Great discussion! I have a few questions for the board about ESPN.
What effect will cord-cutting and unbundling have on competition and cost to broadcast games?
It seems to me that all of these cord-cutting measures will reduce the value of broadcasting games, thereby reducing the competition and cost broadcasters are willing to pay for the rights. Leagues may gain a larger share of a smaller pie, but are they willing to do so? What effect would it have on revenues, which will then affect salaries?
How much does the brand matter? Big egos want to be on the biggest stage. There well could be a disrupter coming, but right now it seems to be on ESPN. Right now colleges use, “You’ll be on ESPN” as a major recruiting tool. Will, “All of your friends and family be able to stream your games for $xxx/year” have the same effect?
If total sports networks as we know them go away, who are the winners and losers? I have no idea how the financials for each league/team break down. Is MLB subsidized by the NFL, for example? The boxing example seems like a warning for the others. Do they all make more money by being on a shared platform?