Nearly thirty years ago, ESPN aired as the first 24-hour sports network. The station had limited success at first by showing mostly unpopular sports, but the channel eventually grew as it began broadcasting highly rated sports such as American football. Since the network first aired, ESPN has added forums such as several TV channels, a magazine, video games, and websites. ESPN.com, the company's main website, offers a variety of content including video clips. The site first streamed online video thirteen years ago. Back then, videos were slow and choppy, but ESPN now offers high quality clips. An article in The Washington Times supports this by stating, "While streams of video were once grainy, small and easily interrupted, providers now contend the quality of their broadcasts are comparable to normal television." Taking advantage of the advances in the quality of online video, ESPN launched an all-video website, ESPN360.com, in 2001.
[...] Because of this, ESPN360.com is currently not equal to ESPN the TV station. Opportunities With ESPN360's growth in recent years and the site's re-launch a few months ago, the company has shown that it can improve itself. Even with the doubling of its audience in a single year, ESPN360 still has many opportunities to achieve more success. As stated previously, the website is currently available to 17 million out of the 55 million Americans with broadband (non dial-up) internet access. [...]
[...] Nassauer, Sarah. August 2006) ESPN charges Net providers for new website; Pay-to-play model based on cable, but meets resistance in Web world. The Globe and Mail (Canada); Report on Business: The Wall Street Journal; Media; p. B10. Retrieved Nov from LexisNexis Academic database. Pursell, Chris. October 2007) ESPN360 Adds Champs Channel; World Championship Sports Net to Create Broadband Outlet Television Week: News; p Retrieved Nov from LexisNexis Academic database. Sandomir, Richard. (30 October 2007) N.B.A.'s Television Partners Get Expanded Digital Rights. [...]
[...] An executive at Cox Communications explains his company's position on ESPN360 saying, do not like the current business model that ESPN is using for ESPN360.”[4] Most websites are either free or let individuals purchase a subscription. In contrast, ESPN360 will only offer its services if an ISP decides to pay for the site, which would cause the entire cost of internet service to rise. On a consumer level, even those who do not wish to have ESPN360 still must pay for it. [...]
[...] NFL games draw some of the largest television audiences out of all the sports leagues, so adding them to ESPN360 would attract a substantial amount of viewers to the site. Not only can ESPN360 appeal to more consumers based on the website's content, the site has the opportunity to grow if online video technology continues to improve. Much of ESPN360's success is due to advancements in broadcasting videos online, and if the technology continues to progress, more people will be willing to use the computer to watch sports. [...]
[...] Plus, an eight year deal signed with the NBA at the start of this season allows ESPN to air any of the games it has the rights to on ESPN360. So even though the same games will be broadcast on TV, the website can attract viewers who only have access to a computer at that time. The website can also simultaneously air up to six different games and let the viewer choose which channel to watch. These features give ESPN360 advantages over its competitors because it provides the consumer with the most options. [...]
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