ESPN spits on net neutrality.
For those of you who want to watch the UEFA Euro Cup semifinal matchup
between Spain and Russia online: you can and you can't. Unfortunately, ESPN360 is only available to Verizon and SBC (AT&T) customers.
As a consumer, I am upset because:
1) I can't even subscribe to Verizon or AT&T in my neighborhood.
2) I already pay $20 (and soon $30) a month to AT&T for my phone's data plan.
3) I would happily pay the $3/month fee ESPN charges service providers.
But on a political and philosophical level, I am outraged because ESPN's decision is in flagrant disregard for the concept of net neutrality. Taken to it's logical extreme, this would be the equivalent of Google only offering its services to Comcast subscribers -- which would never happen, because sacrificing customers for short term corporate kickbacks is a terrible business model destined to fail (ahem ESPN!).
The U.S. Open provides an important counterpoint. When Tiger Woods forced Rocco Mediate into a historic fifth-day playoff, the PGA offered to show the entire event off its website. In brilliant streaming video. With a single advertisement upfront. This move engendered a tremendous amount of goodwill in golf fans, particularly for those following the game at work.
At best, soccer is a niche market in the United States. ESPN should be doing everything in its power to flourish American interest in the sport, so it can reap advertising windfall in future competitions -- particularly with the World Cup in 2010. [To be fair, UEFA is equally as draconian with its intellectual property rights.]
Instead, ESPN has decided to mimic the NFL Network with its obsession for exclusive rights and short-term profits at the cost of its fan base.
between Spain and Russia online: you can and you can't. Unfortunately, ESPN360 is only available to Verizon and SBC (AT&T) customers.
As a consumer, I am upset because:
1) I can't even subscribe to Verizon or AT&T in my neighborhood.
2) I already pay $20 (and soon $30) a month to AT&T for my phone's data plan.
3) I would happily pay the $3/month fee ESPN charges service providers.
But on a political and philosophical level, I am outraged because ESPN's decision is in flagrant disregard for the concept of net neutrality. Taken to it's logical extreme, this would be the equivalent of Google only offering its services to Comcast subscribers -- which would never happen, because sacrificing customers for short term corporate kickbacks is a terrible business model destined to fail (ahem ESPN!).
The U.S. Open provides an important counterpoint. When Tiger Woods forced Rocco Mediate into a historic fifth-day playoff, the PGA offered to show the entire event off its website. In brilliant streaming video. With a single advertisement upfront. This move engendered a tremendous amount of goodwill in golf fans, particularly for those following the game at work.
At best, soccer is a niche market in the United States. ESPN should be doing everything in its power to flourish American interest in the sport, so it can reap advertising windfall in future competitions -- particularly with the World Cup in 2010. [To be fair, UEFA is equally as draconian with its intellectual property rights.]
Instead, ESPN has decided to mimic the NFL Network with its obsession for exclusive rights and short-term profits at the cost of its fan base.
posted by d l wright at 6/26/2008 10:58:00 AM
1 Comments:
Of course, this is coming from the same corporation that thought they could have their own cell phone company. And then decided to follow up on the failed cell phone initiative with this monster.
Post a Comment
<< Home