Heat

My local cable company is raising their rates again (doesn't directly affect me since I have satellite), but one thing I noted was that they were trying to justifying their price increase on their increased prices. As as example, they said that ESPN cost $2 per account per month.

Which got me to thinking, are they worth $2 per month? For me, hell no, since I only watch a few NFL games on Sunday night during football season, it's definately not worth $2 to me per month.

If you had the option, would you keep ESPN, or take a $2 price cut per month?

Red Dog

I don't have much need for ESPN btwn mid-March and August. However, the entertainment value of PTI alone is worth $2 a month. Obviously I watch a ton of college football, pro football (and related programming), and college hoops on ESPN from September through March. Therefore, it is defintiely worth it to me.

LBPound

I would keep ESPN. There are plenty of channels I'd drop for $2 a month, but no way ESPN is one of them.

Red Dog

No doubt. I don't need 3 news channels for example.

freedexter

I have basic cable, and from the lineup I have, I would cut:

Sci-Fi Channel
ESPN
ESPN 2
Fox Sports Net West
Lifetime Movie Network
Golf Channel
Court TV
Outdoor Life Network
Country Music Television
SoapNet

I'm never going to watch any of it, so why should I pay for it?

On the other side, if I could pick some of the digital cable channels, I'd take:

Oxygen
VH-1 Classic
Style
G4TV
Game Show Network
Noggin
Boomerang
WAM
Tech TV
BBC America
Trio
MTV 2
FUSE

and the on-demand channels avialable, which are free to digital cable subscribers anyways.

It's sort of sad that basic cable is only $7 cheaper than digital. Plus, you get the MusicChoice thingie. Maybe one day, my grandchildren's grandchildren can mix and match with their cable choices.

Deftones

I rarely watch Sunday Night Baseball or the NFL games. I think I could live without it, but for $2 it would seem worth it to keep.

dstrauss

No way. ESPN is one the cable stations I watch the most. Between baseball, football and hockey games, plus SportsCenter, I have it on a lot.

Josh-da-man

I have ZERO interest in sports, and as such, have never watched ESPN even once.

mwj

I would drop ESPN. The only sporting event they carry I really care anything about is the NCAA Hockey Championship. That is not worth $24 a year unless somebody can guarantee the University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers will three-peat in 2004.

Groucho

I would drop it. I'm not a big sports fan. I might actually keep ESPN-2, since they often feature some more interesting "side" sports.

spainlinx0

That would be cool if you could pick and choose which channels you wanted, but I bet if split that way they would charge more per channel.

djones6746

I would keep it....

Pac-Rat

I'd dump it in a second.

DISH had dropped ESPN Classic and ABC Family, but they learned not to mess with the mouse.

The Cow

ESPN and it's siblings are one of the main reasons I have cable, so No.

Geofferson

I'd keep it for the sole fact that Sunday Night Baseball is a staple viewing in my home.

thecrazydude

I would keep ESPN

Rypro 525

The old satilite dish we had in the 80's and early 90's, we could pick the channnels we wanted and the one's we didn't .

sarcasm

It's the main reason why I have cable, so there's no chance I'd give ESPN up.

tonyc3742

It'd be nice if we could pick and choose, but the whole reason we can get 100+ channels for thirty bucks is that Home Shopping Version 1, 2, 3 make deals to be included in the packages which help subsidize the cost to carry MTV or CNN/Fox News [or other high-demand channels.]
I read somewhere that for the cable or satellite providers to go to a la carte, more than they are now, they'd have to guarantee a certain hundred thousand subscribers paying 5 bucks or so a channel, so it would add up pretty quick....
I would personally dump any sports channel or home shopping channel, and would add VH1 Classic, Boomerang, and probably just a few more.

Chad

Well if it's not worth it to you...then by all means drop it. Personally, I wouldn't dream of dropping ESPN.

BizRodian

Ditto.

Up here we have a satalite thing (or at least we used to) where you got a choice of so many channels for a set cost, and you could pick.

MrX

No way would I give it up. It's the main bable channel I watch in thefall and Winter with college football and basketball. Sportscenter and PTI are worth it alone.

Heat

Nobody would let you drop ESPN for a drop in price.

For a cable company or satellite provider to carry ESPN, they have to carry it in their most basic package, and pay for it too, of course.

Oh well, if I ever get the chance I will drop it, but I don't think that this will happen for a long time.

Joeboo835

I can guarantee it. They didn't lose anyone and they have some incredible players coming in. This is of course assuming Vanek doesn't jump to the pros, which i don't expect he will.

Granted, i'm biased being an alum and all.

lisadoris

True that. I don't have cable now and I really miss ESPN. PTI alone is worth the $$$ and there's nothing like starting your day with Sportscenter.
I can't wait until I move so I can have basic cable again.