For fans who root for Pac-12 teams but watch their television via DirecTV, it's always a good news, bad news scenario when talking Pac-12 Networks.
The good news, as the Networks' new president Lydia Murphy-Stephans proudly notes, is that their first year, by their own standards, has been a rousing success. Launched in August, the Pac-12 Networks broadcast 550 live events in addition to more than 200 hours of original programming. In its second year, they plan to carry 750 live events.
So, that's the good news. The bad news, if you're a DirecTV subscriber: you still probably won't be able to watch any of it.
Murphy-Stephans, who was promoted from her position as executive vice president and general manager when then-president Gary Stevenson resigned in April, called it "a disappointment" that negotiations between the Pac-12 Networks and DirecTV haven't progressed.
Balance sheet and cash on hand has little to do with revenue streams. It's all about finding the right mix because each one of these providers is one quarter away from a big loss if enough people leave at once.
Here is one point that keeps getting left aside - w/o Pac 12, Directv is not .80 cheaper. In fact, you pay MORE for Directv than with Dish when you put them head to head. Sure they each have something the other doesn't or each is a little bit better or worse in some area. Why is Directv MORE? Maybe because they can? Maybe because of Sunday Ticket costs? Maybe because of what!?
I dunno...I always wonder about these coaches who just happen to bail on their school right before sanctions come down. Carroll deserted a sinking ship at USC. I just have a feeling there is a college coaching position with his name on it down the road.
Wow. Are we off topic. My take on Carroll is that he wants to be an NFL coach. He ran to college after he failed in the NFL then ran his college team like it was an NFL team. He ain't a college town type of guy.
Wow. Are we off topic. My take on Carroll is that he wants to be an NFL coach. He ran to college after he failed in the NFL then ran his college team like it was an NFL team. He ain't a college town type of guy.
The price is set by the market of consumers vs. providers and then providers vs. programmers. The middle need to be sufficient for the provider to make a profit and a distribution to its shareholders. If not investors walk and then things go downhill. Providers must offer the selections the consumer wants to watch. It's all a delicate mix. But in the end is your bill any less? Nope. If you have Sunday Ticket then OK, that's what you want. Otherwise think you are getting ripped off.
The price is set by the market of consumers vs. providers and then providers vs. programmers. The middle need to be sufficient for the provider to make a profit and a distribution to its shareholders. If not investors walk and then things go downhill. Providers must offer the selections the consumer wants to watch. It's all a delicate mix. But in the end is your bill any less? Nope. If you have Sunday Ticket then OK, that's what you want. Otherwise think you are getting ripped off.
When DirecTV finally does get all the Pac12 channels, they should be in the guide in the following order, 612P12N, 612-1P12AZ, 612-2P12BA, 612-3P12LA, 612-4P12MT, 612-5P12OR, 612-6P12WA
When DirecTV finally does get all the Pac12 channels, they should be in the guide in the following order, 612P12N, 612-1P12AZ, 612-2P12BA, 612-3P12LA, 612-4P12MT, 612-5P12OR, 612-6P12WA
The price is set by the market of consumers vs. providers and then providers vs. programmers. The middle need to be sufficient for the provider to make a profit and a distribution to its shareholders. If not investors walk and then things go downhill. Providers must offer the selections the consumer wants to watch. It's all a delicate mix. But in the end is your bill any less? Nope. If you have Sunday Ticket then OK, that's what you want. Otherwise think you are getting ripped off.
I wouldn't expect my bill to be any less. These companies are not charities. They will maximize profits by all means necessary. I agree it's a delicate mix, but that doesn't change the fact that the market sets the price. The cost to make a pair of Nike shoes has zero to do with how much they cost to the consumer. I was just pointing out the fallacy of the idea that the cost of a certain package should be reduced by X amount because channel Z has been removed. We might be saying the same thing.
I listed the alt's in alphabetical order per the pac12 web site, The labels might not fit in the guide, but just wanted to try to identify each separte feed.
The price is set by the market of consumers vs. providers and then providers vs. programmers. The middle need to be sufficient for the provider to make a profit and a distribution to its shareholders. If not investors walk and then things go downhill. Providers must offer the selections the consumer wants to watch. It's all a delicate mix. But in the end is your bill any less? Nope. If you have Sunday Ticket then OK, that's what you want. Otherwise think you are getting ripped off.
I wouldn't expect my bill to be any less. These companies are not charities. They will maximize profits by all means necessary. I agree it's a delicate mix, but that doesn't change the fact that the market sets the price. The cost to make a pair of Nike shoes has zero to do with how much they cost to the consumer. I was just pointing out the fallacy of the idea that the cost of a certain package should be reduced by X amount because channel Z has been removed. We might be saying the same thing.
Programmers and providers (distributors) both want to maximize their income. That is why they exist. "What the market will bare" has a different meaning to each. For the distributor, what the market will bare is the price point at which they start to lose viewers. For the programmer, what the market will bare is the price point at which they cannot get distributors to pick up their product.
Where the PAC 12 has a problem is that they believe (and apparently have built in to the existing contracts) that what the market will bare is the same for all distributors regardless of the distribution model or the composition of the customers of the distributor. DirecTV, which has more customers than any other single distributor, has determined a price that will fit their business model. They realize that they will lose some customers if they do not pick up the PAC 12, but they also realize that if they pay more than a certain price they will not add enough new customers to offset the payout for the channels without raising their price to the customers. If they raise their price to the customer, they will lose some customers. What the market will bare is much less for DirecTV than it is for a cable company that is serving a few counties that has a PAC 12 school in their footprint.
None of us knows exactly what the PAC 12 has demanded from DirecTV, and none of us knows exctly what DirecTV has offered to the PAC 12. Assuming that the PAC 12 has backed down from their original position that all 7 channels be carried full time and will allow DirecTV to carry only the national channel full time with game-time alternates for overlaping games, my guess is that the $0.80 in-market and $0.20 out-of-market is reasonable, but the difference is how "in-market" and "out-of-market" are defined. Again, this is just a guess on my part, but I suspect that DirecTV and the PAC 12 are at an impass on how large the "in-market" footprint is for each PAC 12 school and that DirecTV only wants to count the subscribers to the sports pack for the out-of-market count while the PAC 12 wants to count everyone with the Choice package. I think this will be settled eventually, but not before the 2014 season and not until after DirecTV has come to an agreement with the SEC.
On the other hand, if the PAC 12 still expects DirecTV to carry all seven channels full time, that will never happen.
I think as other's have said, unfortunately this season has come and gone I doubt we see an agreement worked out unless it's some last minute type deal that surprises us all (like Dish last year). But moving forward something should/hopefully will be worked out. With the SEC channel coming, the ESPN contract up in the next few years, plus B1G up for renewal in the next few years too things will start to become clearer. The market has somewhat been set by Pac12 as to what other Conference specific channels can charge. If DirecTV does walk from Sunday Ticket the entire market may go into flux, as people scramble to figure out what they are doing next. Sunday Ticket is the carrot that keeps sports fans from switching around too easily, but things could be changing..
If becomes available without a TV subscription you would see another round of cord cutting. EIther way if Directv loses the package or even starts sharing it you will see people leave.
sum_random_dork said:
I think as other's have said, unfortunately this season has come and gone I doubt we see an agreement worked out unless it's some last minute type deal that surprises us all (like Dish last year). But moving forward something should/hopefully will be worked out. With the SEC channel coming, the ESPN contract up in the next few years, plus B1G up for renewal in the next few years too things will start to become clearer. The market has somewhat been set by Pac12 as to what other Conference specific channels can charge. If DirecTV does walk from Sunday Ticket the entire market may go into flux, as people scramble to figure out what they are doing next. Sunday Ticket is the carrot that keeps sports fans from switching around too easily, but things could be changing..
Here it is 24 hours before the first football telecast and Jim Jones of the PAC 12 Net responded to my question as to whether D* and the PAC 12 Net are in talks: "NO they are not talking to each other and in fact they are taking every opportunity to (disparage) each other in the media We are still talking to UVERSE and Verizon and Charter among others."
How sad that each party hasn't tried to reach a settlement.
Here it is 24 hours before the first football telecast and Jim Jones of the PAC 12 Net responded to my question as to whether D* and the PAC 12 Net are in talks: "NO they are not talking to each other and in fact they are taking every opportunity to (disparage) each other in the media We are still talking to UVERSE and Verizon and Charter among others." How sad that each party hasn't tried to reach a settlement.
I'm sure they tried at some point, but they aren't talking today, of all days, 24 hours before the first football game. Serious talks haven't taken place for a while as neither party has changed it position. It could all change, and an agreement is made, but I doubt it.
Here it is 24 hours before the first football telecast and Jim Jones of the PAC 12 Net responded to my question as to whether D* and the PAC 12 Net are in talks: "NO they are not talking to each other and in fact they are taking every opportunity to (disparage) each other in the media We are still talking to UVERSE and Verizon and Charter among others."
How sad that each party hasn't tried to reach a settlement.
I think they tried in vain for months. Larry Scott said several weeks ago if you want the Pac 12 this year you will have to drop Directv as they were offered the same package as everyone else and chose to pass. Directv drew its line in the sand and Pac 12 drew its line in the sand. If Pac 12 were to offer different terms it would owe rebates back out to other systems and it's just not going to do that.
If there was ongoing negotiation than Larry Scott would not have said that. He was up front in saying that the Pac 12 will not be on Directv this year. So you can take that for what it is worth - which means you can either stay or you can go. Or you can gamble on the limited chance something will break.
But if Directv customers do not leave in droves then there is no way Directv will back down from its position so long as current management is in place. And if Pac 12 has just about everyone else on board except Directv (and Charter) in the footprint there is little incentive for it to back down.
And how much does anyone here believe Swanni. I am not sure that talks were ever "off". They just were not going anywhere.
If we get PAC 12 network, that will be great. If we do not get it, it is not something that would make me think about leaving DirecTV. The three big non-conference matchups that involve a PAC 12 school this weekend are all available on channels other than the PAC 12 network.
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