Poll: Do you plan on getting a ESPN+ subscription for the 2018-19 MBB season?

[VU2014]

Do you plan on getting a ESPN+ subscription for the 2018-19 MBB season?

For me it's absolutely worth it to watch Valpo Basketball. $5 a month or $50 for annual subscription is worth it to me with all the extra content it comes with. I'm going to do the $50 annual subscription but I won't start the subscription till the basketball season begin.

Some games will still be on ESPN3 but some will be behind the paywall of ESPN+, particularly during the conference season. I'm wondering if this will encourage more fans to attend games live as opposed to being able to watch the games from home. If I lived closer to Valparaiso I'd probably have season tickets. Going to the games live is just a much more fun experience. I'm curious to hear everyones opinion on ESPN+.

The Indiana State beat reporter wrote article about the potential impact of ESPN+ on the Missouri Valley Conference:

https://twitter.com/tribstarsports/status/1025532200161169409

TODD AARON GOLDEN: ISU, MVC and fans lose with ESPN paywall
By Todd Aaron Golden
Tribune-Star
Aug 3, 2018

http://www.tribstar.com/sports/todd-aaron-golden-isu-mvc-and-fans-lose-with-espn/article_b4bea5d7-99d0-55c2-9e36-097f8bf3eb5d.html

[vu72]

Granted it was free, but now isn't, but $5 a month? Gas used to be 25 cents a gallon also. Come on.  Any serious fan isn't going to not watch for about half of the cost of one beer at your local saloon.  I'm already a subscriber.

[valpo64]

Does the subscription cover all sports ?

[wh]

I will gladly pay $5, and as a regular home game attendee presumably I won't get the same benefit longer distance fans will.

Free is always better, of course.   

[vu72]

Does the subscription cover all sports ?

Yes, just like ESPN3 was.

[vu84v2]

I can certainly afford the cost, but this is a bad move for the MVC. If you are trying to grow interest, don't create barriers for the marginal fan to watch the game. ESPN3 is great and gives anyone with internet easy access to games. There will be some number of people who consider watching a game who will then realize, "oh you have to buy that subscription" - and will move to something else. They might 'move on' because of the cost, but are more likely to move on due to potential security concerns from signing up for the subscription or that they just don't want to bother.

[VU2014]

Does the subscription cover all sports ?

Yes. There will also be additional premium content that wasn't available on ESPN3: UFC, boxing, MLS, most out-of-market MLB and NHL broadcast, "exclusive" ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries, etc. One added bonus is that apparently games that are broadcast on ESPN+ will have fewer commercial breaks.

[SanityLost17]

I think this is cheap.  Really cheap.  I am sure as more people ditch their cable packages the price will eventually go higher as ESPN+ will be everyone's substitute for having ESPN in their cable package. It will be like Netflix, HBO, Cinemax, or Amazon only for sports.  $100 a year and you get all of their programming.       

[swiftmutiny]

Absolutely. I don't have cable, and have no intention of ever doing so again. I don't mind paying a bit to be able to watch my favorite team, as long as the streams are of a professional, high quality.

[valpotx]

No issue paying $5/month, if it keeps us on a streaming platform

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1032106334022332416

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1031895436007800832
https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1031897883145129984

[valporun]

ESPN+ has a 30-Day Free Trial going on right now, if anyone is interested in seeing what it is like, and then deciding how often they would use it for Valpo Football, Volleyball, and Men's/Women's Soccer. It looks like it will be a better quality video on the "+ siide", but the ESPN3 content is still variable based on the school providing the video.

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/valpoathletics/status/1054752934402113537?s=20

[M]

I won't be paying for it. Already pay for Netflix and Sling. I'll listen to the radio call and maybe catch a replay if those still wind up available.