2015By Ken Fang on

Last month, we told you about Dish Network’s online service Sling TV which includes both ESPN and ESPN2 on its regular package as well as a couple of other ESPN networks on its sports tier. It was a huge deal for ESPN to be part of an over the top service and was a sign that the Worldwide Leader wasn’t content being distributed solely through cable and satellite providers.

Now we get word that another distributor is pursuing ESPN and its sister networks for another online service. The Street reports that Sony wants to have ESPN as well as fellow Disney networks ABC and Disney Channel on its Playstation Vue streaming service. Sony has already announced that CBS, NBC and Fox have signed on.

Unlike Dish’s Sling TV, Playstation Vue will have a healthy offering of sports channels including Fox Sports 1 and 2, Big Ten Network, the Fox Sports Net regional sports networks, YES and Prime Ticket, NBCSN, NBC’s Comcast SportsNet regional channels as well as CBS’, Fox’s and NBC’s locally owned-and-operated stations.

All that’s missing are ABC’s stations and ESPN to complete the lineup. And The Street says talks between Sony and Disney have resumed regarding Playstation Vue. Earlier discussions broke off over ESPN’s cost which is said to be a monthly fee of $6.55 per subscriber. And even though the talks are progressing, The Street says the two sides are not close to an agreement at this time.

Sony did request to have ESPN not included on some tiers while being included on others, but that was shot down. So for now, the Worldwide Leader is not included on Vue, but as the service is being beta tested on some Playstation 3 and 4 platforms, it will offer about 75 channels when all is said and done.

So as Sony is ready to offer its online services, other providers like Apple and DirecTV are exploring their own over the top offerings and will also look to sports networks to stand out.

As more networks and providers go over the top and around the traditional distribution models, things will take a long time to settle before we get to the point where we know which services will survive and which will not.

[The Street]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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