NFL Network to become ESPN 8, THE "OCHO"?
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Jun 25th 2008 at 9:56PM
We first heard that ESPN believed it had the solution to the NFL Network's carriage problems last week, and today the analysts at SNL Kagan believe they may know what the two sports power houses have in mind. The theory goes that ESPN would take over the network and merge it with another mediocre success, ESPN Classic. Then the two could be offered to providers under a new name -- we're thinking ESPN 8, THE OCHO. Providers would be happy to kill two birds with one stone, since the viewership of ESPN Classic is so low and the NFL Network costs so much, and customers would finally have access to the rest of the NFL games. Makes sense to us.
Filed under: ESPN-HD, Sports, New content
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David Hildreth @ Jun 25th 2008 10:02PM
as long it's available as the ocho HD
Alex @ Jun 25th 2008 11:06PM
except there is a lot money involved and greediest networks this side of the galaxy both want their slice of the pie.
I don't think this proposed "merger" is a slam dunk by any means. Really, where is your revenue driver for this? Isn't ESPN Classic on most Digital Basic tiers already? So you give a teaser year where there is no ESPN channel rate increase and then jack up the Classic channel an extra $0.20/subscriber.
But yeah, in the end, it will be you the subscriber who will be paying for this.
Le Big Mac @ Jun 26th 2008 9:45AM
No kidding -- what exactly does it change? For ESPN (or the NFL Network) to make this profitable they will have to jack up the fees. If they jack up the fees they're back to where NFLN is now, which is cable systems asking "why should we charge subscribers $1/mo. so they can watch 8 NFL games a year and a bunch of filler?" So the filler is the NBA from 1985 and boxing matches that aren't Hearns/Hagler or other entertaining stuff instead of wall-to-wall coverage of the scouting combine? What's the diff--there's a narrow audience for either.
Arley @ Jun 25th 2008 11:32PM
LOL from the movie Dodgeball the true underdog story
Taylor @ Jun 25th 2008 11:39PM
I watched Dodgeball today lol
Bradley @ Jun 26th 2008 12:18AM
These channels are both on the same tier where I live. Combining the channels isn't likely to change whether I subscribe to that to tier, which is to say I still won't.
Achilles @ Jun 26th 2008 12:21AM
"ESPN 8 The Ocho, I just can't get enough of it!!!!!"
YouFaceTheTick @ Jun 26th 2008 12:35AM
Bad idea. ESPN's football crew is awful. I shudder to think how they'll ruin the NFLN with their idiotic banter and their propensity for dumbing down football so the average fan can understand the nuances of the game. The beauty of the NFL N = football coverage for people who actually know and understand the game.
Squid7085 @ Jun 26th 2008 2:04AM
Ahh, but we need ESPN 3,4,5,6, and 7 first! Somebody once told me I had OCD.
highfivers @ Jun 26th 2008 3:16AM
@Squid7085
1. ESPN/ESPNHD
2. ESPN2/ESPN2HD
3. ESPNEWS/ESPNEWSHD
4. ESPN Classic
5. ESPN Deportes
6. ESPNU
7. ESPN Plus
and these are just the domestic channels.
Mike @ Jun 26th 2008 9:43AM
Bill Simmons just crapped his pants. H'es dreamed of being the program director for "the ocho" for 4 years.
Joe D @ Jun 26th 2008 11:57AM
So much from the rumors that I read elsewhere about ESPN Classic becoming ESPN 3 and going for the English Premier League contract to become the place to go for soccer on the ESPN networks.
Danny @ Jun 26th 2008 11:59AM
i really hope this doesnt happen, football all year long is great. plus you know that jack ass berman would inject himself in there somewhere and totally ruin what they got going. man i cant stand that guy, his comentary is so over-rated and irritating.
Chris Maciekowicz @ Jun 26th 2008 1:52PM
I agree...he's been saying the same crap for over 10 years now! "Rumblin', bumblin', stubmblin'..." - STFU already
Pete @ Jun 26th 2008 1:35PM
"Providers would be happy to kill two brids with one stone, since the viewership of ESPN Classic is so low and the NFL Network costs so much..."
Maybe viewership of ESPN Classic wouldn't be so low if they actually showed some classic games once in a while instead of nonstop boxing and billiards... I bet ESPN Classic's ratings went way up when they showed more Lakers/Celtics classics during this year's Finals....
Some Kid @ Jun 26th 2008 3:46PM
that will be the funniest thing to EVER happen to TV
welll the guys from dodgeball must be prophets.....