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Message
re: ESPN is a mess
Posted on 6/20/18 at 3:50 pm to Baloo
Posted on 6/20/18 at 3:50 pm to Baloo
I just don’t understand why they try so hard to make things about politics. When did they decide this was a good idea? The target audience doesn’t give a shite about that stuff when they tune in.
I also hate how the race issue is presented as this universal thing. I have a tremendous amount of respect for many black athletes. There are some that choose to use their athletic platform to associate themselves with the dregs of society...then blame it on race.
I’m white. There’s plenty of pieces of shite that share my skin color. There’s trailer parks infested with white trash. I’m not going to protest policy because they are screwups.
So my point...ESPN isn’t too black. It never was. The problem is not skin color, it’s the fact they use that as an excuse to cover politics.
I also hate how the race issue is presented as this universal thing. I have a tremendous amount of respect for many black athletes. There are some that choose to use their athletic platform to associate themselves with the dregs of society...then blame it on race.
I’m white. There’s plenty of pieces of shite that share my skin color. There’s trailer parks infested with white trash. I’m not going to protest policy because they are screwups.
So my point...ESPN isn’t too black. It never was. The problem is not skin color, it’s the fact they use that as an excuse to cover politics.
0
Posted on 6/20/18 at 3:55 pm to weagle99
ESPN is trying to survive in a world that is FAR different than the one in which it began and dominated for nearly 3 decades.
ESPN's biggest issue is not left wing politics. It's the mass exodus from traditional cable programming. People are "cutting the cord" and there appears to be no end in sight for that trend.
That puts ESPN in a big quandary because they have less and less subscribers yet still have to pay HUGE dollars for live sports broadcast. Monday Night Football, the NBA, etc are huge contracts that they are having to pay with less money coming in due to cord cutting. Plus, they don't "own" those broadcasts in a sense (the leagues do). They are just "leasing" the right to show them.
If they can't afford live broadcast anymore (and it's very likely they won't be able to afford MNF with the contract is up) then they are left with highlights and original programming (talk shows, 30 for 30, etc). 25 years ago Sportscenter was appointment viewing because that was essentially the ONLY place you could get highlights. With the advent of the internet that's not the case. The demand for ESPN in that regard has largely gone away because of the way we now consume media.
Therefore, ESPN has to figure out a way to make their original programming more lucrative. To that end, it looks like they decided to try to capitalize on "created controversy" by interjecting politics into sports. I think what they have found is a lot of sports fans don't want that mix---whatever political stripe they are.
The irony is that if ESPN survives the new world it may be as a result of going back to their roots and showing cheap live sports broadcasts. Remember, initially ESPN didn't have the money to show NFL or NBA games. They kind of took what they could get. That's why you used to see shite like World's Strongest Man, or pool tournaments, or darts, etc. If they can't afford the NBA, NFL, major college leagues, etc., obscure stuff might be all that's left.
ESPN's biggest issue is not left wing politics. It's the mass exodus from traditional cable programming. People are "cutting the cord" and there appears to be no end in sight for that trend.
That puts ESPN in a big quandary because they have less and less subscribers yet still have to pay HUGE dollars for live sports broadcast. Monday Night Football, the NBA, etc are huge contracts that they are having to pay with less money coming in due to cord cutting. Plus, they don't "own" those broadcasts in a sense (the leagues do). They are just "leasing" the right to show them.
If they can't afford live broadcast anymore (and it's very likely they won't be able to afford MNF with the contract is up) then they are left with highlights and original programming (talk shows, 30 for 30, etc). 25 years ago Sportscenter was appointment viewing because that was essentially the ONLY place you could get highlights. With the advent of the internet that's not the case. The demand for ESPN in that regard has largely gone away because of the way we now consume media.
Therefore, ESPN has to figure out a way to make their original programming more lucrative. To that end, it looks like they decided to try to capitalize on "created controversy" by interjecting politics into sports. I think what they have found is a lot of sports fans don't want that mix---whatever political stripe they are.
The irony is that if ESPN survives the new world it may be as a result of going back to their roots and showing cheap live sports broadcasts. Remember, initially ESPN didn't have the money to show NFL or NBA games. They kind of took what they could get. That's why you used to see shite like World's Strongest Man, or pool tournaments, or darts, etc. If they can't afford the NBA, NFL, major college leagues, etc., obscure stuff might be all that's left.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 4:04 pm to Baloo
quote:
I think this is a bigger issue than the politics. It's not they have a political slant, it's that the shows are bad and incredible superficial and dumb.
They have leaned hard into the "E" of ESPN when prior eras leaned into the "S". The network cares about personalities and image. It's basically a gossip rag that's obsessed with celebrity. And I could not give less of crap about that sort of stuff.
Hard to believe, but ESPN used to be on the forefront of bringing statistical analysis to the regular fan. They also had shows like Edge NFL Matchup which broke down film. They talked sports, but in an educated way. We're never going back to that, and it's a shame.
But I think the network has turned off a lot of people by becoming the equivalent of a tabloid even more than its politics. At least an investigative story on concussions is about sports. That's a real issue. Where a guy ate dinner last night or who he's beefing with on twitter is not.
I agree with almost all of that. Especially this:
quote:
But I think the network has turned off a lot of people by becoming the equivalent of a tabloid even more than its politics. At least an investigative story on concussions is about sports. That's a real issue. Where a guy ate dinner last night or who he's beefing with on twitter is not.
That's the problem. ESPN has turned into mindless stop-gap "entertainment" basically. It tries to make EVERY single story THE MOST important or OUTLANDISH thing POSSIBLE. It's all about hyperbole and overreaction. It's clickbait in television form. It's Buzzfeed. Hell, even some of the "clips" they show now are just animated gifs that replay over and over, sometimes five and ten times. That gets tiresome real quick. And instead of talking about the games last night or breaking down highlights and analysis...they'd rather talk about what Lebron said in a tweet or if Tom Brady is "happy" in New England, or if Kevin Durant will retire a decade from now. It's weird.
There was always a gradual disconnect between ESPN and its sports-hungry viewers...I can remember it slowly showing fewer and fewer highlights. There were times when I'd tune into SC to see highlights of something, and I wouldn't even get the score. That never happened back in the day. Then one day you wake up and notice almost the entire hour of SC was them harping on a single subject nonstop. Prefect example was Tebow years ago when all that was blowing the frick up...it's literally all they talked about on Sportscenter one day.
quote:
Hard to believe, but ESPN used to be on the forefront of bringing statistical analysis to the regular fan. They also had shows like Edge NFL Matchup which broke down film. They talked sports, but in an educated way. We're never going back to that, and it's a shame.
And I get that entertainment evolves, but IMO there is still a HUGE hunger for highlight-driven sports fans. And ESPN is losing those (or has lost them). But they can either get them back, or someone else will eventually rise up and provide that outlet. Supply and demand, so to speak.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 4:04 pm to LSUvegasbombed
quote:
go back to the days of minimum talk shows and all about sports highlights and more people would start watching
Posted on 6/20/18 at 4:22 pm to Baloo
quote:
Also, I think we forget one of the most common ways to watch ESPN: in a bar, sometimes without sound. They can get a lot of eyeballs by showing highlights in that way.
I’m literally doing this with MLB Intentional Talk right now, in a bar. I had no idea the Marlins and Giants game had a flurry of HBP and ejections. Awesome to see.
Hopefully new contracts and ratings end up forcing ESPN’s hand to stick to sports.
This post was edited on 6/20/18 at 4:25 pm
Posted on 6/20/18 at 4:42 pm to TheGasMan
I like how this board thinks ESPN should target its audience to people that post on this board. Espn already has this board, they’re looking for new demographics.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 4:55 pm to LSUvegasbombed
quote:
go back to the days of minimum talk shows and all about sports highlights and more people would start watching
People have already seen the highlights online. ESPN's problem is an archaic business model. Their floundering around trying to find something people will watch is a symptom.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 5:01 pm to Jim Rockford
quote:
ESPN's problem is an archaic business model
So why is Fox, CBS, and NBC Sports copying them? Also, they’re hiring the ESPN talent as well.
You can say NFLN MLBN NBAN also has copied ESPN as well.
This post was edited on 6/20/18 at 5:10 pm
Posted on 6/20/18 at 5:11 pm to lsutigers1992
quote:
Sounds like the problem isn’t ESPN. The problem is Capitalism. I guess Capitalism is only good when businesses suck up to rich white people.
quote:
lsutigers1992
This may be one of the most ironic posts I’ve ever seen on this board since you’re the one always bitching about the biggest sports media markets always being on primetime tv slots
Posted on 6/20/18 at 5:14 pm to PrimeTime Money
quote:
But somewhere along the way they turned into some kind of black power advocates or something and it completely rubbed me the wrong way. It's like their entire persona suddenly revolved around race.
The Donald broke them
Posted on 6/20/18 at 5:33 pm to CocomoLSU
quote:
Then one day you wake up and notice almost the entire hour of SC was them harping on a single subject nonstop. Prefect example was Tebow years ago when all that was blowing the frick up.
Or the Michael Sam 24/7 coverage.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 5:52 pm to weagle99
quote:
At this point, Bristol, Connecticut, is not a bastion of liberalism. And it's laughable that that's the perception
Yeah, it's probably all just a misunderstanding.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 7:27 pm to weagle99
I definitely would leave Sage Steele in her current spot but I would pair her up with Scott Van Pelt. I know he is killing it in his current spot. I just think pairing him with her in the say 5-8pm slot would absolutely bring ESPN back.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 7:41 pm to Ponchy Tiger
quote:
I definitely would leave Sage Steele in her current spot but I would pair her up with Scott Van Pelt. I know he is killing it in his current spot. I just think pairing him with her in the say 5-8pm slot would absolutely bring ESPN back.
That's an awful idea. The night SC is the only important one. 5 PM is the least important one. SVP is the only SC host who carries the show himself. Additionally Sage has little personality and she'd be completely lost with SVP shouting about mooses and backdoor covers.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 8:39 pm to weagle99
quote:
WokeCenter," left in February, Norby Williamson, ESPN's executive vp and executive editor of studio production, quipped in front of a room full of people: "One down, one to go."
What a crock.
Someone come up with this idea and someone approved it.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 9:50 pm to Prominentwon
ESPN wanted the black twitter crowd with the six and it didn’t get it. They tried to get the younger audience with Barstool Van Talk but a few people at ESPN caused it to end after an episode. ESPN is trying to get younger viewers and be the story instead of reporting the story. 15 years ago ESPN was going strong and it felt like everything they did was successful. They hired the right people that knew sports and ESPN was made for the hardcore sports fan. ESPN was very calculated back then and did their research when putting something ESPN. Today it feels like they’re just out of touch and throwing shows to the wall hoping one sticks. ESPN has been made for the casual sports fan today and back then it was more for the hardcore sports fan. The only sport I think ESPN has great coverage of right now is college football. Skipper was terrible at hiring sports analyst and nobody ever talks about it. Who are the best MLB, NFL, and NBA analysts at ESPN. I just don’t value any of their analyst opinions on any of those sports.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 10:32 pm to TH03
quote:
ESPN and CNN share the same fate. The only people home during the day to watch their programming are welfare kings and queens who don’t work. And we all know what kind of news and stories that demo wants to see.
It's amazing that you can eat, drink, and breathe with the bullshite exciting your body at the extreme volume it currently is.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 10:41 pm to PrimeTime Money
quote:
But somewhere along the way they turned into some kind of black power advocates or something
Jesus Christ, I hate white people. It makes being a college sports fan living in the midwest, nearly insufferable.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 10:58 pm to MakeItRain
Nether ESPN or The 6 currently, or have in the past, "talked politics." That's become a cop out phrase for people who simply don't want social issues that they don't identify with, talked about. The intersection of social issues and sports became intertwined before cable television was born. Nearly all of the same people complaining about ESPN being too political are the same ones who could be found also praising very vocal conservative social issue voices like Will Cain, Snacks Whitlock, Tow Truck Barbie, and PediculoCLAYsis.
Posted on 6/20/18 at 11:34 pm to MakeItRain
quote:
Jesus Christ, I hate white people
We know sky screamer. So did SC6
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