MLS Shootout profit

[bazooka]

I was surprised to read in the Soccer America I got today that MLS actually makes "a decent chunk of money" on the $49 MLS Shootout package, according to the MLS senior director of broadcasting. They will not release subscriber figures due to a confidentiality agreement however.

[photar74]

That is really good news. It also helps, although in a typically vague MLS knd of way, shed some more light on the MLS financial picture.

[crewcrazy17]

It's good to hear that they are making money on it but is it true? I know that I am getting a partial refund because I have missed games due to technical issues. Does that money come from the cable company or from MLS? I have heard of quite a few people who have said the same thing and if it comes from MLS I'm not sure how it could be profitable.

[jmeissen0]

i have been hearing for awhile that they make a profit on it

i would think most technical difficulties would be the fault of the company one purchases from, so i would expect them to fork up for the mistakes... but i honestly don't know

i have also heard people say that it is a pretty decent product compared to other sports packages available

[FootyMundo]

I love having this package. The games are generally spread across the night. So on a given Saturday I can watch the 4 p.m. game and then tape one or more games later at night. Most of the crews are not that bad either.

[Stuart]

I think at $49, it is good value compared to other sports packages. My only concern is that by charging *anything*, they prevent the casual viewer from seeing the product. In other words, it is preaching to the converted. It would be great to see all the games on "free tv", but I guess that is going to happen anytime soon.

[Northside Rovers]

What league do you get to see all the games for free?

[CrewDust]

I thought that MLS would have the rights for Shootout since they have the national broadcast rights. I figured that if the Shootout did good business then it would raise the overall value of the broadcast rights.

[Footer Phooter]

I think I paid $44 for mine. I thinkit's agood value. I usually only catch the weekends where DC's on, and away, so I miss alot of the games. I still enjoy it though. I like the weekday games as an added bonus. I also get the College Football package.

[Matteo]

i was just able to order the package as digital cable just became available in my area. it cost me $49.

[Brrca Fan redded]

Look out Baseball we,re coming. I mean we are here.

[prk166]

Originally posted by Northside Rovers
What league do you get to see all the games for free?

OUr local youth athletic league doesn charge.

Wait, but they're not shown on tv.

Ya, really, $49 is jack squat. Plenty of people piss that away in a couple weeks on stupid little things (eating out for lunch every day, etc).

[Casper]

I'm thrilled that it's profitable. That means it's a lot more likely to be around next year. We just got digital cable, so I'm in about week five of the Shootout, and it's awesome.

[chayes]

How could MLS NOT make money on the shootout?

They don't show games that aren't already being televised by some team's local channel.
So there are no costs taking the signal and allowing the cable companies to show it.

I'm sure MLS has to give the Cable companies a cut to make it worth their time, and give the local tv channels a cut to rebroadcast the signal, but all the other money can go straight to them.

No cost, all profit... nice.

[monster]

Originally posted by chayes
How could MLS NOT make money on the shootout?

They don't show games that aren't already being televised by some team's local channel.
So there are no costs taking the signal and allowing the cable companies to show it.

I'm sure MLS has to give the Cable companies a cut to make it worth their time, and give the local tv channels a cut to rebroadcast the signal, but all the other money can go straight to them.

No cost, all profit... nice.

I wouldn't say "no cost" because they do have to compensate iNDemand, etc., for using the bandwidth. But they certainly have little to pay for beyond that.

But someone with MLS did tell me the same thing - it brings in revenue and, more impottantly, makes the fans happy.

I was also told that the problems getting the package ironed out for this season shouldn't happen in coming years. in other words, the negotiations were not just for 2002.

[hangthadj]

It's nice to hear them say that they are making money, but its still just typical vaguespeak from MLS. I'd be curious as to what the subscribtion #'s are and what cities have the highest rates of subscribers (MLS and non-MLS cities). I wonder if MLS looks at this at all and thinks of possible expansion markets through a solid fan base in any non-MLS city. Of couse it wouldn't be the only factor, you need the stadium, I/O etc...
That being said $49 is a complete bargain for this package. I only catch games when Columbus is away, or random WED night games, but even only seeing half the games I think of it as a great deal.

[Brrca Fan redded]

Originally posted by monster


I wouldn't say "no cost" because they do have to compensate iNDemand, etc., for using the bandwidth. But they certainly have little to pay for beyond that.

But someone with MLS did tell me the same thing - it brings in revenue and, more impottantly, makes the fans happy.

I was also told that the problems getting the package ironed out for this season shouldn't happen in coming years. in other words, the negotiations were not just for 2002. Good news, ok no more call to cable company next year.

[Casper]

I also think we should stop saying $49 is a bargain - MLS staffers are lurking.

[monster]

Originally posted by Brrca Fan
Oh boy , here we go again. More phone calls to cable company next year. I hope MLS start the shootout deal with cable early to aviod the mess we had this year.

You didn't read closely. The problems shouldn't happen again next year. I was led to believe that was part of the negotiation - avoiding problems in the future.

As far as lurking, yes they are. (Hi guys!) And it's not a new thing. This is free market research for them.

But I doubt they would adjust the price based on a few people saying "it's a bargain." Likely, the would look at the numbers when they charged $69 last year and the numbers when they charged $49 this year and draw a conclusion from that.

[Brrca Fan redded]

Originally posted by Casper
I also think we should stop saying $49 is a bargain - MLS staffers are lurking. The first time around, I paid $69, it was a bargain then.