08-23-2012, 08:11 AM
OutsiderFan - My hypothesis is it's probably based on two things:
1) Your internet provider may not opt to stream that content, so they may block it. When I had Comcast in CA, I only used them for my Internet, and they still allowed me to watch ESPN3.com on my computer, so I got most game carried on the ABC family. But I moved to MA and signed up for Charter, Internet only, and found that they would not let me stream ESPN3 or the NBC Olympics unless I had the cable package as well. Bandwidth costs money, so they are reserving it to paying customers.
2) the Pac12 net work may be agreeing to not stream games to not Cable/Satellite customers as part of the value proposition to their carrier partners. I don't usually carry a cable or satellite package and stick to DVDs and streaming for my media consumption. So if Pac12 offered an online only service, I would be more than happy to sign up for that and not have to get a package. The only reason Cable/Satellite firms are going to pay to carry Pac12 content is if they can monetize it by charging money for the channel or acquiring additional customers. So if the Pac 12 wants a piece of the Cable/Satellite pie, then they probably need to agree to not broadcast over the Internet.
This is just my guess.
1) Your internet provider may not opt to stream that content, so they may block it. When I had Comcast in CA, I only used them for my Internet, and they still allowed me to watch ESPN3.com on my computer, so I got most game carried on the ABC family. But I moved to MA and signed up for Charter, Internet only, and found that they would not let me stream ESPN3 or the NBC Olympics unless I had the cable package as well. Bandwidth costs money, so they are reserving it to paying customers.
2) the Pac12 net work may be agreeing to not stream games to not Cable/Satellite customers as part of the value proposition to their carrier partners. I don't usually carry a cable or satellite package and stick to DVDs and streaming for my media consumption. So if Pac12 offered an online only service, I would be more than happy to sign up for that and not have to get a package. The only reason Cable/Satellite firms are going to pay to carry Pac12 content is if they can monetize it by charging money for the channel or acquiring additional customers. So if the Pac 12 wants a piece of the Cable/Satellite pie, then they probably need to agree to not broadcast over the Internet.
This is just my guess.