ESPN charging ISPs to carry ESPN360
There aren’t many more powerful cable entities than ESPN. Their particular brand of broadband video offering is called ESPN 360, where you can watch many of the regular ESPN shows, as well as a growing number of live events such as college football. Most online video offerings tend to be either advertiser-supported, or charge the end user for access. ESPN 360 is charging the internet service providor for the right to carry the service. This is much like the subscription model that exists today with regular cable channels. Time will tell if this is going to be a success. I’m thinking by limiting yourself to certain ISPs, they will be shutting off a large group of people who would gladly pay to access the content, but don’t want to change ISPs to do it. It also completely shuts out the international market, something that MLB.TV especially caters to. I think we’ll see a change in direction before it’s all said and done.
