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YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

latimes.com

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Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There also seems to be confusion that ESPN+ is equivalent to ESPN, but ESPN+ does not carry the linear programming of ESPN. Using part of the $15 YouTube TV discount to purchase ESPN+ will not make you whole on the lose of ESPN - still no live ESPN content.

ESPN+ does provide some live TV, but not all of it. For example, it contains the upcoming monday's NFL game, but none of the NCAA games today. https://www.espn.com/espnplus/schedule/_/type/upcoming/categ...

Live UFC events are also shown on ESPN+. Big main events are primarily only offered through ESPN+ as well.

Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There also seems to be confusion that ESPN+ is equivalent to ESPN, but ESPN+ does not carry the linear programming of ESPN. Using part of the $15 YouTube TV discount to purchase ESPN+ will not make you whole on the lose of ESPN - still no live ESPN content.

ESPN+ does provide some live TV, but not all of it. For example, it contains the upcoming monday's NFL game, but none of the NCAA games today. https://www.espn.com/espnplus/schedule/_/type/upcoming/categ...

Which is why I forego watching sports altogether. If there was a simple link on US Tennis or Wimbledon’s website to pay $20 or even $50 or $100 to watch the tournament, I would pay it.

But I am not going to jump through hoops and pay for stuff I do not want, and most importantly, I am not going to spend time researching what is and is not available on + versions versus not +.

Same with NHL. I would pay to watch ice hockey, I will not pay to risk being unable to watch because I live too close to the stadium and hence should be blacked out.

I also will not pay to have advertisement breaks shown to me.

Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it really much better to have five $15 services to get the same content?

You still don't get it. I want the "channel" format of media (programmed video content aka broadcast programming) to die. Whether it's accessed by paying comcast to watch it over a settop box or paying google to watch it through a browser or app makes no difference to me, it's the same format of content and I want to see it die. And it has been dying. Look at the ads the roll between the shows and it's clear that TV…

I will agree that the current state of broadcast TV is a rubbish dump, but there's value in a "channel" concept.

If I'm inherently after a passive entertainment experience, there are situations where I want the decisions made for me. If I put on the TV while I exercise, or for background while cooking or cleaning, I don't need it stopping every 30 minutes asking me to choose something else to watch, and yet I also don't want it showing 23 seasons of the Great British Bake Off in a row either. I'll put on a broadcast channel instead.

Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#174

I feel like YoutubeTV forgot that at the end of the day, I’m paying them for content, not their cute little app. Left them last year when they lost my MLB team and haven’t really looked back.

And I'm sure you'd also complain when it's "Youtube wants $15 more a month to carry my MLB channels(/ESPN/ABC/whatever)!" like they might end up doing now?

Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#175
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sports is the anchor by which unbundling won’t happen for a long time, especially with linear TV. This is partially because it benefits the conglomerates business models to have as many channels and content streams as possible to sell ad time on, and partially because for sports teams they can functionally name their price. In seattle, the brand new hockey team is only available through Root Sports, a smallish produc…

In the Chicago area I just about lost my crud with the new "Marquee Sports Network". It's a $7 a month price hike that every subscriber in the area has to suffer on every single cable provider because the Cubs struck a deal with Sinclair to create the channel. I don't understand how it's legal. Imagine if Netflix could force everyone in a geographic area to subscribe or lose the ability to stream all non-Netflix stuf…

Sinclair also ruined us here in DFW. Suddenly the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and Dallas Stars are only available on Bally's network which the big streamers do not carry. We used to be able to watch all games on the regional Fox Sports network which was a huge selling point for me switching to streaming. Now the word is Bally's expects to release their own app and subscription service in like 2023...sigh...

Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#176

I’m really surprised by the number of top level comments that are confusing two different products: YouTube and YouTube TV. YouTube TV is basically cable TV delivered via the internet with some on-demand content and an “unlimited” DVR system. There are multiple tiers via add-on packages (just like cable), and there is no ad-free offering. YouTube is the video sharing website everyone uses. The ad-free version of whic…

> YouTube is the video sharing website everyone uses. The ad-free version of which is called YouTube Premium. Technically YouTube Premium is a package designed to bolster their failing YouTube Music product that few want. I'd gladly pay $7.50 a month for AD Free YouTube, but $15 is too much.

> I'd gladly pay $7.50 a month for AD Free YouTube

In some regions you can actually get this. It’s called “Premium Lite”.

https://www.youtube.com/premiumlite

I’m paying 69 NOK which given currency conversion is roughly $7.60, so it’s more or less literally what you ask for.

For those outside the offered regions (thus getting geoblocked) this is literally what the page says for me (copy & paste):

—————————————-

FAQ

What is included with Premium Lite?

YouTube

• Ad-free videos: Watch millions of videos uninterrupted by ads. Learn more

YouTube Kids

• Ad-free in the YouTube Kids app

Premium Lite doesn't include ad-free access to the YouTube Music app.

Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#177
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've not looked into how the US cable market is doing, but here in Denmark it feels like we're very close to cable/bundling snapping. The cable companies are forced to raise prices each year, mostly because of sports and people are cancelling in droves. In 2015 93% of Danes had cable, in 2019 less than 80% had cable and during 2020 - 2022 the largest provider lost at least 250.000 subscribers, pushing them well below…

In the US American football only recently became available on streaming - it is currently $450 or $500 per season. You can go to a bar every week and have several drinks and a meal for that money. It’s a little crazy.

Where is this streaming option available for $500? I do not see it on nfl.com If it is subject to blackouts, it does not count.

https://www.nfl.com/ways-to-watch/

Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#178
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"I’m really surprised by the number of top level comments that are confusing two different products: YouTube and YouTube TV." Thanks for the clarification. It probably adds to the confusion that the landing page for "YouTube TV" goes to the "youtube.com" domain: https://tv.youtube.com/

People don't confuse Gmail with Google Maps or Google Search just because they are on the same root domain

They don’t call gmail “YouTube mail” or google maps “YouTube maps” either.

Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#179
post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's less about forgetfulness and more about convenience. The whole "setup an OTA antenna somewhere in/on your house/attic/roof, wire it up to your tuner, scan for channels, learn what direction to point the antenna for which stations, find a DVR that supports OTA", vs load an app, sign in and boom. I'm a geek so, I'd LOVE to take this step. Unfortunately, I live in the part of the country that has too many mountains…

And, assuming you haven't personally experienced OTA post-digital transition in your house in the past (assuming you own a house) or have neighbors with an antenna, spend some money and a fair bit of effort to discover that reception is non-existent/bad.

I was SUPER into OTA and FTA satellite reception a little over 10 years ago. I was all over antennaweb and tvfool right before I moved out West. I went from a very flat Southeastern geography to mountains and ridges everywhere. But even then, that was a "in the know" thing. I'd hate to be one of those people who pours money into this just to discover bad reception.

Re: YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels in fee dispute

#180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's actually the reason for the price drop: They are giving you money to get Disney+ so you don't just cancel your YouTube TV subscription and go elsewhere. It's a retention move that they accept a short lack of their cut of the Disney portion in exchange for not losing customers entirely.

It’s not comparable. Disney+ doesn’t include any live content

Exactly. These are the live stations being dropped:

    ABC
    ABC News Live
    Disney Channel
    Disney Junior
    Disney XD
    ESPN
    ESPN2
    ESPNU
    ESPNEWS
    Freeform
    FX
    FXX
    FXM
    National Geographic
    National Geographic Wild
    SEC Network
Of those, the Disney bundle would only cover the sports channels on ESPN+ (I'm assuming it has all the cames broadcast on the channels.)

Edit: according to other comments ESPN+ doesn't even cover all the sports on the ESPN2 and ESPN3 channels.

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