ESPN makes new online college sports conference channels

For several years I have poked and prodded the MAC to step into this decade and put their digital network onto other home entertainment platforms. ESPN has picked up the slack for our beloved conference and given us oh so much more.

Now online, and through media devices like the Roku, you can watch the ACC, America East, Atlantic Sun, Big South, Big West, MEAC, SWAC, CIA, Horizon, MAC, MAAC, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Southern, Sun Belt and Southland.

ESPN launching 15 online college sports conference channels, including the ACC - SBNation.com
The channels can be streamed to television via Apple TV or Roku, and they will feature live men's and women's college basketball games and replays of college football games. With conference basketball tournaments on the horizon, ESPN is offering a platform for most Division I conferences around the country.

As someone who watches most of my television via a Roku or PS3 this is indeed welcome news. No more plugging my laptop into my television and running across the room to control it.

But, and the article is not big on details, this could mean the end of streaming MACtion and if that's the case someone like me who does not have cable could be in for trouble.

Don't get me wrong here I would gladly drop 5-10$ a month for access to WatchESPN but in no way am I prepared to drop 60$ or more a month for access to the Food Network or Bravo. For the technical capability to make the Roku service, a subscription fee exists but ESPN makes their money from cable subscriber fees. Will ESPN "bite the hand that feeds them"?

Please oh please ESPN let me pay you 5-10$ for access to a Roku Channel!