UNLV maybe going to the PAC!

[Meister_Rebel]

I doubt there would be streaming only. At the very least it seems like the CW is in bed with the PAC. Not the best network, but it is at least a channel that nearly everyone already gets.

CW is a bit of mixed bag as far as who gets it. It's like a conglomeration of CW "affiliated" stations that decide what they are going to cover independently. There was a pac game last season that I thought would be covered in the Denver market with their CW affiliate but that affiliate had something else scheduled so no game.

 

[RebelinWA]

I doubt there would be streaming only. At the very least it seems like the CW is in bed with the PAC. Not the best network, but it is at least a channel that nearly everyone already gets.

The good part about Netflix is that nearly everyone already has it. So it will be available for fans. Netflix may not be ready for big time live TV, but I think they are at least good enough for regional level/streaming broadcasts.

The competition factor is a legit concern for being on a platform like that. But many people are using streaming services for their TV already. I use Hulu for instance. It tailors the experience to you, so if you are a known UNLV fan it will suggest live sports. It may not capture casual fans/streaming users, but with so many cutting the cord on traditional cable/satellite that will be a bit of an issue regardless of who you partner with.

Personally I don't see Netflix getting into the business this way. I don't think it would be worth it to them, unless they do what ESPN plus( and the MWN) does and just utilize local equipment and "talent" to do all of the heavy lifting. The PAC does have some of this infrastructure already, which is what the CW used last year. Not sure if both Netflix AND the CW could use the same infrastructure simultaneously.

But I think Netflix would be better than Apple TV for instance.

Definitely have some good points here. I work for a media company currently. Until a couple of months ago, I led software development teams that built, improved and maintained machine learning content personalization models that would target and recommend content for you based on preferences/your viewing history. I've been in the generative AI and machine learning space for almost a decade now. I am naturally a fan of streaming. I cut the cord in 2011 and I never looked back.

Some of it will depend on Netflix's monetization model. Do they create and charge for a pac package? If they do, how many people who don't follow pac schools will care to upgrade? Do they bundle it into a premium membership? If so, how many people with a premium account would care to watch in order to keep the streaming numbers high? Would every bar in America get a Netflix account for pac games? Would Netflix be looking at a commercial model subscription so that places like Buffalo Wild Wings can stream on every TV?

IF it is Netflix or Apple, it would be streaming only for most in conference games. They would have to keep some linear offerings for non conference, and they would probably sell the rights for certain games to keep the check book balanced. Why go through the trouble of signing a conference if its not to promote your particular service? Every streaming service is looking for the next big thing. They are all looking at moonshots. Sports and other live events are the next frontier.

There is a high cost of entry, but eventually the end goal of success to transition more people off of linear to streaming. Its incredibly expensive to run a streaming service. How many quarters of losses do you eat before you realize that the business doesn't make sense? CBS began laying off 3100 of us the day after after having the most televised and streamed televised event ever. CBS, AppleTV, Amazon's streaming, Showtime, Warner brothers, Disney streaming (including HULU and ESPN), and even netflix have had layoffs in the last three years associated with the cost of streaming.