ESPN bloodbath

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Forgive me posting this here, but in case you didn't know, ESPN has basically laid off their entire college sports writing staff, including Brett McMurphy and loads of other writing stars.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/sports/espn-layoffs.html?smid=tw-share

[Lehigh Football Nation]

A running list is being kept here:

http://deadspin.com/a-running-list-of-espn-layoffs-1794664091?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitte r&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

[citdog]

These things happen when you ignore the consumer and what they want.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

These things happen when you ignore the consumer and what they want.

You're right, in a sense. They overvalued NBA games and what consumers were willing to pay for them, so they massively overpaid for those rights and now are hemorrhaging money.

As a result ESPN is laying off what gives their sports media any quality at all.

College sports coverage is taking the brunt of the beating, incidentally.

[Bison56]

Only time I ever watched ESPN was for FCS football, and I hate Chris Berman.

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/5c/5cf3e3197d963700c7232eb9c45ef5598917fdc6df8ef1eb77 11a212eb3525d5.jpg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiHx6vWysLTAhVszFQKHSfRDWoQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickmeme.com%2Fmeme%2F3ozpgs&psig=AFQjCNGuddSMNnx8nh-srfHDD8kKF69FSw&ust=1493311874037290)

[POD Knows]

You're right, in a sense. They overvalued NBA games and what consumers were willing to pay for them, so they massively overpaid for those rights and now are hemorrhaging money.

As a result ESPN is laying off what gives their sports media any quality at all.

College sports coverage is taking the brunt of the beating, incidentally.Yea, like you said, this is an area that they offer a quality product IMHO.

[Go Green]

ESPN has basically laid off their entire college sports writing staff, including Brett McMurphy and loads of other writing stars.



A teammate of mine at Dartmouth is now a lawyer for ESPN. Hope he's ok...

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Only time I ever watched ESPN was for FCS football, and I hate Chris Berman.

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/5c/5cf3e3197d963700c7232eb9c45ef5598917fdc6df8ef1eb77 11a212eb3525d5.jpg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiHx6vWysLTAhVszFQKHSfRDWoQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickmeme.com%2Fmeme%2F3ozpgs&psig=AFQjCNGuddSMNnx8nh-srfHDD8kKF69FSw&ust=1493311874037290)

Said that same thing yesterday other than the Berman part, which I do not disagree with either btw. xlolx

[RootinFerDukes]

I'm shocked that ESPN Classic still exists. It doesn't even have a high def channel. You want to cut a cost? There you go.

[Anthony215]

What a sad day for those men and women who thought they were working for the premiere sports channel. As previously stated they definitely overpaid for the NBA/MLB games and while making both leagues a boat load of money they've hemorrhaged themselves into a massive hole. I'm sure Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC & Fox Sports will gladly pick up any talent they can but won't be paying the huge salaries ESPN was shelling out for reports and TV guys.

[walliver]

Forgive me posting this here, but in case you didn't know, ESPN has basically laid off their entire college sports writing staff, including Brett McMurphy and loads of other writing stars.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/sports/espn-layoffs.html?smid=tw-share

With the SEC, B1G, PAC-12 having their own networks, and the ACC's right around the corner, there isn't really much for ESPN to cover (I know most conference networks are actually run by ESPN). The G5 and FCS aren't going to bring in viewers. The College World Series is basically covered by the same guys who do Little League. So it would seem that college coverage would be the easiest cuts.

I really wish they would lay off the talking heads and bring back Aussie Football and Rugby.

[TheRevSFA]

Now ESPN can do a 30 for 30 on firing their staff

[POD Knows]

Did they get ride of Mike Lupica, he is an ass clown of yuge proportions.

[Professor Chaos]

For letting go Kanell and Dilfer I say xthumbsupx

For letting go Jayson Stark I say xthumbsdownx

For the others I say xcoffeex

[RootinFerDukes]

CBS, NBC and Fox all need to pick up the laid off talent from ESPN. They can help them make sure ESPN finally has some competition in the 24 hour live sports market.

[BisonTru]

The only guy I hope they keep is Anish Schroff. He does the FCS championship game, and has done a few NDSU games. Met him at Chubs (local NDSU wateringhole) once. Good guy.

The rest of them. xcoffeex

Jay Walker needs to go or be limited to HBU's and the celebration bowl only. The guy knows nothing about the FCS landscape.

[Go Green]

I'm shocked that ESPN Classic still exists. It doesn't even have a high def channel. You want to cut a cost? There you go.

The guess here is that ESPN Classic costs peanuts to operate.

[jmufan999]

The only guy I hope they keep is Anish Schroff. He does the FCS championship game, and has done a few NDSU games. Met him at Chubs (local NDSU wateringhole) once. Good guy.

very respectfully disagree here. I mean, he might be a good guy, I have never met him like you have. but he's pretty terrible on the air. I forget what phrase he used at least 3 times in the NC game, but it was very noticeable. I found him and the PBP guy to both be extremely annoying, although the PBP guy was worse. I think ESPN can do much better. those guys are just inexpensive, and therefore, are matched with FCS.

[bulldog10jw]

I wonder how this will affect ESPN3. A lot of minor sports like hockey and lacrosse and even some small school football was covered there. Will they have the announcers to continue?

[Lehigh Football Nation]

CBS, NBC and Fox all need to pick up the laid off talent from ESPN. They can help them make sure ESPN finally has some competition in the 24 hour live sports market.

If they actually had any money, sure.

[Bisonoline]

They can get rid of all of the stupid sideline reporters who keep asking the coaches and players those mundane nobody gives a **** about questions.

[BisonTru]

I wonder how this will affect ESPN3. A lot of minor sports like hockey and lacrosse and even some small school football was covered there. Will they have the announcers to continue?

Not much I don't think. It seems most of ESPN3 broadcast are put on by the schools and then sent to ESPN where they put it out on their ESPN 3 format. ND NBC puts on NDSU games. Local cable outlet Midco airs SDSU, USD, UND games. Both can be streamed through ESPN3.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Not much I don't think. It seems most of ESPN3 broadcast are put on by the schools and then sent to ESPN where they put it out on their ESPN 3 format. ND NBC puts on NDSU games. Local cable outlet Midco airs SDSU, USD, UND games. Both can be streamed through ESPN3.

You know what broadcasts aren't done by the schools themselves? The FCS playoffs.

[UNIFanSince1983]

I can't believe you can get rid of people who actually know sports and keep loud mouth blowhards like Stephen A. Smith.

Although I should have known my guys Russillo and Kanell were going to get their show shut down when it was replaced on SiriusXM with said idiot Stephen A. Smith.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

The start of Russillo and Kanell was extremely awkward. I really liked the two. Not quite as much as SVP and Russillo but that's because SVP is great. I can't listen to Le Batard. I know some didn't like the Colin Cowherd but he was better than Le Batard!

[UNIFanSince1983]

The start of Russillo and Kanell was extremely awkward. I really liked the two. Not quite as much as SVP and Russillo but that's because SVP is great. I can't listen to Le Batard. I know some didn't like the Colin Cowherd but he was better than Le Batard!

SVP and Russillo was much better, but Kanell was coming around on me. I honestly don't mind the LeBatard show, but you have to go in knowing what you are going to get. You have to know it is just going to be non-sports related just ridiculous stuff. But I do know it isn't for everyone.

[GAD]

Cord cutters are killing cable why spend $200 a month on cable when you can get Hulu or Netflix for about $10 a month

[dgtw]

The guess here is that ESPN Classic costs peanuts to operate.

Not much expense in running a video of an old game you own the rights to.

And I have it in HD.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TheKingpin28]

Pierre LeBum I mean LeBrun is gone! Thank God. I know ESPN hates hockey, but at least 1 bum is gone. Burnside sucked, but was not horrible. McDonald was meh but most of his stuff was "insider" and I am not going to pay for that when I can just go to NBC Sports and get better coverage.

[bonarae]

Will this affect coverage of college sports and most other sports? Definitely.... xsmhx

Will another media outlet pick them up? Not likely.

Will they start over? Maybe.

[BirdFan 4Life]

Ed Werder is a pretty big name...ran into him in the DFW terminal during the FCS Title game this year. Jay Crawford the SC morning anchor is another big name...he seemed like a great guy.

Until they clean up that junk in the morning I will never watch ESPN for anything but actual games and SVP.

[BisonTru]

Ed Warner seemed like a pretty good NFL insider but it seems Schefler and Rapooort are breaking every NFL story now days.


Sent from the John using TapaTalk

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Ed Werder is a pretty big name...ran into him in the DFW terminal during the FCS Title game this year. Jay Crawford the SC morning anchor is another big name...he seemed like a great guy.

Until they clean up that junk in the morning I will never watch ESPN for anything but actual games and SVP.

They ruined the 6 pm Sports Center too. I use to love Lindsay Czarniak! Michael Smith and Jamele Hill are cool but them together in that type of format is brutal. The 6 pm Sports Center should cover things in a more traditional manner.

[Nickels]

Glad to see ESPN start to crumble. Hopefully a real sports network steps up one day.

[BisonFan02]

Read the list....none of the layoffs are of the group that have turned me off on their programming. Shocking. xlolx

[caribbeanhen]

really the only thing about ESPN that interest me besides MLB, is ESPN3 during college football season, the talk is just that... all hot air and boring

[Gate83]

Glad my pal Dave Lloyd has survived so far. Other than that, this Deadspin piece is I think accurate... desperate company postponing the inevitable. http://deadspin.com/espns-latest-layoffs-are-just-a-way-to-buy-time-1794678629

[Nickels]

Read the list....none of the layoffs are of the group that have turned me off on their programming. Shocking. xlolx
That's why I said "start". This will do nothing and they'll still be in a death spiral.

Their leftist slant hasn't pleased many sports fans either. We watch sports to get away from the bull**** (from either side). Do you think me, or anyone else, give a **** about what Max Kellerman or Stephen A. think about our president? Give us games, highlights and a great analysis. They can keep all the other bull****.

[TheKingpin28]

That's why I said "start". This will do nothing and they'll still be in a death spiral.

Their leftist slant hasn't pleased many sports fans either. We watch sports to get away from the bull**** (from either side). Do you think me, or anyone else, give a **** about what Max Kellerman or Stephen A. think about our president? Give us games, highlights and a great analysis. They can keep all the other bull****.

Kellerman needs to go back to boxing, and the other man masquerading as a journalist just needs to go away. I remember being able to turn on SC and all it was was sports highlights and the Top 10 and Not Top 10. Those were the days. They would just show highlights and if I wanted to watch analysis, I would watch NHL 2Nite, Baseball Tonight, NFL Countdown, etc... Then Cold Pizza came around and they brought Mike & Mike over and things were getting slightly off-putting but it was new and different so I thought I would give it a try. Then they bring in faces like Jay Crawford and Dana Jacobson and I was really being irked, but it was what it was.

Then **** hit the fan when people like Michele Beadle, Stephen Whitlock, Jemele Hill, Colin Cowherd, Skip Bayless, Michael Smith, the other journalist masquerading around with no purpose, Max Kellerman, etc... were given a platform, and I turned off ESPN except for when games are on, and then it goes to something else again. If I wanted to see race baiting and divisive politics, I would switch it to the: More Socialist Nonsense and Bull Crap, Clinton News Network, All Bout Clinton, Communist Broadcasting Station, or Nothing But Clinton networks.

[kdinva]

They ruined the 6 pm Sports Center too. I use to love Lindsay Czarniak! Michael Smith and Jamele Hill are cool but them together in that type of format is brutal. The 6 pm Sports Center should cover things in a more traditional manner.

I miss those Sports Centers as well......Loved Charlie Steiner, and how it took very little to tickle his funny bone.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko8qNUNpm3k

Bob Ley, Steve Levy, Tim Brando, Tom Mees, Kenny Mayne, Karl Ravich were some of a great group of 6 PM anchors from the '80s.....

[ASU33]

The start of Russillo and Kanell was extremely awkward. I really liked the two. Not quite as much as SVP and Russillo but that's because SVP is great. I can't listen to Le Batard. I know some didn't like the Colin Cowherd but he was better than Le Batard!

SVP and Russillo had the best show on ESPN radio hands down. I still hate that they canceled that show. I also liked Colin Cowherd's show even though he would go way out into left field sometimes. LeBatard's show is alright. Too me Mike & Mike have never been good and is the most overrated show on ESPN. Jalen and Jacoby also aren't that great either.

[Bucs2016]

ESPN is purging all its white employees haha. Look at that list *mostly whites*. Now...watch ESPN today which is like 75% black it seems. Especially from 11am-11pm.

[RootinFerDukes]

Not much expense in running a video of an old game you own the rights to.

And I have it in HD.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh I thought it was one of those channels that they just never bothered to make an HD version of. Great... so my local cable just can't be bothered to get the HD version of the channel in their lineup. What the **** am I paying for again? If an HD channel exists, put it in the package.

[RootinFerDukes]

They ruined the 6 pm Sports Center too. I use to love Lindsay Czarniak! Michael Smith and Jamele Hill are cool but them together in that type of format is brutal. The 6 pm Sports Center should cover things in a more traditional manner.

I completely agree. I do like Michael and Jamele and I was entertained by their side show (to some extent). I was very disappointed by this new 6pm version of SC now though. It feels gimmicky and I am wondering what executive thought this would be a good idea for a main channel, prime time slot? Their "chemistry" was always meant to just be something on the side, just like the old Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless banter.

[ASU33]

ESPN is purging all its white employees haha. Look at that list *mostly whites*. Now...watch ESPN today which is like 75% black it seems. Especially from 11am-11pm.

I'm sure mostly whites would be laid off since an overwhelming amount of ESPN employees are white. But on another note, you actually watch TV and count the black to white ratio?

[DFW HOYA]

ESPN is purging all its white employees haha. Look at that list *mostly whites*. Now...watch ESPN today which is like 75% black it seems. Especially from 11am-11pm.

You either watch too much ESPN or your're just making a completely unsupportable remark.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ESPN_personalities

[Bison56]

That's why I said "start". This will do nothing and they'll still be in a death spiral.

Their leftist slant hasn't pleased many sports fans either. We watch sports to get away from the bull**** (from either side). Do you think me, or anyone else, give a **** about what Max Kellerman or Stephen A. think about our president? Give us games, highlights and a great analysis. They can keep all the other bull****.

Amen to that.

[Bison56]

SVP and Russillo had the best show on ESPN radio hands down. I still hate that they canceled that show. I also liked Colin Cowherd's show even though he would go way out into left field sometimes. LeBatard's show is alright. Too me Mike & Mike have never been good and is the most overrated show on ESPN. Jalen and Jacoby also aren't that great either.

I would rather listen to Joe Buck and Cris Collinsworth call a game together than those 2 idiots.

[Yote 53]

Jayson Stark was a good baseball analyst. He'll be okay though as I'm sure he'll land somewhere else. Other guys like Pierre LeBrun, a good NHL analyst, has already landed a new job doing the same thing for TSN in Canada.

The surprising thing to me is so many of the cuts were people who were good analysts, really good at their jobs, and probably weren't making a whole lot, yet ESPN kept wastes of space like Stephan A. and Jemele Hill. People who are actually divisive enough to cause a lot of us to turn the station driving away viewers. Yeah, the cuts had to happen, but they don't seem to make much sense.

[TheKingpin28]

I would rather listen to Joe Buck and Cris Collinsworth call a game together than those 2 idiots.

That's harsh

[RootinFerDukes]

Jayson Stark was a good baseball analyst. He'll be okay though as I'm sure he'll land somewhere else. Other guys like Pierre LeBrun, a good NHL analyst, has already landed a new job doing the same thing for TSN in Canada.

The surprising thing to me is so many of the cuts were people who were good analysts, really good at their jobs, and probably weren't making a whole lot, yet ESPN kept wastes of space like Stephan A. and Jemele Hill. People who are actually divisive enough to cause a lot of us to turn the station driving away viewers. Yeah, the cuts had to happen, but they don't seem to make much sense.

No they don't. They let a pregnant woman go yesterday.

https://twitter.com/JadeMcCarthy/status/857352877534269440

[POD Knows]

Jayson Stark was a good baseball analyst. He'll be okay though as I'm sure he'll land somewhere else. Other guys like Pierre LeBrun, a good NHL analyst, has already landed a new job doing the same thing for TSN in Canada.

The surprising thing to me is so many of the cuts were people who were good analysts, really good at their jobs, and probably weren't making a whole lot, yet ESPN kept wastes of space like Stephan A. and Jemele Hill. People who are actually divisive enough to cause a lot of us to turn the station driving away viewers. Yeah, the cuts had to happen, but they don't seem to make much sense.

Oh, they make perfect sense, not from a business standpoint, but they make sense to ESPN nonetheless. Did this Max Kellerman guy get the axe, I don't think so, he is the biggest ass clown on that network next to Lupica in my never humble opinion.

[ASU33]

That's harsh

A tad bit. Mike & Mike are bad but not that bad.

[UNDColorado]

That's why I said "start". This will do nothing and they'll still be in a death spiral.

Their leftist slant hasn't pleased many sports fans either. We watch sports to get away from the bull**** (from either side). Do you think me, or anyone else, give a **** about what Max Kellerman or Stephen A. think about our president? Give us games, highlights and a great analysis. They can keep all the other bull****.

You are on point here. This has been ignored by most of the media but their political propaganda is part of their downfall. I watch sports because I like them but part of it is to get away from political BS and pandering. ESPN overplayed their hand here and are paying for it.

Another major aspect is declining cable subscription as this is a major revenue stream for them. I believe they receive $7 for each cable subscription...this adds up.

[DFW HOYA]

Another major aspect is declining cable subscription as this is a major revenue stream for them. I believe they receive $7 for each cable subscription...this adds up.

In the last five years ESPN, has lost 15 million subscribers, and the current churn is 10,000 per day. At $7 a month, that's money that was baked into ESPN's financials for acquiring as many pro and sports packages as they did.

"If ESPN is trying to significantly trim costs, things are going to get grim, because cutting the salaries of online writers isn’t going to cut it. And so the fundamental question is how long ESPN—or Disney, or Disney shareholders—can be content with diminishing profits, and at what point they admit that aggressively outbidding competitors for live rights at the peak of what was at the time clearly a bubble was a mistake. If they do so, the knock-on effect to the leagues that rely upon their money to pay salaries and fund operations will be immense."

http://deadspin.com/espns-diminished-future-has-become-its-present-1794433796

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Anyone who thinks these firings were politically motivated are fooling themselves. This was all about ESPN removing all pretense of being a serious news organization because all of their "serious news people" (Andy Katz, Brett McMurphy leap to mind) were let go while the "entertainment" (Stephen A, Bayless) remain.

What they've done, whether they realize it or not, is eliminate any legitimacy they had as a sports news organization. They are now solely in the entertainment business.

[Yote 53]

In the last five years ESPN, has lost 15 million subscribers, and the current churn is 10,000 per day. At $7 a month, that's money that was baked into ESPN's financials for acquiring as many pro and sports packages as they did.

"If ESPN is trying to significantly trim costs, things are going to get grim, because cutting the salaries of online writers isn’t going to cut it. And so the fundamental question is how long ESPN—or Disney, or Disney shareholders—can be content with diminishing profits, and at what point they admit that aggressively outbidding competitors for live rights at the peak of what was at the time clearly a bubble was a mistake. If they do so, the knock-on effect to the leagues that rely upon their money to pay salaries and fund operations will be immense."

http://deadspin.com/espns-diminished-future-has-become-its-present-1794433796

This is key. From everything I have read, correct me if I am wrong, ESPN is not hemorrhaging cash as many have claimed, their profits are diminishing and they are just not the cash cow they used to be for Disney. Now, if things continue on this track I am sure they will fall into the territory of actually losing money pretty soon.

[UNIFanSince1983]

Jayson Stark was a good baseball analyst. He'll be okay though as I'm sure he'll land somewhere else. Other guys like Pierre LeBrun, a good NHL analyst, has already landed a new job doing the same thing for TSN in Canada.

The surprising thing to me is so many of the cuts were people who were good analysts, really good at their jobs, and probably weren't making a whole lot, yet ESPN kept wastes of space like Stephan A. and Jemele Hill. People who are actually divisive enough to cause a lot of us to turn the station driving away viewers. Yeah, the cuts had to happen, but they don't seem to make much sense.

I honestly can't believe these two still have jobs. Literally no one I have talked to actually thinks Stephen A. is good at anything other than making outrageous comments. So they kept him, but got rid of some of the best online sports writers there are. Dana O'Neill was amazing at her job covering college basketball. Eammon Brennan too. It just shows where they think things are headed where they need people who just make statements to get headlines. Everything I've heard is people hating ESPN because of this. They have gone away from simply reporting on sports and showing live sports. To try and be more hot take like, but us sports fans just want to see the highlights or hear intelligent discussion about it when watching ESPN. They haven't done this for years.

[RootinFerDukes]

Skip Bayless was let go a couple of years ago in the last round of layoffs. He's with Fox Sports 1 now doing essentially the same thing, yelling a someone else all show long. I personally blame the Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless back and forth and the Mel Kiper Todd McShay drama. It's scripted, it's pandering to the reality tv crowd and it's just annoying at the end of the day.

[Anthony215]

The thing is the media landscape has changed. Why would I pay $7 for a ESPN Insider subscription when I can hear and read the same content on another website for free???? ESPN had a monopoly on the sports news for a long time until Fox Sports came along and with their expansion as well as CBSN and the expansion of the TNT/TBS NBA game coverage along with the NBA Network and NFL Network their viewership naturally has declined thus causing their paid subscribers to decrease. Most let go will find work with no problem at the other stations but will probably take a pay cut and have to relocate.

[ASU33]

Andy Katz and Brett McMurphy are both gonexbangxxbangxxbangx

[AshevilleApp2]

Anyone who thinks these firings were politically motivated are fooling themselves. This was all about ESPN removing all pretense of being a serious news organization because all of their "serious news people" (Andy Katz, Brett McMurphy leap to mind) were let go while the "entertainment" (Stephen A, Bayless) remain.

What they've done, whether they realize it or not, is eliminate any legitimacy they had as a sports news organization. They are now solely in the entertainment business.

Sports are solely in the entertainment business.

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Now ESPN can do a 30 for 30 on firing their staff

What if I told you there are consequences for being an assclown employer with a meddling social agenda?

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

I'm sure mostly whites would be laid off since an overwhelming amount of ESPN employees are white. But on another note, you actually watch TV and count the black to white ratio?
ESPN does, its all they care about, blacks gays and women shove em down everyones throat 24/7

Its why nobody watches anymore

[ASU33]

ESPN does, its all they care about, blacks gays and women shove em down everyones throat 24/7

Its why nobody watches anymore


So basically you equate "nobody" to white men?

[POD Knows]

So basically you equate "nobody" to white men?

Does anybody have ESPN's viewer demographics and trends, might be interesting to look at.

[Bison56]

A tad bit. Mike & Mike are bad but not that bad.

That's your opinion.

[bobcathpdevil56]

ESPN decided to follow the MTV model and become a voice for social justice and equality, and they will end up just like MTV. FAILED

[BisonTru]

Allbright pretty nails this whole issue.

https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/857245448146489346


It's weird to me that people talking about ESPN "went political" can never cite specific instances of that. ESPN numbers started plummeting at the height of Tebow mania (seriously, look it up). When they drowned us in coverage of something we didn't want. Their collapse was further compounded by a failure to adapt to the digital marketplace & overpaying for broadcast rights. then they ushered in the era of empty punditry with Baylessian stlyed programming, designed to geed on your outrage at the silly things they were saying. Clickbait in video format. Empty programming, ludicrous cost are what killed ESPN. Not a politcal bent. If politics were to blame, or at least left leaning ones, wouldn't FS1 have an audience? It doesn't. TV hasn't adapted to digital. Just like print.

[UNIFanSince1983]

SVP and Russillo had the best show on ESPN radio hands down. I still hate that they canceled that show. I also liked Colin Cowherd's show even though he would go way out into left field sometimes. LeBatard's show is alright. Too me Mike & Mike have never been good and is the most overrated show on ESPN. Jalen and Jacoby also aren't that great either.

Good news from Russillo on Twitter today that the show will keep going on. The reports of "reduced" role were false and put out by an agency. Still very very disappointing that Kanell will not be there, but I am sure they can find another great co-host. Hopefully it would be Adnan, but all I know is I am happy the show isn't going anywhere.

- - - Updated - - -


Allbright pretty nails this whole issue.

https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/857245448146489346

This is exactly what I was trying to say earlier he just put it in better words than I could.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

ESPN decided to follow the MTV model and become a voice for social justice and equality, and they will end up just like MTV. FAILED

Comparing ESPN to MTV is like comparing the Big Apple to an orange. Whatever ESPN's issues, their viewership isn't close to MTV's microscopic ratings, and their structural issues are completely different.

[RootinFerDukes]

That Tebowmania was annoying as **** at the time and I just rolled my eyes at it all. The guy was unlikable but they felt the need to endlessly talk about him. They're actually at it again with Tebow trying to come up to the MLB all of a sudden. Linsanity was another bad moment. They were trying to create a super star out of nowhere just because he had a string of good games. They were trying to make the Knicks relevant again just by covering them so much.

They find something to fixate on, and then beat the dead horse until it's nothing but a mound of meat.

[POD Knows]

That Tebowmania was annoying as **** at the time and I just rolled my eyes at it all. The guy was unlikable but they felt the need to endlessly talk about him. They're actually at it again with Tebow trying to come up to the MLB all of a sudden. Linsanity was another bad moment. They were trying to create a super star out of nowhere just because he had a string of good games. They were trying to make the Knicks relevant again just by covering them so much.

They find something to fixate on, and then beat the dead horse until it's nothing but a mound of meat.

How about the Tiger Woods fixation,

[RootinFerDukes]

How about the Tiger Woods fixation,

Eh... at least Tiger was a real and consistent talent. Tebow or Lin weren't even in his hemisphere of sports impact.

How they handled the "fall" of Tiger and his wife attacking him outside his house for cheating on him felt like I was watching TMZ though. That was another stupid moment.

[ASU33]

How about the Tiger Woods fixation,

Pre or Post bumper car ride down the driveway?

[POD Knows]

Pre or Post bumper car ride down the driveway?

LOL, actually, the coverage of him during that debacle was OK, he might be the most famous athlete ?? in the world but he has been out for a long time now. ESPN has used still shots of him, pics of him to promote golf tournaments that he was not even playing in, kind of lame.

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

So basically you equate "nobody" to white men?
Everyone else does.

Most white men are working so.........not much time to watch ESPN

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Allbright pretty nails this whole issue.

https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/857245448146489346
He didn't nail anything there are numerous examples.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Yote 53]

Allbright pretty nails this whole issue.

https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/857245448146489346

He didn't nail anything. You have all kinds of people on every media format, Twitter, Facebook, this message board, and every other sports oriented message board I frequent just slamming on ESPN and saying they never watch it anymore because they went too political and too far left. Yep, we're all wrong. The sports viewing masses that are hard core viewers enough that we frequent places like this. I would refer to those types of people as their key demographic, you know, people who watch sports and have disposable incomes. Their product went to crap and we stopped watching and caring. Cord cutters, yes, huge impact, but ESPN also gave none of us a reason to NOT cut the cord. People, even sports fans, figured out they didn't need ESPN, it was crap, they can get their coverage elsewhere and if they want to watch a game there are plenty of ways, by hook or crook, to watch a game.

[ASU33]

Everyone else does.

Most white men are working so.........not much time to watch ESPN

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

White men watch ESPN at a higher rate than another demographic so cut the BS. You have no time to watch ESPN but somehow you can tell us everything on it and post on message boards all day. Apparently you have more free time than you think you have.xcoffeex

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Critically, the issue here is not individual ESPN program viewership is down but that households that subscribe to ESPN are down. Many of the "lost subscribers" were not people waking up one day and saying, "holy ****, I just realized that Stephen A's a liberal?", instead they were people waking up and saying "holy ****, I subscribe to cable only to watch HBO and I'm paying $9 a month to a sports channel I never watch?"

If you don't watch Stephen A because you think he's a blowhard (like I do) but you still subscribe to a cable plan that has ESPN because you like being able to watch college football (like I do), ESPN still gets your money. It's the people who were paying for ESPN but not really wanting it that are discovering that they can do without cable subscriptions.

[GodHelpTheBears]

Critically, the issue here is not individual ESPN program viewership is down but that households that subscribe to ESPN are down. Many of the "lost subscribers" were not people waking up one day and saying, "holy ****, I just realized that Stephen A's a liberal?", instead they were people waking up and saying "holy ****, I subscribe to cable only to watch HBO and I'm paying $9 a month to a sports channel I never watch?"

If you don't watch Stephen A because you think he's a blowhard (like I do) but you still subscribe to a cable plan that has ESPN because you like being able to watch college football (like I do), ESPN still gets your money. It's the people who were paying for ESPN but not really wanting it that are discovering that they can do without cable subscriptions.

Missouri State sporting events are on ESPN3, which is brilliant. All you need is an ISP that supports it, no cable bill necessary. I get to watch my Bears get thumped by real teams without having to sit through the noises from the talking heads.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

This thread is in the FCS forum, not the god damn poli forum just so we are all clear on what goes in this one.

You got poli stuff to rant about...great...do it in the similar thread over there. The political BS on the FCS board just ain't gonna go on.

[Bisonoline]

Missouri State sporting events are on ESPN3, which is brilliant. All you need is an ISP that supports it, no cable bill necessary. I get to watch my Bears get thumped by real teams without having to sit through the noises from the talking heads.

I get ESPN3 thru Direct TV.

[Go Green]

ESPN has used still shots of him, pics of him to promote golf tournaments that he was not even playing in, kind of lame.

Not sure ESPN is the only one doing that.

And yes--I find it condescending too.

[youcanbankit]

He didn't nail anything. You have all kinds of people on every media format, Twitter, Facebook, this message board, and every other sports oriented message board I frequent just slamming on ESPN and saying they never watch it anymore because they went too political and too far left. Yep, we're all wrong. The sports viewing masses that are hard core viewers enough that we frequent places like this. I would refer to those types of people as their key demographic, you know, people who watch sports and have disposable incomes. Their product went to crap and we stopped watching and caring. Cord cutters, yes, huge impact, but ESPN also gave none of us a reason to NOT cut the cord. People, even sports fans, figured out they didn't need ESPN, it was crap, they can get their coverage elsewhere and if they want to watch a game there are plenty of ways, by hook or crook, to watch a game.

Michael Sams kiss with another guy, not good for most viewers. Giving the ESPN courage award to Bruce Jenner for his gender confusion, another political view supported and forced on the public. Unreal coverage and discussion of Kneeling for the national anthem.....another. These are a few of the "went political" examples/issues. The base viewers want to watch sports (FCS football). Not side on a side...... or enhance awareness of social issues that some consider gross or offensive. The public's only option, turn it off. Most people tune in to sports to escape that stuff. They are laying off the old guard bringing in more liberal views. They are going to keep moving away from their core audience and trying to capture other non traditional viewers. Their decision. Its the "New Coke" decision in sports coverage. xnodx

[Nickels]

This thread is in the FCS forum, not the god damn poli forum just so we are all clear on what goes in this one.

You got poli stuff to rant about...great...do it in the similar thread over there. The political BS on the FCS board just ain't gonna go on.
Thanks to ESPN, politics and sports have intersected. In this instance you cant talk about one without the other.

ESPN.com's own editor is even acknowledging it.
http://www.espn.com/blog/ombudsman/post/_/id/767/inside-and-out-espn-dealing-with-changing-political-dynamics

but feel free to delete the applicable thread because someone's feewings might get hurt.

[walliver]

How many people watch TV between 7AM and 5PM on weekdays? I do because my job has frequent breaks while I am waiting on other people to do things and often have 15-30 minutes gaps during the day. I generally don't watch ESPN because 15 minutes of Stephen A. is 15 minutes too many. I generally don't watch FoxNews or CNN unless there is actually something going on. A few of my colleagues turn the TV to those channels, but I hit the mute button as soon as they walk out.

Who then watches ESPN during the day. Some of those viewers are male college students (a desirable demographic), many are retirees (a less desirable demographic for TV), and many of them are unemployed (desirable only to trial lawyer and disability lawyer ads). That is the target of ESPN's non-event coverage, not die-hard sports fans counting the days to opening weekend in late August.

I have even become disillusioned by ESPN's actual sporting event coverage. The announcers constantly harp on one or two players as if the rest of the players are just hangers-on.

[Go Green]

How many people watch TV between 7AM and 5PM on weekdays

ESPN is usually on in my gym when I do my morning workouts.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Thanks to ESPN, politics and sports have intersected. In this instance you cant talk about one without the other.

ESPN.com's own editor is even acknowledging it.
http://www.espn.com/blog/ombudsman/post/_/id/767/inside-and-out-espn-dealing-with-changing-political-dynamics

but feel free to delete the applicable thread because someone's feewings might get hurt.

I don't care what ESPN has done, I'm reiterating to people what AGS does and that is this..leave the politics off this board. I agree with your premise completely that they do have politics involved that is not under any sort of controversy with me.

It ain't got **** to do with someone's feelings getting hurt, it has to do with not wanting the poli pindickery on the FCS board any longer. I won't delete threads, I will take away the FCS board from those that want to be a douchebag about it. Hope the reasoning is clear now.

BTW, there is an alternative thread in the poli lounge anyone can feel free to use.

[BisonTru]

This thread is in the FCS forum, not the god damn poli forum just so we are all clear on what goes in this one.

You got poli stuff to rant about...great...do it in the similar thread over there. The political BS on the FCS board just ain't gonna go on.

My bad on the Allbright response. I thought it might put to bed some of the poli BS and bring the conversation back to some legitimate points like over paying for rights, digital media, and pushing silly stuff on their viewers. Turns out my bucket of water was in fact just gasoline.

I'll leave my responses to the rest of you in the poli section.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

My bad on the Allbright response. I thought it might put to bed some of the poli BS and bring the conversation back to some legitimate points like over paying for rights, digital media, and pushing silly stuff on their viewers. Turns out my bucket of water was in fact just gasoline.

I'll leave my responses to the rest of you in the poli section.

There were quite a few in the fight so it wasn't directed at anyone just a general "keep it over there" type of request.xthumbsupx

[PAllen]

If they actually had any money, sure.

How much of this is a result of the viewership becoming tired of watching a bunch of spoiled multi millionaires act like irresponsible children while putting in the minimum effort on then field? That's pretty much what most top tier professional sports have devolved into. The ad money isn't there, because the viewership isn't there. I just wonder how long it will take for this stuff to filter down to player salaries. The days of the star shortstop or QB signing for more than the GDP of the 20th largest country in the world are limited.

[ASU33]

How much of this is a result of the viewership becoming tired of watching a bunch of spoiled multi millionaires act like irresponsible children while putting in the minimum effort on then field? That's pretty much what most top tier professional sports have devolved into. The ad money isn't there, because the viewership isn't there. I just wonder how long it will take for this stuff to filter down to player salaries. The days of the star shortstop or QB signing for more than the GDP of the 20th largest country in the world are limited.

Sports are ratings are still off the charts. The NFL Draft landed several of the top spots in the Thursday cable ratings this week. The ratings for the NFL ratings started out low last season but the picked up. The NBA playoff ratings are up double digits.

[Bucs2016]

Sports are ratings are still off the charts. The NFL Draft landed several of the top spots in the Thursday cable ratings this week. The ratings for the NFL ratings started out low last season but the picked up. The NBA playoff ratings are up double digits.

And its partly because sports are one of the last bastions of "purity" in a way. Where we can unite. Where only your uniform color matters. Where its almost guaranteed that if you work harder, you will get ahead further than where you are. Where thr rules are clear and its typically just the best man wins.

If only the real world worked how sports do.

[Bisonoline]

And its partly because sports are one of the last bastions of "purity" in a way. Where we can unite. Where only your uniform color matters. Where its almost guaranteed that if you work harder, you will get ahead further than where you are. Where thr rules are clear and its typically just the best man wins.

If only the real world worked how sports do.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r202/plnwtf/tumblr_o4ltfihMqT1the9b8o1_500.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/plnwtf/media/tumblr_o4ltfihMqT1the9b8o1_500.jpg.html)

[Nickels]

I don't care what ESPN has done, I'm reiterating to people what AGS does and that is this..leave the politics off this board. I agree with your premise completely that they do have politics involved that is not under any sort of controversy with me.

It ain't got **** to do with someone's feelings getting hurt, it has to do with not wanting the poli pindickery on the FCS board any longer. I won't delete threads, I will take away the FCS board from those that want to be a douchebag about it. Hope the reasoning is clear now.

BTW, there is an alternative thread in the poli lounge anyone can feel free to use.
https://media.tenor.co/images/37ed48e935f0ef4cc73b3d1cd7129712/tenor.gif

[ursus arctos horribilis]

https://media.tenor.co/images/37ed48e935f0ef4cc73b3d1cd7129712/tenor.gif

xlolx

xthumbsupxxbowx

[bonarae]

Meanwhile...

Have any of you entered their website lately? I have noticed that many of the fired writers wrote the free content on the website. I'm afraid to say that ESPN will eventually become elitist... xnonono2x

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Meanwhile...

Have any of you entered their website lately? I have noticed that many of the fired writers wrote the free content on the website. I'm afraid to say that ESPN will eventually become elitist... xnonono2x

That won't be easy, considering they fired anyone whose reporting was worth paying for.

[grizband]

Accidental post...

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[bonarae]

Seven plus months after the layoffs.... what is ESPN's place in all this digital media mess? xchinscratchx

https://www.theringer.com/2017/11/29/16716978/espn-layoffs-2017-digital-media

[walliver]

Seven plus months after the layoffs.... what is ESPN's place in all this digital media mess? xchinscratchx

https://www.theringer.com/2017/11/29/16716978/espn-layoffs-2017-digital-media

ESPN will be launching its own streaming service in the next year of two. No details have been released. I wonder if it will be ESPN for cord-cutters.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Winterborn]

ESPN will be launching its own streaming service in the next year of two. No details have been released. I wonder if it will be ESPN for cord-cutters.


Be interesting to know if it would replace ESPN 3? Or be a completely separate service.

[TheBoyWhoSeaWolf]

I used to watch a lot of ESPN, every morning while I was working out. A few years ago I stopped completely. The reason is not politics, the reason is they have become brutally boring. They pick 3 topics and hammer their viewers with those 3 topics in show after show after show. What's more. Their hosts are entirely predictable in their opinions, never looking at any issue with intelligence or nuance. 24/7 NFL coverage Februrary-January, i.e. year long has made me hate the NFL. I used to like all 4 major sports leagues. Their oversaturation of the NFL has made me hate the NFL. HATE IT. They only talk about 2 sports now: NFL and NBA. That's it. There is never an intelligent discussion regarding MLB, forget about hockey, that's been relegated to Aussie Rules Football status. And regarding MLB coverage it is now limited to MLB not being fun discussions where people of one identity say it's not fun because there is no celebrating while people of another identity say celebrating is poor sportsmanship. There is no longer any real MLB analysis, I don't even think most of the people there understand the first thing about the sport. The network is now about oversaturating NFL/NBA coverage and it has taught me 2 things: 1) I hate the NFL and 2) I hate ESPN. They are lazy and boring and who wants to watch analysis where you learn nothing, nothing new is contributed and one already knows what they are going to say before they say it?

[Go...gate]

I used to watch a lot of ESPN, every morning while I was working out. A few years ago I stopped completely. The reason is not politics, the reason is they have become brutally boring. They pick 3 topics and hammer their viewers with those 3 topics in show after show after show. What's more. Their hosts are entirely predictable in their opinions, never looking at any issue with intelligence or nuance. 24/7 NFL coverage Februrary-January, i.e. year long has made me hate the NFL. I used to like all 4 major sports leagues. Their oversaturation of the NFL has made me hate the NFL. HATE IT. They only talk about 2 sports now: NFL and NBA. That's it. There is never an intelligent discussion regarding MLB, forget about hockey, that's been relegated to Aussie Rules Football status. And regarding MLB coverage it is now limited to MLB not being fun discussions where people of one identity say it's not fun because there is no celebrating while people of another identity say celebrating is poor sportsmanship. There is no longer any real MLB analysis, I don't even think most of the people there understand the first thing about the sport. The network is now about oversaturating NFL/NBA coverage and it has taught me 2 things: 1) I hate the NFL and 2) I hate ESPN. They are lazy and boring and who wants to watch analysis where you learn nothing, nothing new is contributed and one already knows what they are going to say before they say it?

Agree. ESPN is nowhere near as good as it was.

[Bison56]

I used to watch a lot of ESPN, every morning while I was working out. A few years ago I stopped completely. The reason is not politics, the reason is they have become brutally boring. They pick 3 topics and hammer their viewers with those 3 topics in show after show after show. What's more. Their hosts are entirely predictable in their opinions, never looking at any issue with intelligence or nuance. 24/7 NFL coverage Februrary-January, i.e. year long has made me hate the NFL. I used to like all 4 major sports leagues. Their oversaturation of the NFL has made me hate the NFL. HATE IT. They only talk about 2 sports now: NFL and NBA. That's it. There is never an intelligent discussion regarding MLB, forget about hockey, that's been relegated to Aussie Rules Football status. And regarding MLB coverage it is now limited to MLB not being fun discussions where people of one identity say it's not fun because there is no celebrating while people of another identity say celebrating is poor sportsmanship. There is no longer any real MLB analysis, I don't even think most of the people there understand the first thing about the sport. The network is now about oversaturating NFL/NBA coverage and it has taught me 2 things: 1) I hate the NFL and 2) I hate ESPN. They are lazy and boring and who wants to watch analysis where you learn nothing, nothing new is contributed and one already knows what they are going to say before they say it?

I agree with you 100%

[ST_Lawson]

I used to watch a lot of ESPN, every morning while I was working out. A few years ago I stopped completely. The reason is not politics, the reason is they have become brutally boring. They pick 3 topics and hammer their viewers with those 3 topics in show after show after show. What's more. Their hosts are entirely predictable in their opinions, never looking at any issue with intelligence or nuance. 24/7 NFL coverage Februrary-January, i.e. year long has made me hate the NFL. I used to like all 4 major sports leagues. Their oversaturation of the NFL has made me hate the NFL. HATE IT. They only talk about 2 sports now: NFL and NBA. That's it. There is never an intelligent discussion regarding MLB, forget about hockey, that's been relegated to Aussie Rules Football status. And regarding MLB coverage it is now limited to MLB not being fun discussions where people of one identity say it's not fun because there is no celebrating while people of another identity say celebrating is poor sportsmanship. There is no longer any real MLB analysis, I don't even think most of the people there understand the first thing about the sport. The network is now about oversaturating NFL/NBA coverage and it has taught me 2 things: 1) I hate the NFL and 2) I hate ESPN. They are lazy and boring and who wants to watch analysis where you learn nothing, nothing new is contributed and one already knows what they are going to say before they say it?

For me it's pretty much all this except I do like the NFL. Not as much as I like college football, but I do like it. But...I have like zero $#!+s to give about the NBA. Basketball in general outside of the rare occasions when WIU is doing well, I have no interest in. I don't care about hockey either, but they barely cover that anyway. So, pretty much my only overlapping interest with what ESPN mostly covers is the NFL, and I get enough info online from other sites (that cover the topics better) that I don't need a sports show on ESPN to tell me all about it.

[Gangtackle11]

Don’t watch ESPN Sportscenter much, if at all. Used to be a religious experience, but I echo the sentiments of previous posters.

I watch College sports way more often than pro sports. Still keep an eye on my pro team favs, but not through ESPN. I find my self watching BTN, NFL Network, & MLB Network.

I do watch 30for30s & when I’m in my office at home will have on Mike & Mike or now Golic & Wingo. I also watch Dan Patrick.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Don’t watch ESPN Sportscenter much, if at all. Used to be a religious experience, but I echo the sentiments of previous posters.

I watch College sports way more often than pro sports. Still keep an eye on my pro team favs, but not through ESPN. I find my self watching BTN, NFL Network, & MLB Network.

I do watch 30for30s & when I’m in my office at home will have on Mike & Mike or now Golic & Wingo. I also watch Dan Patrick.



I like those 30 for 30s but they need to bring in some new ones.....the Miami Hurricane 80s story is on all the time....xconfusedx

[katstrapper]

ESPN is getting what they deserve.

[Laker]

ESPN:

Go back to sports. Don't worry about politics, slick commentary, and trying to be too cool for school. I'm a sports nut- I'll watch a lot of different kinds- but you have an agenda. I still watch the games that I want to watch- otherwise I turn away. Go back to your roots.

[Go Green]

My own take on this is that nothing has changed from ESPN's heyday in terms of content.

Rather, ESPN is losing viewers because fans are finding alternative venues to get their sports news and discussions. Personally, I care only about certain teams. I can get far better coverage and discussion on those team blogs/message boards than anything ESPN can say. So instead of watching "SportsCenter" or whatever like I did a generation ago, I'm spending my free time to get my sports news jones on boards like this one.

How ESPN is going to reverse the trend.... I have no idea.

[Bison56]

My own take on this is that nothing has changed from ESPN's heyday in terms of content.

Rather, ESPN is losing viewers because fans are finding alternative venues to get their sports news and discussions. Personally, I care only about certain teams. I can get far better coverage and discussion on those team blogs/message boards than anything ESPN can say. So instead of watching "SportsCenter" or whatever like I did a generation ago, I'm spending my free time to get my sports news jones on boards like this one.

How ESPN is going to reverse the trend.... I have no idea.

I agree. Why do I have to sit and wait for a show on ESPN to come on, then wait while they talk about stuff I don't care about for 30+ minutes before they mention what I was waiting for, when I can get online anytime and find out the info I need/want?

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Glad my pal Dave Lloyd has survived so far. Other than that, this Deadspin piece is I think accurate... desperate company postponing the inevitable. http://deadspin.com/espns-latest-layoffs-are-just-a-way-to-buy-time-1794678629


Deadspin is awesome and they write incredibly accurate articles........................

[REALBird]

I like watching content on ESPN, not crazy about the on air personalities. Not a fan of Stephen A. Smith, really not a fan of "SC 6", The evening SC with Scott Van Pelt is just "blaaaaaaah". I watch the games, and turn away from the recaps/news because it seems ESPN lacks any real creativity now. There are no more Chris Berman's, Stewart Scotts, Charlie Steiners, Rich Eisen's, Keith Obermann's that make watching enjoyable. Piss on ESPN.

[smilo]

I like watching content on ESPN, not crazy about the on air personalities. Not a fan of Stephen A. Smith, really not a fan of "SC 6", The evening SC with Scott Van Pelt is just "blaaaaaaah". I watch the games, and turn away from the recaps/news because it seems ESPN lacks any real creativity now. There are no more Chris Berman's, Stewart Scotts, Charlie Steiners, Rich Eisen's, Keith Obermann's that make watching enjoyable. Piss on ESPN.

xeyebrowxxeyebrowxxeyebrowx

Pretty certain I never heard that from anyone ever.

[bonarae]

The sports version of MTV maybe? xchinscratchx

[cx500d]

The sports version of MTV maybe? xchinscratchx


You nailed it

[Serpentor]

I agree. Why do I have to sit and wait for a show on ESPN to come on, then wait while they talk about stuff I don't care about for 30+ minutes before they mention what I was waiting for, when I can get online anytime and find out the info I need/want?

Isn't that pretty much what killed the sports trading cards market? No need to collect cards to get the player stats when you can just hop on Wikipedia?

[Serpentor]

xeyebrowxxeyebrowxxeyebrowx

Pretty certain I never heard that from anyone ever.

I did enjoy watching Keith get repeatedly fired this decade, that was entertaining....

[JayJ79]

The sports version of MTV maybe? xchinscratchx
ESPN occasionally airs actual sports
last I checked, MTV didn't really air very much music. (then again, I haven't bothered watching MTV for decades)

[PantherRob82]

ESPN lost me when SportsCenter stopped being an hour of highlights. I don’t have cable anymore, but I am always disappointed when I am on the road and SC is 20 mins of Alabama/Ohio state debate, 20 mins of highlights and then 20 more mins of Alabama/Ohio State debate.

[Bison56]

I did enjoy watching Keith get repeatedly fired this decade, that was entertaining....

That will never get old.

[ST_Lawson]

Isn't that pretty much what killed the sports trading cards market? No need to collect cards to get the player stats when you can just hop on Wikipedia?

I used to collect baseball cards and never payed any attention to the stats on the back. I always thought it was the glut of new sets and subsets that all exploded in the 90s and early 2000s (that killed the market).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[walliver]

ESPN's business model has lead to their downfall. Their current model is tying up as many live sporting events so that cable and satellite operators have to pay a lot for programming. They also have the pull to force these operators to broadcast most (if not all of their channels). They probably paid too much for TV rights.

On football Saturdays, their programming is split between ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN-U, SEC network (and ACC network starting next year) and ESPN3 streaming. Between that and their competitors, FS1, FS2, Big10 network, PAC-12 network, NBCSN and CBSSN, ratings (and ad revenues) for all but the most popular games are going to be low.

As a result, they cut costs to the bone for the rest of their schedules. Talk is cheap, and that's what they give us.

I'd rather watch Australian Football or rugby instead of Stephen A. But, even with what they pay him, his shows are cheap to produce, and that's what we get.

[Professor Chaos]

I like Will Cain... I'm glad they seem to be putting him on more platforms/programs. That's about the only good thing I can say about ESPN's "talent" right now.