ESPN Could Look To Sell Video Subscriptions For Upcoming Cricket World Cup

ESPN’s "efforts to sell streaming video subscriptions for some sports programming -- without requiring viewers to pay for cable TV -- could start early next year," as the net "wants to sell U.S. viewers live digital access to the Cricket World Cup, which begins in February," according to sources cited by Peter Kafka of RECODE.net. ESPN has not finalized its plans, but what has been speculated would "mark the first time the company has ventured outside of the pay-TV bundle." While cricket is "a niche sport in the U.S., the move will at least have symbolic importance." It is unknown what ESPN will charge and "which games it will include in its subscription package." ESPN in '11 acquired the rights to the tournament, which is held every four years. The net previously has used streaming sports "as a way to provide additional value for pay-TV subscribers." However, ESPN recently has "started talking out loud about its plans to sell standalone digital subscriptions" (RECODE.net, 11/24).