>
> When you call Comcast about carrying 360, they put you into phone loop
> hell. I
> never did get to talk to anyone in authority, and to be honest, I don't
> have the
> time right now to sit on hold for 2 or 3 days.
>
> What has made the web so great is that it supports everything from text
> [this
> board] to live streaming video. All you need is a high speed connection
> and you
> can watch the world, even if half [I'm being generous] the political stuff
> on
> all sides is bogus...
>
> rsl
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate
> Computer Applications & Support Associates
> and Publisher of Purple Reign,
> The Scout.com Northwestern University Site
> (http://www.purplewildcats.com)
> AIM Handle: CoachRoy74
> ======== Go Cats -  Beat 'em All ===========
> "You have a Republic Madam --
>      If you can keep it" - Benjamin Franklin
> ============================================
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com
> > [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Jonathan
> > Michael Hawkins
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 8:49 AM
> > To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
> > Subject: Re: [NU Sports] TV for Wisconsin Game
> >
> >
> > That's my point, John.  By failing to understand the realities of the
> > market they've chosen to enter, ESPN and ABC will fail to
> > make money from
> > the ESPN360 venture.
> >
> > I am concerned that the executives in charge over there will
> > blame poor
> > viewership on the teams rather than on the fact that their
> > tied-to-ISPs
> > subscription model (instead of the more appropriate
> > tied-to-individual-users, like MLB) doesn't match the market.
> >  I hope it
> > does not affect our ability to get on actual real television in the
> > upcoming games.
> >
> > But back to making money, their continued internet miscues dilute the
> > strong brand that ESPN has in television.  Were I a
> > shareholder of the
> > Mouse, I'd be unhappy indeed.
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
> > On Wed, 4 Oct 2006, John A. DeGroat wrote:
> >
> > > ESPN and ABC for that matter are in business to make money, they
> > > aren't
> > > charities.  What is so hard about that to understand?
> > >
> > > John DeGroat
> >
> > --
> > Jonathan Michael Hawkins
> > spiritu at northwestern.edu
> > Northwestern University
> > WCAS '03,  Law '09
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > nwu-sports site list
> > nwu-sports at tssi.com
> > http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
> >
>
>
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-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
829 Foster St Apt 401
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