After today's cuts, is ESPN going to adjust their business model?

[ChugsMcGee]

But is the average sports fan that is conservative going to watch if it isn't political content? My guess is they just want to hear news about their own team, 1 or 2 sports. I don't think they're dying to listen to most of the sports content (non-political) that ESPN has.

I think ESPN as a business knows it is going to be shrinking regardless because of cord-cutting, sports viewing becoming more niche, technology and because of that, they're then catering more to blacks or a left-leaning audience to retain some viewership.

So basically I think their shift is an effect of what is happening, rather than a cause.

And I think a lot of people like to say "I stopped watching because XYZ" but really they kinda just stopped watching because they follow a lot less sports, got sick of hearing the same platitudes, etc

I used to watch PTI 10-12 years ago, I don't know why, don't ask me why, but you would have to pay me to watch that garbage today. And that has nothing to do with politics. It's just awful.

I don't have to read this thread past Pats first several posts. Spot on. I still enjoy PTI and actually still DVR it (but never watch it). I listen to sports radio all day at work, and get instant updates to my phone. By the time PTI rolls around, I've heard the sports take 4 times on a given topic.

Regarding their business model, they've obviously been changing to cater to African American's more, which is why every white male here hates ESPN now. The SC6 is a decent show, but if you don't like Michael and Jemelle, you hate it.

As far as the cuts...it's simple business. I am familiar with Jayson Stark and Ed Werder, but I don't turn in to any program for either of them. If some blonde in a low cut dress is giving me the same Cowboys updates for a 1/3 on the salary, ESPN and I are both satisfied.

The only issue I have...I LOVE Ryen Russillo's radio show. It was the greatest with SVP. They brought in Kanell, who I've warmed up to, but he brings nothing original. They had already bumped Russillo and Kanell to Sirius 81 for Stephen A on Sirius 80 (the equivalent of ESPN to ESPN 2 on Sirius radio) so I think this was building. And they chose to make this cut while Russillo was on vacation...which maybe just a coincidence...I don't know. Hoping they keep Russillo and just add a new partner or let him run solo, but getting nervous they're just going to cut it altogether. Russillo is one guy I will follow (and SVP). Bill Simmons is the only other one I did. Thought I would with Cowherd, but he became why too "hot takey" in the last couple years at ESPN which is the thing everyone seems to love now.

 

[REDEYE]

Outside of the live events , most ESPN programming is unwatchable these days.. Outside of SVP. SC is horrific ..I can't be the only one that thinks this or has turned it off...the content is way to political for me..

 

[Willie99]

I don't watch anything anymore, save for live sports. Something about idiots screaming at each other turns me off.

I do occasionally watch SVP
.

 

[spidur94]

Espn play 1.9 billion of the 3.2 billion of NFL television rights per season.

MNF cost more money then the CBS and FOX package cost combined .


The only thing ESPN is good for is live sporting events mixed in with a morning and evening sports center .

Mayne throw in a new 30 for 30 here and there.

But other then that there really is nothing they can broadcast that would be profitable .

Has nothing to do with politics or not being hard core enough.

Just a simple fact that no matter what direction they go in they will not have a big enough audience for the production cost of
any of that type of programming hard core or fluff.

Just do a morning and evening sports center and play worlds strongest man competition reruns and call it a day.

Man, I loved watching Magnus Ver Magnusson dominate on WSM competions! LOL

 

[Enfuego]

Clay Travis' tweets on this topic are great today.

Yesterday, ESPN gutted its sports staff yet have poetry on their site being highlighted today praising a cop killer hiding in Cuba. You can't make it up fellas.

http://thefederalist.com/2017/04/27/espn-poetry-tribute-fugitive-cop-killer/

 

[festeringZit]

Politics has nothing to do with it. The sport TV Contracts and the declining number of cable subscribers is what's killing there bottom line.

Have you ever been right about anything? Just curious. Still wearing Che Guevara t-shirts?

 

[PatsFan1283]

I'm surprised so much. of the ESPN demise analysis is about cord cutting and politics but none of it mentions a pretty obvious elephant in the room. The fact people are pirating so much more content than even 5 years ago.

These ISP/cable companies might not care about this right now but what if they lose another 12 million paying subscribers on top of the 12 they already lost? They don't care now because the still get 2-4k a year from a ton of households.

I could see them starting to track Internet activity more and banning stuff like vipsports type sites. Cracking down on downloads more. Otherwise a large portion of the sports TV market risks going the way of the music industry.

UFC just bought for 4B and most of their revenue is based on PPV, yet besides the Rousey/MCGregor boom, no one is selling PPVs compared to 08-11. Probable because tons of people just stream a 15 minute fight.

 

[dtmad]

Patsfan...Agree except for Dick Vitale...."Diaper Dandies"? Are you shitting me?? "...baby." C'mon. I turn off the game when he is on. He is more grating than a chirping female announcer.

 

[dtmad]

Austin? Is he that screeching black guy with half my IQ? Is that the audience ESPN is after? Bad news.

 

[Hamilbet]

FS1 missed their opportunity to be the next big thing in sports news. Instead of copying ESPN 2017, they should have copying ESPN 1995. Now they are all garbage and I listen to FM and satellite radio instead.

 

[Hamilbet]

This popped up on my timeline. Good quick read.

http://www.crossingbroad.com/2017/04/espn-chose-idiocy.html

 

[PatsFan1283]

FS1 missed their opportunity to be the next big thing in sports news. Instead of copying ESPN 2017, they should have copying ESPN 1995. Now they are all garbage and I listen to FM and satellite radio instead.

What was their opportunity though? Did it really exist? It is weird and perhaps telling they didn't even try to provide an alternative to ESPN, just out-do them at their own game.

When they first popped up seems like they said they were gonna be an alternative to ESPN. Then they probably realized what ESPN did, that catering to the same lowest common denominator and having people scream at each other is what works. So they go pay Cowherd and Skip for hot takes, bring on some former players like Shannon Sharpe, Ray Lewis, etc and it's just the same thing. Maybe they don't have the overboard political stuff but I've seen some videos of their stuff and it is pretty much the same.

Both of these companies probably have access to internal data that the public doesn't, and they both probably realize this is mostly the way to go. "The Nascar Hour" or "NHL this week"isn't going to get anymore than the 5-600k viewers that most of these shows get. Probably less.

I like FS1's UFC coverage because FOX has the UFC deal so they cover it better but even then I mostly watch online videos and not the actual network.

When you say go back to 1995, what do you mean though? Sports Reporters on Sunday mornings with platitudes galore? Highlights with with catchphrases? Up Close with Roy Firestone? Don't think any of that stuff is moving the needle in 2017.

I think that's just over with, for the most part.

 

[michael777]

Rush Limbaugh,end of story,end of ESPN,liberal scum

 

[EveryGamblersDream]

Again, politics have nothing to do with this. Look at TheBlaze, they are millions in debt and on the brink of dissappearing. That is a conservative site ran by Glenn Beck that pretends to be neutral. The reason why they are on the brink isn't politics, it's because they've blown millions on a failed radio and tv network.

ESPN spent way too much on sports contracts and fewer and fewer people are subscribing to cable. That's why they are losing money.

Look at the people who got cut. Half are beat team bloggers and on air reporters. None of them are bringing up politics when doing there jobs.

Bad example of using The Blaze as Glenn Beck was exposed as a fraud on many levels. All he was truly was a hack shock jock who turned into being a wannabe intellect whose views changed as the winds blew.

 

[HarryCaray]

But is the average sports fan that is conservative going to watch if it isn't political content? My guess is they just want to hear news about their own team, 1 or 2 sports. I don't think they're dying to listen to most of the sports content (non-political) that ESPN has.

I think ESPN as a business knows it is going to be shrinking regardless because of cord-cutting, sports viewing becoming more niche, technology and because of that, they're then catering more to blacks or a left-leaning audience to retain some viewership.

So basically I think their shift is an effect of what is happening, rather than a cause.

And I think a lot of people like to say "I stopped watching because XYZ" but really they kinda just stopped watching because they follow a lot less sports, got sick of hearing the same platitudes, etc

I used to watch PTI 10-12 years ago, I don't know why, don't ask me why, but you would have to pay me to watch that garbage today. And that has nothing to do with politics. It's just awful.

You are spot on, as usual.

 

[Willie99]

Have you ever been right about anything? Just curious. Still wearing Che Guevara t-shirts?

Zit my friend, you really suck at ignoring people

Why would you engage him for any reason?

 

[festeringZit]

Zit my friend, you really suck at ignoring people

Why would you engage him for any reason?

Probably the same reason why I could never ignore Vittard and Guesstard for more than a month or so... LOL

 

[CarolinaKid]

espn in the off season spends way too much time on the nfl imo

 

[Enfuego]

You guys that stick to your talking points about ESPN's downfall having nothing to do with politics, please read the following. You are wrong on so many levels.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/r...-away-right-leaning-audiences/article/2621531

 

[seldomseen]

Yea Patsfan is spot on in this thread. Espn dumbed it down to appeal to a broader audience and narrative shifted towards demographic.