Page 4 of 9

Re: ESPN3

Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:37 pm
by angeline
We recently switched from AT&T to Sonic and were very unpleasantly surprised to find out that we could no longer watch ESPN3. I was surprised to find out about the per customer charge. However, I don't think ESPN is entirely to blame for this trend. I recall reading a few years ago about how ESPN had started striking deals with ISPs because several of the larger ones were blocking access to their site and other ones that "used a lot of bandwidth." I believe that is how the so-called "slippery slope" started. While I do agree that people should not be charged for services they don't want or use, I wish that it were available for the rest of us.

The main reason we switched from AT&T was the data cap imposed by AT&T. We do not subscribe to pay TV and get most of our entertainment content through streaming internet service. The increased download speeds and the lack of data caps, with a phone line included, for a price significantly lower than AT&T's were very appealing. However, I'm not sure my husband would have agreed to the switch if we had known ahead of time about the inability to access ESPN3, since our main goal in switching was to be able to get more streaming content.

We use a Roku box and I'd really like to see ESPN offer a channel on there. I will suggest it to them. I do think the Roku offers a good opportunity for "a la carte" streaming internet channels. However, I also think it would be wonderful if Sonic were able to figure out a way to strike some sort of deal with ESPN to make it available to us. I would be willing to pay the suggested $5 more per month for it.

Re: ESPN3 & NBC Sports

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:10 pm
by bmcdonnell
When trying to check out the US-France women's soccer game, I just realized we can't watch the Olympics on nbcsports.com either. I'm going to have to get a back-up Internet provider for the summer!

Re: ESPN3 & NBC Sports

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:32 pm
by dane
bmcdonnell wrote:When trying to check out the US-France women's soccer game, I just realized we can't watch the Olympics on nbcsports.com either. I'm going to have to get a back-up Internet provider for the summer!
NBC's online Olympics coverage is available to Sonic.net subscribers (and those of other broadband providers), as long as they subscribe to a pay TV service which includes NBC's channels. From the NBCOlympics.com site: "With a cable, satellite or telco TV subscription that includes MSNBC and CNBC, you will have access to live streams of EVERY Olympic event." This means that Sonic.net subscribers who have Comcast, Dish, or our own DIRECTV bundle all can qualify.

For more tips, see the NPR's article "Watch The London Olympics Online: A Guide To Web Video And Mobile Apps", here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetorch/2012/ ... obile-apps

Re: ESPN3

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:23 pm
by naggi
I just wanted to put in my vote for a service tier that allows users to get ESPN3 access. It's the only thing that I had with AT&T that I miss with sonic.net. Otherwise, the service is "perfect."

Re: ESPN3

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:58 pm
by dane
naggi wrote:I just wanted to put in my vote for a service tier that allows users to get ESPN3 access. It's the only thing that I had with AT&T that I miss with sonic.net. Otherwise, the service is "perfect."
It would be great if we could make it a service tier or option. However, the offering requires payment by ALL customers, regardless of whether they want it or not.

Re: ESPN3

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:24 pm
by Steve
Every year I check to see if Sonic offers espn3 yet. Then I stick with AT&T for another year. This is the first time I've bothered to give Sonic feedback about this. I bet I'm not alone.

Re: ESPN3

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 9:30 am
by jmunowitch
I am glad Sonic.net does not pay for ESPN3 for every customer. I do not want to encourage companies to force these types of deals on ISPs, rather than offer them to individuals.

If ESPN offered an individual monthly plan to stream all of their sports and programs, I would pay for it. But alas, don't force it on everybody.

Re: ESPN3

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:36 am
by dane
The most common response to this is that those who want it should be able to pay for it, and those who do not shouldn't be subject to the cost. This brings up an idea:

We could run a Kickstarter style campaign to see if those who want it and are willing to pay for it are a big enough group to cover the costs - and if so, we'd sign up.

So - straw poll: for those of you who would like to have ESPN3 access here, would you be willing to pay an extra one-time fee for three years of ESPN3 access? If so, how much would you choose to pay? $10? $30? $100?

Re: ESPN3

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:04 pm
by thulsa_doom
dane wrote:We could run a Kickstarter style campaign to see if those who want it and are willing to pay for it are a big enough group to cover the costs - and if so, we'd sign up.

So - straw poll: for those of you who would like to have ESPN3 access here, would you be willing to pay an extra one-time fee for three years of ESPN3 access? If so, how much would you choose to pay? $10? $30? $100?
I recall that getting a negative reaction last time I proposed it publicly.

That said, let's figure out how much it would cost to provide it for a year, not a ballpark guestimate but an actual figure that can be acted upon, then set up the kickstarter, and the folks that want it can either cover the cost or hold their peace. Let the battlecry go forth: give the people what they want (if they can demonstrate they really want it).

Re: ESPN3

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 1:45 pm
by aw
I really like that idea. Even though I wouldn't really use the service myself (or want to pay a higher monthly for it), I'd throw down $10 for the cause, and I'd definitely tell my sports-fan friends (all Sonic customers) about it!