A.H.Black
12-28-2011, 08:25 PM
This is getting ridiculous. If you want Sunday Ticket, you need DirectTV. If you want US, you need DISH, and if you need reliable internet, you need cable from one of the providers licensed by your town. No wonder YouTube is so popular. Even if they play Whack-A-Mole and take the vids off as they find them, they're usually there long enough for most to get a chance at them.
I'm confused by your reference to DISH. DISH has a channel called Universal but it is not Universal Sports. DISH has never had Universal Sports. The only provider to have Universal Sports after January 1st will be DirectTV. At least for now.
I understand that the local station distribution arrangements expire at midnight on December 31, 2011 and the network will be distributed directly to cable, satellite and telco TV providers on a subscription basis. So, why will FIOS which is a (telco) provider pick up this option and use it as On Demand or a Pay Channel, like HBO, etc. I wish I knew how we couldconvince FIOS to not drop this channel.
The Universal help page goes on to explain -
Why is Universal Sports Network making this transition?
Universal Sports Network offers some of the most compelling Olympic and adventure sports programming from around the world. This is valuable, exclusive content that merits the payment of subscription fees. Changing our distribution model from over-the-air digital multicast will also free us from bandwidth constraints and allow us to offer the network in high definition (HD) for the first time. In the end, by making this transition, Universal Sports will be able to provide a better viewing experience to the many passionate fans of the sports we televise.
It seems clear that Universal thinks they can make more money and provide more services by going to subscription distribution. Maybe they are right. I think they are taking a risk.
I'm confused by your reference to DISH. DISH has a channel called Universal but it is not Universal Sports. DISH has never had Universal Sports. The only provider to have Universal Sports after January 1st will be DirectTV. At least for now.
I understand that the local station distribution arrangements expire at midnight on December 31, 2011 and the network will be distributed directly to cable, satellite and telco TV providers on a subscription basis. So, why will FIOS which is a (telco) provider pick up this option and use it as On Demand or a Pay Channel, like HBO, etc. I wish I knew how we couldconvince FIOS to not drop this channel.
The Universal help page goes on to explain -
Why is Universal Sports Network making this transition?
Universal Sports Network offers some of the most compelling Olympic and adventure sports programming from around the world. This is valuable, exclusive content that merits the payment of subscription fees. Changing our distribution model from over-the-air digital multicast will also free us from bandwidth constraints and allow us to offer the network in high definition (HD) for the first time. In the end, by making this transition, Universal Sports will be able to provide a better viewing experience to the many passionate fans of the sports we televise.
It seems clear that Universal thinks they can make more money and provide more services by going to subscription distribution. Maybe they are right. I think they are taking a risk.