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Posted

Some might find it easier to head directly to the story versus Reddit:

https://nypost.com/2025/01/31/media/msg-networks-in-talks-to-avoid-bankruptcy-possibly-with-help-of-amazon-sources/

The interesting part to me is that this could (should?) end the Sabres partnership with MSG. “New MSGN owners in a potential bankruptcy could cancel the Knicks and Rangers media rights deal and negotiate a much lower contract, the RSN source said.” The reporting doesn’t specifically call out the Sabres broadcasts, but it’s fair to imply.   

Not that I expect Terry to do what is in the best interest of the fans (which is to deliver his product direct to consumers and for free). But plenty of NHL teams already do this:

https://cordcuttingreport.com/why-more-nhl-fans-can-watch-their-team-for-free-this-season/

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Posted (edited)

I know this gets brough up all the time and I get shot down for bringing it up (probably appropriately)....but, can a 'new' vesion of Empire sports network work, with Pegula owning the Sabres, Bills and Bandits (and Amerks?)

They can offer it on cable and/or a subscription app. (could probably make a good $$$ on people from out of town signing up for a few dollars a month)

The Sabres and Bills radio shows that are already broadcast on MSG

Sabres games.

Some Amerks games (if allowed). Bandits games.  Do stuff on the new Stadium where Maddy Glab just walks around the job site and shows pictures of beams and concrete, I"m sure people would watch that.

Replays of those games, and to fill time "classic" games or any other affordable (cheap) team related proggramming the can do (Broadcast the stuff they have on Youtube).

I'm not sure if it can be profitable, but they sure would have access to programming. And it might be a good way to 'advertise" for their teams in the local area too.

Edited by mjd1001
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Posted
4 minutes ago, Mr Peabody said:

Shocking they didn’t nail it with their $30 / month price tag.  Price elasticity ignored. 

I wouldn’t have used the MSG app if they paid me $30 a month.  Probably not even $300.  It was easily the worst steaming experience I’ve ever had and I subscribed to AHLTV. 

Posted

MSG has been a thorn in my side.  Even when we tried a basic cable package and the only TV channel I personally wanted was MSG it was an issue.  $30 a month?  To watch the Sabres and what?  Knicks basketball?  ***** the Knicks.  Who names a team after pants?!

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Posted (edited)

What Terry should do is buy one of the UHF Buffalo channels, 23, 49 or 67, and put the Sabres on that. That way people in Ontario can watch and stick it to the Maple Leafs.

Edited by PromoTheRobot
Posted

Thoughts on the current Gotham Sports app?

I like having the Sabres and Yankees to distract me during the NFL "offseason"...but neither franchise/front office is exactly giving it their all to earn subscription viewers these days.

Posted

Well, considering Bezos is now aligned with your fascist President, who damaged our great country of Canada, I’ll never be using Amazon again for anything.

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Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 8:46 PM, PromoTheRobot said:

What Terry should do is buy one of the UHF Buffalo channels, 23, 49 or 67, and put the Sabres on that. That way people in Ontario can watch and stick it to the Maple Leafs.

That happened in the 1970s didn't it? I don't remember the year but I remember as a kid they moved off channel 2 or 7 or something and were on channel 49 for a while. We still had an antennae on the side of the house in those days and could pick up a snowy signal in Hamilton. After that they were back on whatever channel ran Hill Street Blues. I remember that because my mother was always annoyed when the Sabres games ran long and they delayed it or cut off the beginning with the "joined in progress". 

man I feel old 🙂

 

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Posted
On 2/5/2025 at 1:36 AM, Sabres73 said:

Well, considering Bezos is now aligned with your fascist President, who damaged our great country of Canada, I’ll never be using Amazon again for anything.

I agree Bezos and the Prez are trash humans, but the Amazon streaming app is probably the best quality streaming app out there. I'd love it if MSG was added.

Btw, historically most people that own TV networks, newspapers, movie production companies, large companies, etc are trash and/or horrible people. 

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Posted

Many of the regional sports networks are in financial difficulty. My guess is the reason for this is the ability to watch games through non authorized streaming. Unless there is a crackdown to stop that there is no way starting a new one makes sense. Even the NBA is losing viewership. Not sure what it would take to plug that leaky dam bit unless they do it will just get worse.  

Posted (edited)
21 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

Many of the regional sports networks are in financial difficulty. My guess is the reason for this is the ability to watch games through non authorized streaming. Unless there is a crackdown to stop that there is no way starting a new one makes sense. Even the NBA is losing viewership. Not sure what it would take to plug that leaky dam bit unless they do it will just get worse.  

You might be correct that it can't work anymore. I guess my thought is....make it affordable. Make SOME money off of it, but don't try to maximize revenue. Think of it as a small way to increase revenue, but more so as part of your advertising budget.

I don't know the numbers, but my impression is the leagues, and owners, don't view these regional networks that way and set them up 'to fail' because instead of using them that way...they set up bloated businesses that aren't efficient but viewed fees and costs going up each year as a way to not maintain profits, but high profit margins.

Again, I don't know the numbers, but start with an affordable streaming option for people on their phones and tablets and computers.  Work to get an spot on the local cable network. Don't think you have to make $milliions and $millions off of it.  Streaming you can have tons of other videos and interviews on demand. On a network on television...fill up the time with replays of your games and programming of other local sports.

Maybe it can't work. I just think how those networks are run is more of a fuction of "lets do this because this is how its always been done" instead of injecting some creative thinking.

Edited by mjd1001
Posted

Yep.  Sign me up.  I'd do it too. But certainly not if the streaming was egregious to use and it better be easily done on my TV and not just on mobile devices.

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Posted
53 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

With baseball season around the corner, here is what Cleveland is doing with their broadcasts.  
 

If the Sabres did this, I would pay it. It would be like a buck a game. 

IMG_0784.jpeg

82+18? They lost TWO playoff games? Egregious.

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Posted (edited)
20 hours ago, LTS said:

Yep.  Sign me up.  I'd do it too. But certainly not if the streaming was egregious to use and it better be easily done on my TV and not just on mobile devices.

That is the key.  I know there are workarounds, but a few years ago I looked into some streaming things and I know you were allowed to stream them on your phone or tablet but not to your TV. If you tried to 'cast' them, they did their best to block it. There was a workaround for it but then they closed that loophole. Then people got it to work again but the quality was awful.

Basically you COULD get it on your TV if you really wanted, but they made it really, really hard.

There was also something (Formula one maybe?) where they had an idea about 5 years ago that didn't happen...but it was something like this:  A low monthly fee for access to the app with all the stats, tracking, everything they offer, and you could watch ANY event at midnight the following date (a slight delay from live). Then they had an option that you could pay a small additional fee ($2 or $3) per event you want to watch live.

They probably scrapped the idea figuring they could 'force' people to spend more to buy more up front.

Edited by mjd1001

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