Would you pay $35 a month to stream ESPN?
Disney is in talks with Amazon to partner for an ESPN streaming service, but the proposed monthly cost of $35 makes it the most expensive streaming network available, raising doubts about its profitability.
Topics
Posted 8/25/2023, 9:11:48 PM
ktla.com
Relevant topic timeline:
Main topic: Disney announces price hike for Disney+ and Hulu, introduces bundle option and plans to address account sharing.
Key points:
1. Disney+ premium tier and Hulu ad-free plan will be raised by $3, with Disney+ costing $13.99 and Hulu costing $17.99 per month.
2. A new Duo Premium subscription will be available for $19.99, bundling both ad-free tiers of Disney+ and Hulu.
3. Disney plans to launch the $8 ad-supported tier in Europe and Canada in November and will address account sharing by implementing new policies in 2024.
Amazon Music Unlimited has increased its pricing for Prime members by $1 per month, with annual plans also seeing a $10 to $16.99 increase. Other music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music have also recently raised their prices. The price increase is said to be for bringing more content and features to the platform, but it remains to be seen if this will differentiate Amazon Music Unlimited from its competitors.
Main topic: Amazon is offering influencers $25 per video for its "Inspire" shopping feed, but some creators are mocking the low rate.
Key points:
1. Amazon is offering influencers $25 for each qualifying video featuring two or more Amazon products in the same category.
2. The company plans to cap the initiative at 35,000 videos, costing $875,000.
3. Some creators have criticized the low payment and mocked Amazon's offering on social media.
More hints on Elon Musk are not provided in the given text.
Amazon is reportedly in talks with Disney to work on the streaming version of ESPN and potentially acquire a minority stake in the sports network.
Disney CEO Bob Iger's search for equity partners for ESPN could result in Amazon acquiring a minority stake in the network to aid in the development of a direct-to-consumer version, joining other potential partners such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, and Verizon.
ESPN is considering charging $20 to $35 per month for its standalone streaming service, potentially impacting cable TV, but facing the risk of losing customers due to the high price.
Amazon is considering partnering with ESPN as it moves towards becoming a streaming service, a move likely influenced by increasing cord-cutting and decreasing profitability for ESPN.
Walt Disney has pulled its channels, including ABC stations and ESPN, from Charter Spectrum due to a distribution fee dispute, leaving nearly 15 million subscribers without access to popular programming such as "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune."
ESPN is facing challenges as consumers shift to streaming and turn to other platforms for sports highlights, leading to a decline in pay-TV households and increasing costs for live sports programming, prompting speculation about the future of the network, including the possibility of a strategic partnership and the eventual availability of the flagship ESPN channel as a direct-to-consumer streaming service.
Disney has urged Charter Communications customers to consider switching pay-TV services if they want access to ESPN and other networks, as the carriage dispute between the two companies continues. Disney also highlighted that customers have numerous options, including competing pay-TV providers and TV streaming services.
Disney's Linear Networks division, which includes ESPN and other channels, has been struggling with declining viewership and revenue, prompting management to explore strategic alternatives and potential partnerships to transition into a more streaming-oriented business.
Media mogul Byron Allen has offered $10 billion to purchase ABC television network, FX, and National Geographic from the Walt Disney Co., as Disney faces financial pressures from its struggling streaming business.
The 65-inch Amazon Fire TV offers a fantastic viewing experience with smart features, support for HDR and Dolby audio, and access to popular streaming services, all at a discounted price of $560.
Disney's potential sale of ABC and its affiliated networks is not primarily motivated by financial gains, but rather serves as a signal to investors that Disney is ready to move away from traditional television and focus on its streaming businesses.