[rosmith5151]

Every year I call DTV in August to "cancel" service and every year they hand out a discount. I've had at least $25/month discount for 15 years... the discount I'm on now is $40/month (which was a result of last years call) and they put it through 2024 so I don't even have to call again for a few years... and no it's not tied to a longer service agreement. I can still cancel any time over and done, no fees (which will happen if DTV doesn't license satellite Sunday Ticket rights from Apple or whoever gets it). The retention reps have weekly quotas and will give you better deals early in the week... I learned to always make the call early on a Monday. And always call to cancel. Don't call for a discount. Call to terminate service (tell them you got laid off, or have medical bills, whatever and just can't afford it any more). They'll transer you to retention and tell them the same thing... you just can't afford it in your budget any more. They'll offer you a discount to try and fit DTV in your budget. Anyone who isn't doing this is paying MINIMUM $300/year more than they have to.

 

[Steveknj]

Ad-free tiers of service are not going away. They exist because people are willing to pay for ad-free programming. If there isn't an ad-free tier, you can't charge extra for ad-free programming. Those ad-supported tiers are designed for people who won't pay the full price. Remember, Hulu originally had ONLY ad-supported programming. They added the ad-free tier when they realized there were a lot of people like me who will pay extra for ad-free programming. It would be foolish to pass up that extra revenue.

As to ad-skipping, you can easily bypass those unskippable ads on streaming services if you want to. If there is a show I want to watch on an ad-supported service (e.g., CW's next-day streaming of their shows or Amazon's Freevee service), I will record it to one of the drives on my Plex server and then skip the commercials when I watch it. I still pay extra for ad-free streaming from Hulu and other services I subscribe to, because it saves me the aggravation of having to skip past the commercials.

Oh sure, if you have the ability to add a Plex server (and Play On and some others), you could do that, but how many people have the technical knowledge to set up something like that? Very few (don't get fooled by people on here, as we are much more tech savvy than the average user.

As for ad tiers, if the streamers discovered that A) They could make more money selling ads than from the premium they charge for ad free, or, the cost of giving an ad free tier makes it not worth their while, they will drop ad free in a heartbeat. We might not be there yet, but lets say (arbitrarily) a streaming service finds that 90% of their users sub to the ad service and only 10% are ad free, they might just drop the ad free as not worth maintaining. So never say never. I remember the days when live sports were broadcast on RSNs without commercials, that changed eventually. And when games streamed orginally via MLB AB, no ads, that changed too.

 

[Rob37]

This might sound crazy but the NFL needs to try and work out their next television deal the way that March Madness did when they put tournament games on TBS, TNT, & TRU TV along with CBS. Something along the lines of have the 3 major networks CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN & their own dedicated channel which is the NFL Network to cover all the games on Sunday. Along with maybe two or three other channels like TBS & TNT. That would cover atleast 7 games in the 1:00 PM ET slot maybe have TRU TV as a 8th channel if it’s needed to cover a game. And then do the same in the 4:15 PM window. There’s never more games in that late afternoon window maybe 4 at the most or 5 and allow people in the entire country to have access to all games and watch the one they want. I still believe streaming games isn’t the way to go just yet. Why is that so hard to figure out for the NFL? Just have Sundays in the fall dedicated to those games. As popular as the NFL is. I truely believe that would be a win-win for everyone and not shut any of the fans out.

 

[James Long]

The whole point of "free" OTA TV was that you get to watch for free, and we show you ads to make money.

OTA was free (and for the most part still is non-subscription) because there was no way to make viewers pay. Networks and stations could sell their viewers to advertisers but there was no mechanism to stop people from watching "for free". Even after the introduction of digital OTA which does allow access control, subscription OTA has not taken off. It may with the next level of digital OTA - but without some unified mechanism to control content I don't see subscription OTA as viable. Even though it does exist in a few places.

OTA broadcasters finally found a way to monetize their content (beyond advertising) when cable companies decided to rebroadcast their signals. Instead of viewing cable rebroadcast as a gift to reach more viewers, they saw it as a way to charge for reception. Once they started charging they didn't turn back and in recent years the networks have required their affiliates to charge for rebroadcast and pass a good portion of the fees back to the network. The networks have also gone the streaming route ... OTA is one transmission of many shows. If you miss it, buy it on demand and either pay by watching commercials or a monthly fee. Got to find some way to monetize their content.

The NFL owns their content, so they only have to worry about paying their content creators (players and teams) and they have something to sell. A good portion of their money comes from selling to OTA broadcasters who are willing to spend a few billion dollars for a single airing of each game. Rebroadcast rights reserved by the NFL. Out of market rights reserved by the NFL. Not a bad scheme to pay the bills.

 

[James Long]

First of all, I assume you aren't a huge AC/DC song, but they have WAY more than one song.

The stadium was probably just playing the same song at every break in action.

 

[James Long]

This might sound crazy but the NFL needs to try and work out their next television deal ...

The NFL has TV deals through 2033. Come back in a decade and make your pitch (or Hail Mary pass, whatever is appropriate).

 

[the2130]

Oh sure, if you have the ability to add a Plex server (and Play On and some others), you could do that, but how many people have the technical knowledge to set up something like that? Very few (don't get fooled by people on here, as we are much more tech savvy than the average user.

As for ad tiers, if the streamers discovered that A) They could make more money selling ads than from the premium they charge for ad free, or, the cost of giving an ad free tier makes it not worth their while, they will drop ad free in a heartbeat. We might not be there yet, but lets say (arbitrarily) a streaming service finds that 90% of their users sub to the ad service and only 10% are ad free, they might just drop the ad free as not worth maintaining. So never say never. I remember the days when live sports were broadcast on RSNs without commercials, that changed eventually. And when games streamed orginally via MLB AB, no ads, that changed too.

Anyone who can use a PC is capable of setting up a Plex server. And there will always be a market for ad-free programming. That's why there was always a market for premium channels on linear TV. If there weren't enough people willing to pay for it, that model would have changed a long time ago. All the streamers have "discovered" is that there is additional money to be made from people who won't pay the full price. So I wouldn't be too worried about TV going back to the 1970s. Those days are over and they're not coming back.

Live sports are different, because there are natural breaks in the action that lend themselves to commercials. It would be a hard sell to get anyone to pay extra for ad-free sports programming, which is why they don't offer it. Sorry, but that comparison just doesn't hold water.

 

[Steveknj]

Anyone who can use a PC is capable of setting up a Plex server. And there will always be a market for ad-free programming. That's why there was always a market for premium channels on linear TV. If there weren't enough people willing to pay for it, that model would have changed a long time ago. All the streamers have "discovered" is that there is additional money to be made from people who won't pay the full price. So I wouldn't be too worried about TV going back to the 1970s. Those days are over and they're not coming back.

Live sports are different, because there are natural breaks in the action that lend themselves to commercials. It would be a hard sell to get anyone to pay extra for ad-free sports programming, which is why they don't offer it. Sorry, but that comparison just doesn't hold water.

Go tell my 80 year old dad he can set up a Plex server. This is the same person who never deletes a text message, and has a PC full of viruses ever time I visit, So no, not everyone who can USE a PC can set up a Plex server. Some people who can use a PC can barely read email and browse the internet. Since you know how to do it, and I know I can do it, doesn't mean everyone can. Again, don't get fooled by the crowd here, We are mostly tech savvy.

And you know what kept HBO, Showtime and other premium services afloat without ads? People willing to pay for their content and a premium price. But what if you can get that same content for 1/2 the price, and have to put up with ads? I bet you'd get a LOT of subs for that. I wonder what percentage of Hulu subs are ad free? I'd be willing to bet it's way less than half. Why do you think Netflix is going to an ad tier. And again, if they've done the calculation that it can be more profitable offering only an ad supported tier they will do that.

 

[the2130]

Agreed. Football and TV were made for one another. College football tends to last longer than a typical NFL game because of the longer halftime (20 minutes vs. 12 minutes except for the Super Bowl) and the stopping of the clock on first downs. The in-person experience is fun, but it can drag.

I have season tickets to the minor league team here. Games typically last anywhere between 2 hours to 2 1/2 hours. Basically the pitcher has 16 seconds to throw a pitch. Those rules will probably be adapted into MLB soon. It is a zippier experience, but that probably won't be the case on nationally televised games.

Yes, it is almost a certainty that the pitch clock will be used in MLB next season. They are testing it in the minors, which is what they do for any major rule changes. It is reducing the length of games by about 20 minutes on average. It is long overdue.

 

[wildbillyboygolf]

A question from this not too tech savvy person.
If NFL Sunday Ticket is broadcast on a streaming service, how can you record multiple games to watch whenever you'd like?
That's the way I watch games now on Directv. I record multiple games on the DVR and watch them later.
I have a Roku box for streaming stuff from Netflix and Prime and other streaming services.
Is there a DVR option for recording these streaming services? I'd rather not use a PC for recording.

 

[the2130]

And you know what kept HBO, Showtime and other premium services afloat without ads? People willing to pay for their content and a premium price. But what if you can get that same content for 1/2 the price, and have to put up with ads? I bet you'd get a LOT of subs for that. I wonder what percentage of Hulu subs are ad free? I'd be willing to bet it's way less than half. Why do you think Netflix is going to an ad tier. And again, if they've done the calculation that it can be more profitable offering only an ad supported tier they will do that.

Hulu has had an ad-free tier for seven years. Do you really think they haven't figured out yet whether it's more profitable that way?

 

[mjh60565]

I dont want streaming cause i have a DVR and I can pause/replay/record. Why would I want to mess with streaming? I hope they dont make this streaming only because this is really the only reason I keep Directv at all. (Sunday Ticket and Hockey package). If you are going to make me learn to stream crap, then I am just moving on. My parents are old and can barely run the TV remote. I am not going to try to teach them how to stream. Just not worth it.

The NFL copy of this is completely worthless. It will be sad if they dont continue this with Andrew as the host.

 

[compnurd]

I dont want streaming cause i have a DVR and I can pause/replay/record. Why would I want to mess with streaming? I hope they dont make this streaming only because this is really the only reason I keep Directv at all. (Sunday Ticket and Hockey package). If you are going to make me learn to stream crap, then I am just moving on. My parents are old and can barely run the TV remote. I am not going to try to teach them how to stream. Just not worth it.

The NFL copy of this is completely worthless. It will be sad if they dont continue this with Andrew as the host.

I would start moving on

 

[slice1900]

A question from this not too tech savvy person.
If NFL Sunday Ticket is broadcast on a streaming service, how can you record multiple games to watch whenever you'd like?
That's the way I watch games now on Directv. I record multiple games on the DVR and watch them later.
I have a Roku box for streaming stuff from Netflix and Prime and other streaming services.
Is there a DVR option for recording these streaming services? I'd rather not use a PC for recording.

They would presumably be available for replay later. What you'd lose if NFLST goes streaming is the ability to watch multiple live games at once by pausing one, switching to the next until you catch up to live, pausing it and switching to another...

If you don't start watching until the game is over you'd be fine, though it would depend on how long after the game ends it is available to replay. Could be later that day, might not be until the day after or later. No way to guess right now.

 

[Steveknj]

Hulu has had an ad-free tier for seven years. Do you really think they haven't figured out yet whether it's more profitable that way?

Today it is, down the road, I doubt it will be. Nothing stays the same. Netflix SWORE they'd never have an ad supported tier and here we are, one is coming. Why? Because it has gotten too expensive. At some point, they will price it so that the ad free tier is so expensive it just won't be worth it for most, and not worth it for hulu to keep it for the rest. How much are you willing to spend to keep it ad free?

 

[Rob37]

I am not gonna stream period. It’s too much hassle. Sorry I am not moving on and If it ever comes to streaming television only, I’ll stare at the wall before I’ll stream anything. Streaming SUCKS!

 

[Rob37]

I would start moving on

LMMFAO at you 😂 I ain’t moving on to streaming. I’ll stare at the wall before i’ll start purchasing a bunch of no good streaming services to stare at a circle that goes around & around that means buffering. Not going to happen with me. Ya’ll are about to find out in 2023 if the NFL forces out of market viewers to purchase a streaming version of NFL Sunday Ticket.

 

[the2130]

Today it is, down the road, I doubt it will be. Nothing stays the same. Netflix SWORE they'd never have an ad supported tier and here we are, one is coming. Why? Because it has gotten too expensive. At some point, they will price it so that the ad free tier is so expensive it just won't be worth it for most, and not worth it for hulu to keep it for the rest. How much are you willing to spend to keep it ad free?

Netflix is adding an ad-supported tier to gain subscribers they aren't getting now, not to lose subscribers they already have, which is why there will continue to be an ad-free version of Netflix (and other major streamers). If you can't afford the ad-free tiers, the cheaper tiers are designed for you. Kind of like going to a ballgame and sitting in the bleachers.

 

[B. Shoe]

They would presumably be available for replay later. What you'd lose if NFLST goes streaming is the ability to watch multiple live games at once by pausing one, switching to the next until you catch up to live, pausing it and switching to another...

If you don't start watching until the game is over you'd be fine, though it would depend on how long after the game ends it is available to replay. Could be later that day, might not be until the day after or later. No way to guess right now.

Replays are available without DVR, via Short Cuts. That's still available to all NFLST subscribers via the Sunday Ticket streaming app. Games condensed to 30 minutes, no commercials. A great way to hammer through a game you missed, or one you didn't get to check out. Those are available Monday-Wednesday following each Sunday.

 

[B. Shoe]

Today it is, down the road, I doubt it will be. Nothing stays the same. Netflix SWORE they'd never have an ad supported tier and here we are, one is coming. Why? Because it has gotten too expensive. At some point, they will price it so that the ad free tier is so expensive it just won't be worth it for most, and not worth it for hulu to keep it for the rest. How much are you willing to spend to keep it ad free?

Based on the replies on these threads of how reliant some people are on their DVR services to avoid watching ads, some people are willing to sell the farm just to avoid a few commercials. The ad-free tier is still going to survive in some way, shape, or form.