Cutting the cord

[owbc]

I don't see what the benefit is to going with an RSN, especially Sinclair. The revenue numbers are ugly, the demographics are ugly, and the potential audience continues to shrink. Plus Sinclair is going to rebrand FSWisconsin as a casino/gambling channel to compensate for it bleeding cash? Mark A should stay as far away from that mess as possible.

 

From a business perspective it seems kind of nuts that money would be much of a factor at all in these TV deals. Audience is the only metric that should matter, which means no exclusive contracts. License the broadcast to as many providers as possible.

[MrTPlush]

How would a team even go to streaming services without Fox (or any other channel affiliation)? Wouldn't they essentially have to create their own TV channel and infrastructure to televise the games then?

[patrickgpe]

How would a team even go to streaming services without Fox (or any other channel affiliation)? Wouldn't they essentially have to create their own TV channel and infrastructure to televise the games then?

maybe you could create something like the WWE network? Obviously the brewers cannot create their own network with 24/7 programming. If they did create something that one could watch on their phones / computer or smart TV and have on demand content, it could work. The issue is that you have to make money somehow. Right now everyone that has cable pays for the brewers game whether you watch them or not. Now you are decreasing your customer base by just getting money from baseball fans. Also you have a massive upfront cost to create the app. I would think you need all MLB teams to work together to create one app for all teams.

[Brewers Numbers]

What would the logistics be if they just went to MLB app with no blackout restrictions? Wouldn't that be the best for everyone? Or would they have to raise the prices to make it profitable enough for the teams? I love MLB tv but it's worked because I've been out of market. I really dislike how much the regional channels have been causing issues with so many services. Like many of you, I lost mine in MN this fall. Doesn't bother me too much right now, but I do like to watch the occasional T-Wolves or Twins game. Hoping they get it worked out again, but it won't kill me not to have it. If I lived in WI, I'd be having major issues!

MLB.tv revenue is split amongst all the teams unlike the TV deals.

[Brewers Numbers]

How would a team even go to streaming services without Fox (or any other channel affiliation)? Wouldn't they essentially have to create their own TV channel and infrastructure to televise the games then?

Yes, they would.

[Brewers Numbers]

How would a team even go to streaming services without Fox (or any other channel affiliation)? Wouldn't they essentially have to create their own TV channel and infrastructure to televise the games then?

maybe you could create something like the WWE network? Obviously the brewers cannot create their own network with 24/7 programming. If they did create something that one could watch on their phones / computer or smart TV and have on demand content, it could work. The issue is that you have to make money somehow. Right now everyone that has cable pays for the brewers game whether you watch them or not. Now you are decreasing your customer base by just getting money from baseball fans. Also you have a massive upfront cost to create the app. I would think you need all MLB teams to work together to create one app for all teams.

They would have to partner with the Bucks and Admirals and anybody else willing to be able to do that.

 

MLB.tv and the MLB app is everything you are talking about. So if the Brewers created their own app they would be competing against that.

[owbc]

Who does the broadcasting and production for the YouTube MLB games? It can’t be that hard. ESPN just fired a bunch of production staff so now would be the time for the Brewers to take over their own production.

 

Still not seeing why they need a TV network though, why not produce the games and sell them to any provider willing to pay? I find it hard to believe that one of the local channels in Wisconsin wouldn’t buy that programming. Not sure how they did it in the past? (like in the 90s when MSC games were on channel 18???)

 

Not saying it would be easy but the Brewers are the ones getting screwed by MLB’s broadcasting rules more than any other team. So if any team is going to be the one to try and blow it up...

[stoutdude04]

FSN is literally the only reason I still have Charter...and I hate it, but I refuse to not be able to watch the Brewers/Badgers/Bucks because it isn't on one of the streaming services. If they come out with their own service I would definitely move in that direction.

[MrTPlush]

I doubt creating something to just air the Brewers is more lucrative than being apart of FSWI. Seems hard to believe.

[homer]

New subscribers can currently get Hulu for $1.99 a month for the first year. Deal ends on Monday I think.

[MrTPlush]

Is there a general consensus on which is better, Hulu TV or YouTube TV?

 

It was obviously Hulu before, but now that it doesn’t have FSWI that isn’t much of a scale tipper anymore. Both are going to be the same price come next month...actually Hulu may be slightly more with DVR after the increase.

 

Seems like YouTube TV has the better line up.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Is there a general consensus on which is better, Hulu TV or YouTube TV?

 

It was obviously Hulu before, but now that it doesn’t have FSWI that isn’t much of a scale tipper anymore. Both are going to be the same price come next month...actually Hulu may be slightly more with DVR after the increase.

 

Seems like YouTube TV has the better line up.

 

YouTube TV has a much better platform, and it isn't really close IMO. It really is pretty awesome. Hulu Live TV has gotten a lot better in the last 12 months, but YouTube TV has better responsiveness and fewer glitchy issues.

[MrTPlush]

Is there a general consensus on which is better, Hulu TV or YouTube TV?

 

It was obviously Hulu before, but now that it doesn’t have FSWI that isn’t much of a scale tipper anymore. Both are going to be the same price come next month...actually Hulu may be slightly more with DVR after the increase.

 

Seems like YouTube TV has the better line up.

 

YouTube TV has a much better platform, and it isn't really close IMO. It really is pretty awesome. Hulu Live TV has gotten a lot better in the last 12 months, but YouTube TV has better responsiveness and fewer glitchy issues.

 

Thanks, I know a few people with Hulu...no one with YouTube TV though. It does seem most of them have issues with Hulu on a pretty regular basis. One time the Packers game crashed on an intense final drive...talk about a cringe moment.

 

I am hoping the FOX RSNs will come back before the start of baseball season. From what I read a major reason that hasn't happened yet is because COVID pretty well ruined the sports seasons and right now there is not much reason to try and make a deal because now those sports are over.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Is there a general consensus on which is better, Hulu TV or YouTube TV?

 

It was obviously Hulu before, but now that it doesn’t have FSWI that isn’t much of a scale tipper anymore. Both are going to be the same price come next month...actually Hulu may be slightly more with DVR after the increase.

 

Seems like YouTube TV has the better line up.

 

YouTube TV has a much better platform, and it isn't really close IMO. It really is pretty awesome. Hulu Live TV has gotten a lot better in the last 12 months, but YouTube TV has better responsiveness and fewer glitchy issues.

 

Thanks, I know a few people with Hulu...no one with YouTube TV though. It does seem most of them have issues with Hulu on a pretty regular basis. One time the Packers game crashed on an intense final drive...talk about a cringe moment.

 

I am hoping the FOX RSNs will come back before the start of baseball season. From what I read a major reason that hasn't happened yet is because COVID pretty well ruined the sports seasons and right now there is not much reason to try and make a deal because now those sports are over.

 

It would be in the Fox RSN's best interest to get something figured out soon in time for the start of the NBA season. I'm hoping that Sinclair's partnership with Bally's (the sports betting company) might open some things back up soon.

[MrTPlush]

Is that where a lot of the NBA teams have their broadcasts? I know that is the case with the Bucks, but I wasn't sure if that was common for most teams like it is with baseball.

 

The FOX RSNs are a disaster for Sinclair right now, but I don't know if they can really afford to have them entirely off the streaming services long term. They will have to figure out something.

[patrickgpe]

Is there a general consensus on which is better, Hulu TV or YouTube TV?

 

It was obviously Hulu before, but now that it doesn’t have FSWI that isn’t much of a scale tipper anymore. Both are going to be the same price come next month...actually Hulu may be slightly more with DVR after the increase.

 

Seems like YouTube TV has the better line up.

I have used both. Youtube TV has a better lineup (slightly). Only channel that I would occasionally watch that I don't have now is Comedy Central. The interface on Youtube TV is significantly better. Hulu TV is nice that you get access to Hulu included.

 

i hate that you can't fast forward commercials when watching DVR'd stuff on Hulu.

 

I have Hulu now, if neither service can figure out FS Wisconsin by spring training I'll have to figure out something else, which will probably be suck it up and go back to cable.

[Vgmastr]

Sinclair is partnering with Bally's to rebrand the RSNs from Fox to Bally's. They're planning on integrating sports betting into the programming and selling them as their own standalone app. If that happens, I'm guessing that's either the end of the RSNs on the other streaming platforms or they're offered as a paid sports tier add-on.

[young guns]

i hate that you can't fast forward commercials when watching DVR'd stuff on Hulu.

For me, this a reason to not touch Hulu with a 39 and a half foot pole. Also I have youtube tv and love it.

[MrTPlush]

Hulu has fast forward DVR if you get the upgraded DVR...which is $10. As it stands that makes it the same price as YouTube TV, but will actually make it more expensive when the price for Hulu goes up in a few weeks.

 

We will see how standalone RSN works...I see a lot of issues. If it is a standalone product the sports fans have to shoulder the entire cost...where now it is divided among all the subscribers. For that reason I doubt it will be anywhere close to cheap...even for one regional area. It also seems you would have to stick people in a year contract for financial reasons. If not Brewers fans or Bucks fans would just drop the service after the season ends. I can't imagine how bad subscriptions would be if the Brewers/Bucks suck. Subscriptions would plummet after a month or two of the season if they suck.

 

That is before even considering the revenue sharing problems and how MLB would respond to it.

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

Sinclair is partnering with Bally's to rebrand the RSNs from Fox to Bally's. They're planning on integrating sports betting into the programming and selling them as their own standalone app. If that happens, I'm guessing that's either the end of the RSNs on the other streaming platforms or they're offered as a paid sports tier add-on.

 

This might be a stupid question... assuming the games are carried on a streaming app, knowing there's a delay from live action, how do you effectively integrate in-game betting as part of it?

 

Regardless, I have YTTV and really hope they work a deal out before the Bucks start up. I love the platform and would hate to give it up for ATT Now or cable.

[JackNicholson1974]

I like YTTV so much that I probably just wouldnt watch Bucks or Brewers games on TV anymore. The game watching experience is changing. My sons (the oldest is in High school) and they dont really watch the games, they get pop ups on their phones when something happens, they click on the link, watch the highlight and check score and move on with whatever they are or were doing. I cant really get them to sit through a game, even football. Too much down time in football especially.

 

I hope Sinclair gets burned hard, TBH. I used to think the only reason for a cable subscription was live sports, but now that I have been without it due to COVID and now these RSN disputes. I dont care any more.

[FVBrewerFan]

Sinclair is partnering with Bally's to rebrand the RSNs from Fox to Bally's. They're planning on integrating sports betting into the programming and selling them as their own standalone app. If that happens, I'm guessing that's either the end of the RSNs on the other streaming platforms or they're offered as a paid sports tier add-on.

 

This might be a stupid question... assuming the games are carried on a streaming app, knowing there's a delay from live action, how do you effectively integrate in-game betting as part of it?

 

Regardless, I have YTTV and really hope they work a deal out before the Bucks start up. I love the platform and would hate to give it up for ATT Now or cable.

 

YTTV is on a delay for live sports as well, since it is streaming as well. Sometimes a fairly significant delay depending on the game.

[nate82]

I don't watch much sports anymore I tend to listen to the radio broadcast more than watch now. I can continue doing what I was doing and also listen along to the game while working or doing whatever.

[Axman59]

I have Youtube TV. If they don't offer Brewers games on their platform in 2021 I will no longer be watching Brewers games. There is a zero percent chance I am going back to cable TV.

[DHonks]

still loving AT&T TV. I get all the channels as Directv, but cheaper. The box works nicely. And I'm using the Android TV app for MLB extra innings instead of the Apple TV I've used for about 10 years