The HornNews 
ESPN considers dropping the NFL (it’s a ratings disaster!)
October 30, 2017

Ratings are declining and revenue is dwindling, so ESPN may do the unthinkable — dropping the NFL completely once their contract is up.

This is bad news for NFL players and owners that depend upon the cable giant for billions in ad revenue.
Growth is no longer attainable for the self-proclaimed sports entertainment empire. Workforce layoffs have been ongoing and more are reportedly on the way.

Since 1987, ESPN has been a staple in the NFL franchise. Some would say that the NFL has been the backbone of ESPN’s existence, and the biggest source of money flow for the network.
Is it completely outlandish to entertain the possibility that the network would forgo the rights to Monday Night Football after the expiration of the eight-year deal in 2021? Critics say, think again!

ESPN has recently been able to pull off a major agreement with their affiliates. There is no longer specific contract language with their affiliates that states the network must have NFL games in order to earn the substantial subscriber fees.
Obviously, subscribers would be upset over losing their ability to watch NFL games through the network, but the cable giant will be able to use negotiation tactics to keep the subscriber numbers as high as they possibly can.

NFL players and owners would not be a part of those negotiations, though. NFL teams will suffer the greatest impact from losing ESPN as an ally–if they cannot get on TV, there will be no more money shoveling in.

Since the network signed a $15.2 billion contract for their current Monday Night Football deal, key executives have taken note that they were not buying the schedule of their previous MNF package. Unlike before, MNF no longer holds the best or top games of the week.

Sunday Night Football has taken the slot of holding the best games of the week, and now Fox and CBS have become the host of the more desirable match-ups.

Ironically, CBS and Fox pay a lower fee for their rights to NFL games than ESPN.

The NFL gives ESPN access to footage outside of the games — aka the rights to air their NFL films and other NFL-related opportunities. Experts estimates that around 15 to 20% of the cost for ESPN’s rights to MNF games is attributed to those additional rights and privileges.

By the time that ESPN has to decide whether it is in their best interest to renew their contact with the NFL, social media sites could become their biggest competitor yet. Digital players have the ability to reach a bigger network and would not be as demanding as a cable network.

Dropping the NFL from their network could free up a lot of money and air out the negative energy.

Letting their rights to MNF expire would free up billions of dollars for the network allowing them to target another franchise. It could also give the cable giant a chance to get away from the negative politics of the game.

Good,cause ESPN is now a paid channel

I'd be great with this move.


What is "The Horn News?" Sounds cheesy.

ESPN has been going downhill for years. They solely focus on the big markets. I think it's in their contract that every game they air that they have to mention Brady and the Pats. At least it seems that way.

(10-31-2017, 03:14 AM)Derrick Wrote: The HornNews 
ESPN considers dropping the NFL (it’s a ratings disaster!)
October 30, 2017

Ratings are declining and revenue is dwindling, so ESPN may do the unthinkable — dropping the NFL completely once their contract is up.

This is bad news for NFL players and owners that depend upon the cable giant for billions in ad revenue.
Growth is no longer attainable for the self-proclaimed sports entertainment empire. Workforce layoffs have been ongoing and more are reportedly on the way.

Since 1987, ESPN has been a staple in the NFL franchise. Some would say that the NFL has been the backbone of ESPN’s existence, and the biggest source of money flow for the network.
Is it completely outlandish to entertain the possibility that the network would forgo the rights to Monday Night Football after the expiration of the eight-year deal in 2021? Critics say, think again!

ESPN has recently been able to pull off a major agreement with their affiliates. There is no longer specific contract language with their affiliates that states the network must have NFL games in order to earn the substantial subscriber fees.
Obviously, subscribers would be upset over losing their ability to watch NFL games through the network, but the cable giant will be able to use negotiation tactics to keep the subscriber numbers as high as they possibly can.

NFL players and owners would not be a part of those negotiations, though. NFL teams will suffer the greatest impact from losing ESPN as an ally–if they cannot get on TV, there will be no more money shoveling in.

Since the network signed a $15.2 billion contract for their current Monday Night Football deal, key executives have taken note that they were not buying the schedule of their previous MNF package. Unlike before, MNF no longer holds the best or top games of the week.

Sunday Night Football has taken the slot of holding the best games of the week, and now Fox and CBS have become the host of the more desirable match-ups.

Ironically, CBS and Fox pay a lower fee for their rights to NFL games than ESPN.

The NFL gives ESPN access to footage outside of the games — aka the rights to air their NFL films and other NFL-related opportunities. Experts estimates that around 15 to 20% of the cost for ESPN’s rights to MNF games is attributed to those additional rights and privileges.

By the time that ESPN has to decide whether it is in their best interest to renew their contact with the NFL, social media sites could become their biggest competitor yet. Digital players have the ability to reach a bigger network and would not be as demanding as a cable network.

Dropping the NFL from their network could free up a lot of money and air out the negative energy.

Letting their rights to MNF expire would free up billions of dollars for the network allowing them to target another franchise. It could also give the cable giant a chance to get away from the negative politics of the game.

ESPN has major issues in house and have alienated 50% of their fan base jumping into the political arena. The protests by the players also is a factor. I see the NFL empire financial empire starting to crumble with viewership declining over 20% the past 2 years and no end in sight to repair their tarnished record of allowing players to disrespect the flag and the country. The reality is they lost fans and lots of them and likely will taker years to recover them if they ever recover them.

I know they have lost a lot due to sub par product and the anthem thing but i wonder how much they have lost to cord cutters and streaming.

(10-31-2017, 09:21 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: ESPN has major issues in house and have alienated 50% of their fan base jumping into the political arena. The protests by the players also is a factor. I see the NFL empire financial empire starting to crumble with viewership declining over 20% the past 2 years and no end in sight to repair their tarnished record of allowing players to disrespect the flag and the country. The reality is they lost fans and lots of them and likely will taker years to recover them if they ever recover them.

Everyone wins, really.  Right wingers can laugh at the NFL falling apart because they let players disrespect the flag and left-wingers can laugh at all the plutocrat ultra-rich owners losing money in addition to the crumbling of yet another greedy, capitalistic, monopoly of a billion dollar industry.

(10-31-2017, 04:08 AM)bengalsturntup5532 Wrote: Good,cause ESPN is now a paid channel

Hasn't it always been a pay channel?

(10-31-2017, 09:21 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: ESPN has major issues in house and have alienated 50% of their fan base jumping into the political arena. The protests by the players also is a factor. I see the NFL empire financial empire starting to crumble with viewership declining over 20% the past 2 years and no end in sight to repair their tarnished record of allowing players to disrespect the flag and the country. The reality is they lost fans and lots of them and likely will taker years to recover them if they ever recover them.

Making things worse is that the NFL has been losing revenue, and is set to lose a whole lot more, but stupidly increased the salary cap by huge chunks year after year.  Then, they put the cap floor in the current labor deal.  When the current labor deal is up, they are going to need to get rid of the floor and/or negotiate a reduction in the cap.  That's going to mean a prolonged lockout.

I never really cared for MNF anyway. I'd much rather NFL games be on Friday, Saturday, and mainly Sunday. But then again I don't care for high school football at all (do people actually care about that?) and I only care to watch college football games when it's two ranked teams and expected to be a good game.

(10-31-2017, 09:51 AM)Whatever Wrote: Making things worse is that the NFL has been losing revenue, and is set to lose a whole lot more, but stupidly increased the salary cap by huge chunks year after year.  Then, they put the cap floor in the current labor deal.  When the current labor deal is up, they are going to need to get rid of the floor and/or negotiate a reduction in the cap.  That's going to mean a prolonged lockout.

Salary cap goes up because the players are guaranteed a percentage of the revenue, which transitively means revenue has been going up...

You know what this means, guys? Someone will be out of a Job and looking for work :

(10-31-2017, 10:13 AM)bengals73 Wrote: You know what this means, guys? Someone will be out of a Job and looking for work :

Someone else would have to be out of a job first

Perhaps ESPN will figure out it is not the NFL but ESPN that is losing viewers.

Great. Haven’t watched ESPN since the nfl network came on line. With the exceptions of MNF.

Love seeing espn become even more irrelevant. Maybe they can just play more soccer lol.

Now if we can only get NFLN to start running old strongman competition videos on Saturday mornings.

Not so sure about that. I was at the game Sunday, we were playing a team less than 2 hours away, and the stadium was nowhere near full.....

without espn MNF I may cancel cable altogether. Get a sling box for 20 dollars a month and subscribe to whatever service is carrying MNF and TNF. They think they are saving money in reality they will be costing themselves more. Stupid people making stupid business decisions. Kind of like where this country is as a whole.

ESPN is half the reason people are being turned off by the NFL. And they're 100% of the reason people are being turned off by them.

I wouldn't be surprised, they will drop the NFL and pick up soccer.......... :paul:

They lost 480,000 subscribers In October.