ESPN Loses Another 1.5 Million Subscribers

VideoEagle · November 28, 2018

Here's a WSJ article on cable losing another million subscribers in 3Q 2018. It's behind a paywall, but there's a good explanation video you can see without being a subscriber.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/outlook-for-traditional-tv-goes-from-bad-to-worse-1542632401

UNTLifer · November 28, 2018

17 hours ago, Arkstfan said:

We will see when it comes to AAC. They deliver good ratings but if no one tries to outbid ESPN the ratings won’t mean much.

Does the AAC deliver good ratings outside of UCF?

untjim1995 · November 28, 2018

17 hours ago, Arkstfan said:

We will see when it comes to AAC. They deliver good ratings but if no one tries to outbid ESPN the ratings won’t mean much.

I agree--their league has good rating because of UCF, USF, UH, Memphis, and Cincy being solid names/programs, as well as the appeal of Navy. But your point about little demand for AAC coverage is the key point. There's just no way that they can expect their network deal to get better in the years ahead.

Of course, I still think that the an agreement between the MWC and the AAC to have their league champions play each other might just get that champion a spot in a playoff in the future, especially if they add in Big 12 leftovers and BYU and Army.

You could easily see this setup:

The Pacific Division of MWC

Hawaii, SDSU, SJSU, Fresno State, Nevada, UNLV, Boise State, BYU

The Eastern Division of MWC

Utah State, Wyoming, Colorado State, AFA, New Mexico, TCU, Baylor, Kansas State

The Atlantic Division of the AAC

Army, UConn, Temple, ECU, UCF, USF, and Navy

The Western Division of the AAC

UH, SMU, Tulsa, Tulane, Memphis, Iowa State, and Cincy

Arkstfan · November 28, 2018

4 hours ago, UNTLifer said:

Does the AAC deliver good ratings outside of UCF?

Yeah UCF isn't the only team that has been notably good the past few years. Now are people clamoring to watch UConn vs. SMU? Of course not but Houston, Memphis, Cincinnati, and USF have been nationally relevant and Navy is a draw as long as they don't suck like they did this year.