ESPN Coverage of the Australian Open 2026--the future is expensive???

Robert F said:
This is ridiculous that ESPN is playing some matches on the main feed, some matches only on plus and some only on unlimited.
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If I were paying for ESPN Unlimited and couldn't get ALL the AO matches on demand I'd be pissed. That is just ridiculous!

As far as ESPN+ goes, I get it. Those subscribers (as far as ESPN is concerned) are second if not third class citizens. They get the crumbs. But it's pro tennis, so those crumbs can be pretty good.

OK, accepting that reality no live show court matches for lowly ESPN+ subscribers. But ESPN should approach it like day old bread at the bakery outlet: Make the show court matches available on demand on ESPN+ after a day (or even two) delay. FFS, the only people that are gonna watch that are hard core tennis fans, and even if they're low rollers ESPN should want to keep them engaged with the sport.

Myself, between $50 million player contracts, $20 craft beers, and all the gambling insanity I've just about had it with pro (and now college) sports across the board! Like the old fart in another time driving his ancient Buick and listening to Harry James 78's I'm getting to the point where I'll just subsist on YT vids of old matches, or VHS tapes if it comes to that!

Fibbledy-foo!!
 
TennisXpert@2023 said:
ESPN is the only network in the US that can afford the broadcast rights. They have to recoup that money by putting the coverage of the tournament on ESPN unlimited. Tennis fans are not going to be able to watch matches for free or cheaply.
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You used to have to buy whole albums and then buying music changed forever. Buying just what you want cheaply enough to interest the entire market is something "tv" hasn't adapted to yet but the first time someone does it with sports I'd bet will change this. Heck, streaming is already upending the Hollywood model.
 
I was starting to chill, since as the week has gone on with less matches going on at once, coverage wasn't as fractured and the main ESPN/ESPN2 feed was more tolerable.
But here I am home on a Friday night, matches are going on live and ESPN/ESPN2 doesn't broadcast until 8PM here. 2-3 hours after matches have gone live.

Throw me a bone and at least let TC have some type of preveiw show. Nope, my guess is they are blocked from showing OZ stuff when the action is live.
At the very least call ESPN/ESPN2--ESPN Limited
 
I pay $90/month for YT Tv. This gets me ESPN(2). Then I pay for the Hulu/Disney/ESPN+ bundle. I used to be able to pick on demand matches w this.

I tried to click on a women's dubs match that already happened, and got paywalled to buy ESPN unlimited.

There's no way I'm paying for another subscription for $30/mo for a 3rd ESPN subscription.
 
Fabrivitx said:
Im paying 11 €uro a month to see every match and i have it on-demand too. America scamming u guys
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Nothing remains free in America for long. When it is free there's always a hidden cost such as:
- low quality 2nd tier matches, showing a non-factor American player.
- switching to an interview during live play of a good match.
- 7 min of a commercials in a 10 min span because of player MTO or a quick serve hold.

SportTV (outside of the states) is pretty good the last time I watched while abroad.
 
It's the same here in the UK as well and it's got to the stage now where Wimbledon is the only slam I can watch. Even if I suddenly became a millionaire overnight I'd refuse to pay £31 to watch a two week sports event just as a matter of principal, especially when it only cost £7 this time last year. Absolutely outrageous.
 
Or at the very least tier the pricing. So if you get ESPN/ESPN2 through a provider you can get select and premium at lower prices.

I'm really valuing the TC replays during the day. Pretty clean coverage. This works great for me during the weekend, but during the work week I won't get that benefit.
I really miss dubs, hopefully the main feeds will cover next week.
 
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The ESPN 1 & 2 broadcasts have been excellent. Production and camera work is top notch. My Spectrum plan comes with ESPN Unlimited included, so I can't complain.
There's no free lunch.
 
Bill Lobsalot said:
The ESPN 1 & 2 broadcasts have been excellent. Production and camera work is top notch. My Spectrum plan comes with ESPN Unlimited included, so I can't complain.
There's no free lunch.
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I think they've gotten better as the schedule has unloaded. The first few days it was a mess--jumping around too much.
Now the pacing is better.

Still cracked me up that John Mac was saying sinner has a western grip. He can be fun and outdated at the same time.
 
Last night was a little frustrating.
First Johnny Mac saying how Paul has a Western Grip.
2nd so tough to hear Chris Evert talk about Coco Gauff. It's almost demeaning to Gauff.
Finally, ESPN prempted the end of Paul/Alcaraz for the slow one sided beginning of Gauff/Muchova.
Couldn't the show the last 3 games of Paul/Alcaraz?

Regardless, lot of one-sided matches last night, which in the past I'd pick up some doubles matches.
 
I noticed last night that Hulu has some outer court matches streamed live. Then I logged onto the ESPN app, and noticed that these same matches were labeled ESPN+, and were available to watch, as well. So I'm still getting some matches, but not all of the outer court matches w my Hulu/Disney/ESPN+ sub.
 
Robert F said:
Finally, ESPN prempted the end of Paul/Alcaraz for the slow one sided beginning of Gauff/Muchova.
Couldn't the show the last 3 games of Paul/Alcaraz?
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uh, yeah this was dumb!! I thought they were just moving to discuss the beginning of the Gauff/Muchova while Alcaraz/Paul was between sets but lame that they didn't go back. It was weird.
 
ESPN is a disaster and has been for a long time. Truly can't stand that company. It's such a bad development that they're becoming a near-monopoly on almost everything sports in the US.
 
This is frustrating. ESNP not showing OZ until 8PM Central. Showing some weird Golf Event.
Why can't the main feed start when the event starts especially when it is the main court?
Especially when it is the World #1 vs a strong upcoming American player?
Why? Why?
To make you pay more.
It's an utter joke.

ESPN had its hayday with tennis and did a great job during the first 1/2 of the Big 3 days and has turned into an utter mess.

If only TC or TNT could take over all the slams.
Or at least they need to start sharing the event to give good coverage. No way TC or TNT wouldn't show the start of the event. Both probably would've had a good pregame show the hour ahead of time.
 
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My smarter buddy telling me even if the Broadcast starts later you can log on and watch the start live on ESPN2 through the app??
Has anyone had that luck?
If so, why aren't they saying on the broadcast, "Watch the start live on ESPN2 at 6:30 via the app and then will go broadcast at 8PM."
 
For a lot of matches if I don't watch them live I can't rewatch them.
I could always watch Fed on replay. Sometimes Carlos. Or if I know it was a barn burner.
 
Just want to thank TC for the good back up coverage of th the tournament.
They actually showed dubs on the main feed. I didn't have to go through a pay wall, use and app or anything. It's like I'm getting something for paying for cable.

ESPN improved a little over the week, but the paywalls are still unforgivable, especially if you already pay for ESPN/ESPN2.
A little frustrating that on the schedule they only alot 2 hours for the women's final. Why not alot 3-4? Makes it more work for the DVR skills.
 
Sport broadcast right is too expensive in US. Among all streaming services, SlingTV is the most affordable. However it doesn't carry local channels, which is MUST for NFL. For tennis alone, it works fine.
 
For anyone who didn't get to watch the AO men's final yet there's a 1 hour long on demand program Australian Open Highlights Show (Highlights Day 15) that provides a condensed version of that match. Not as good as the full thing, but more than a highlight vid. The actual final match coverage starts about 14 minutes in and runs the rest of the program.

And yes, it's available if you "only" have ESPN +. ;)
 
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