At least MLB lets in-market subscribers watch the game no later than 90 minutes after it ends. If you work nights, as I do, that's a real plus. The NHL, on the other hand, imposes a 48-hour blackout, meaning the in-market fan often doesn't get to see one game until his team has already played another. That's plenty of incentive to turn to off-shore streaming sites instead of paying the NHL, and I'm surprised the league hasn't liberalized its rules yet. It would pay off in additional subscriptions.
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WGN America dropping Chicago sports
- Thread starter ShawnHill1
- Start date
At least MLB lets in-market subscribers watch the game no later than 90 minutes after it ends. If you work nights, as I do, that's a real plus. The NHL, on the other hand, imposes a 48-hour blackout, meaning the in-market fan often doesn't get to see one game until his team has already played another. That's plenty of incentive to turn to off-shore streaming sites instead of paying the NHL, and I'm surprised the league hasn't liberalized its rules yet. It would pay off in additional subscriptions.
This is not good. Ive noticed less original programming from WGNAmerica schedule lately and more old TV show replays and occasional movies. I really think that this network is in danger of being either sold off or shut down. Advertisers aren’t going to want to spend money on commercials when their ratings are probably way down compared to when they had sports other original programming on the network.
You have another factor to deal with how will Nexstar handle WGN America if they intend to keep the outlet once the Tribune deal is done. WGN America was doing original series for some time but that got called off in 2017-2018 years ago when the then pending Sinclair/Tribune deal was at play with a then rumor of Sinclair Pundits taking over WGN America.
Nexstar is another story they are not known for original content beyond local news though.
Another question is what will happen to Antenna TV?
Unlike in 2014, the question is no longer "Will people drop cable TV?" but rather "How many people will drop Cable TV and how quickly?". Cable operators are constantly looking for channels with low viewership or no original programming to drop as more content moves online and to on-demand tiers. Even cable operators that also operate cable channels (Comcast) are dropping networks that have lower viewership to stop (as much as they can) programming costs from rising more than they have to.
It's even gotten to the point that Comcast has started introducing packages that include Netflix, and likely won't stop there. I am not saying that cable isn't convenient, but it becomes a value proposition for people that don't watch much TV, or that don't watch sports. Why would I pay $100 to watch 4-5 channels (on their schedule, with commercials unless I have a DVR) when I can get Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, and CBS All Access for LESS where I am able to watch things on my schedule at higher quality, with no commercials?
Now, I know some will say it doesn't work for them for whatever reason, but I would argue that, for the vast majority, it does work. Cable TV's value is having the widest variety of content for one price, but I think over time, as consumption patterns shift, people will be happy with 1 or 2 streaming services at a time, binge what's on them, then switch the service.
Brining it back on topic, I don't think WGN America is long for this world. No original programming, less and less carriage every year, and no compelling reason to seek them out. (And for the record, I don't think this only applies to WGN America, I think most cable-exclusive content providers will cut at least 1 linear cable channel in the next 2-5 years).
It's even gotten to the point that Comcast has started introducing packages that include Netflix, and likely won't stop there. I am not saying that cable isn't convenient, but it becomes a value proposition for people that don't watch much TV, or that don't watch sports. Why would I pay $100 to watch 4-5 channels (on their schedule, with commercials unless I have a DVR) when I can get Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, and CBS All Access for LESS where I am able to watch things on my schedule at higher quality, with no commercials?
Now, I know some will say it doesn't work for them for whatever reason, but I would argue that, for the vast majority, it does work. Cable TV's value is having the widest variety of content for one price, but I think over time, as consumption patterns shift, people will be happy with 1 or 2 streaming services at a time, binge what's on them, then switch the service.
Brining it back on topic, I don't think WGN America is long for this world. No original programming, less and less carriage every year, and no compelling reason to seek them out. (And for the record, I don't think this only applies to WGN America, I think most cable-exclusive content providers will cut at least 1 linear cable channel in the next 2-5 years).
Also WGN America was once relevant when Tribune WGN-TV was required to separate their feed when Tribune had the WB and CW affiliations in Chicago but now WGN-TV is independent.
I don't know what is the point of keeping WGN America if they are not going to do original content beyond local newscasts in Chicago when the Nexstar deal is approved.
Also in the story of Chicago Sports on WGN America that is going to be less relevant now that sports leagues like the NBA, NHL, and MLB could air those events on their league pass outlets or NBC Sports Net Chicago edition.
I'm sure there's a highly paid executive at Nexstar who is overseeing all potential asset sales after the merger. Owning a cable channel becomes less important when people are dropping cable. Owning a production company (which Tribune has) is less important when all you run are local TV stations. There was a time when Tribune was a mini-major, but that was before the bankruptcy. Now they're just another asset being purchased by another TV company. I expect they'll move out of Chicago at some point too.
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