ESPN makes more then 1 Billion Dollars a year in cable carriage fees. As stated in another response they get between $2-5 per cable subscriber from these deals.

ESPN makes more then 1 Billion Dollars a year in cable carriage fees. As stated in another response they get between $2-5 per cable subscriber from these deals. This is all subs including many that don't view their channel. No, $10 a month ala carte is not a better option for them. ESPN likes their position in cable, its hugely profitable.