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ESPN Sues Verizon To Stop New Sports-Free TV Bundles

Posted by samzenpus on from the sports-or-nothing dept.

Mr D from 63 writes: ESPN isn't a fan of Verizon's new way of offering cable channels under its Fios TV service — they're now suing Verizon for it. The lawsuit comes after Verizon unveiled new bundles that allow customers to choose specific packages of channels that can be swapped every 30 days. ESPN claims this offer is not in compliance with their agreements with Verizon. In the U.S., ESPN depends heavily on viewership during the football season, then basketball. "ESPN is at the forefront of embracing innovative ways to deliver high-quality content and value to consumers on multiple platforms, but that must be done in compliance with our agreements," said an ESPN spokeswoman in a statement. "We simply ask that Verizon abide by the terms of our contracts."

6 of 329 comments (clear)

  1. well then it's a bad contract by roman_mir · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If Verizon is in fact breaking a contract it has with ESPN then all I can say is that it is a horrible contract.

    I don't watch TV, haven't for more years than I can remember, I don't care for commercials and I don't care for the content. I have 0 (zero) interest in watching any sports on TV whatsoever, never had any interest in watching sports, never will have any interest in watching sports.

    Just saying, forcing somebody like me to sign up for a service that provides sports information as part of the package is a 100% way to have me avoid that service.

    --
    You can't handle the truth.
    1. Re:well then it's a bad contract by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Forced inclusion of expensive channels that I never watch was the primary driver of me dropping my cable sub. I was thinking about doing Dish's Sling TV, but it has guess what as part of the base package? ESPN. I don't want to give that fucking company a dime, even if Sling TV is cheap.

    2. Re:well then it's a bad contract by ArhcAngel · · Score: 5, Informative

      Disney (they own ESPN) has always negotiated the contract such that if you want to purchase ESPN you must purchase ALL of ESPN's channels. Oh, and if you offer it on your base tier package then you must offer all of it on the base tier package.

      Don't like it? Fine no Disney/ABC/ESPN channels for you! And no Marvel or Star Wars titles. And no Muppets while we're at it. You want to tell your kid he can't watch Disney because YOU wouldn't pay for ESPN Classic?

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
    3. Re:well then it's a bad contract by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What planet are you on?

  2. ESPN can go eff themselves. by toonces33 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There is absolutely nothing innovative about what they do other than pick the pockets of every cable/satellite subscriber in the country. It is attitudes like theirs that are pushing more and more people to just cut the cord and build their own a-la-carte bundles from Netflix or Hulu.

    1. Re:ESPN can go eff themselves. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The difference is that the home shopping and religious channels usually pay the cable company to be included. Those channels are subsidizing your other programming and your cost would be (slightly) higher without them.