Is ESPN+ A Positive for the Valley?

(St. Louis, MO) – What are the biggest questions of the day? ‘Did Trump collude with the Russians?’ ‘Will bitcoin take over the global economy?’ ‘Gun control questions?’

NO! The only question on my mind is, ‘how does this new ESPN+ thing affect my consumption of Missouri Valley Conference basketball?’ I’m sure those other questions matter, but how does this affect my viewing of a Drake versus Evansville game in mid February? These are big issues people!

When I heard the news of the app and the price, I was immediately flooded with fears of ‘pay-per-view’, less games to see and greedy basketball conferences.

So, I called Jack Watkins, Associate Commissioner of the Missouri Valley Conference to get the low down on this new paid service. My fears were calmed, my hopes lifted up and the birds are singing outside my window once again.

There is a fee associated with this new app, but the whole change at ESPN is due to changes in the market place. These changes will affect our sports consumption, but it could be a hopeful thing for you cord cutters and cord shavers out there.

For all of the free programming many of us are used to receiving the business model isn’t working for Walt Disney (ESPN’s parent company). We read about layoffs and financial fall-offs at the ‘World Wide Leader’ all the time. This is due in large part to people leaving both cable and digital television programs or trimming the ‘add-ons’ such as the sports packages to save money.

So the redesigned and ‘re-imagined’ ESPN App will include current ESPN offerings, but will add additional content that cannot be seen in any other capacity. Watkins explains that the 4-letter network is trying to reach out to those that have left or trimmed their television capacities.

 

 

While we have enjoyed free MVC basketball games via the various ESPN platforms, and the ability to see every Valley conference game (largely on ESPN3) has been a bonanza for the Valley basketball junkies like myself, Watkins says ESPN3 is not going away, but some of the games will move behind that paid service wall.

 

 

The cost is $4.99 per month or $49.99 for the year and fans will receive news, scores, highlights and audio; TV Everywhere streaming; and ESPN+. Yes, we are paying for some things that used to be free, but there are potential advantages on the way.

Already the Valley’s partnership with ESPN has made viewing of those streamed games much more enjoyable. Since the MVC was an early adapter of the ESPNU and ESPN3 opportunities, the two entities continue to expand their working arrangements. Watkins says the branding of ‘The Valley on ESPN3’ has worked in the league’s favor.

 

 

I asked Watkins, who oversees the Valley’s linear and digital video operations, about the future possibilities. I investigated whether we could see Arch Madness games moving to the paid service and whether this new app and expanded opportunities could lead to more ‘Valley-Centric’ programming.

Watkins says the league is in its fourth year of a ten-year agreement with ESPN, and the Valley will have a chance to stand out on the smart TV options. Watkins foresees some very exciting future growth opportunities beyond just live action games. Perhaps the MVC’s own ’30 for 30 Series’ would be in our future.

 

 

In the league’s press release, Commissioner Doug Elgin says the Valley is looking forward.

“Reaching current as well as future audiences is the top priority for our linear and digital video endeavors, and ESPN continues to position its place as a leader in the industry,” said Elgin. “Utilizing mobile devices to stay as up-to-date as possible on every one of our athletic programs is nothing new for our fans, and the redesigned ESPN App will give sports fans an unmatched, one-stop digital sports platform.”

The league will continue to fashion the broadcasts as a ‘Valley’ production and Watkins says they will continue to utilize those broadcasts as story-telling mechanisms, but they will also be able to continue to monetize the digital broadcasts.

 

 

ESPN and the league office will collaborate about which games are on ESPN+ and which are on other platforms like ESPN3 or ESPNU. Watkins is confident that the two entities will work well together on those decisions, but fans should know, a significant number of the Valley’s games will be on ESPN+.

 

 

If you are like me and hadn’t trimmed or cut your cable cord, this will cost you a couple of dollars to maintain what you already had. For those that have made those choices, you now have an inexpensive option for tons of ESPN content as-well-as being able to binge-watch Missouri Valley Conference games!

Looking at the bigger picture, we can all see the changes coming in digital and linear programming. For ESPN to see a valuable place for MVC programming and the two entities to work together to bring Valley fans expanded coverage at a reasonable cost actually makes me hopeful.

Studio shows, ’30 for 30 Series’, feature shows as well as the games could potentially be available to us for an insignificant fee.

Do Good