ESPN's Chris Fowler is feeling a little guilty
- Thread starter kmoose
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No, did I miss something?
kmoose
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He had a bit of a rant about how "stupid" it is, to think that ESPN has an interest in the SEC being dominant. But he was careful to present it as people contending that ESPN has a vested interest in seeing 3 SEC teams get into the playoffs(a contention that I have never heard, by the way). Basically he was saying that anyone who thinks that ESPN is biased for the SEC is an idiot.
Irish YJ
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I'm a proud idiot
irishfanjho15
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Love how he said the SEC network wants the SEC strong and so does CBS, but not ESPN. I mean they act like the SEC network is not part of ESPNs networks. Not to mention ESPN has the rights to replay all the CBS SEC games on their networks.
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Literally everyone with an ounce of logic or business knowledge in their being knows that corporations are self-interested.
When one of those assets is a network that gets "second pick" of games... it's extremely important that ALL teams be perceived as good so that the "second tier" game is still considered a premium matchup that people want to watch.
On top of that, they put their name in the SEC Network branding/logo.
And they do live cut ins to "SEC Nation" during game day.
ESPN isn't biased towards the SEC, they're biased towards ratings and money. And right now ratings + $$$ = SEC.
For the CFB playoffs, they will be biased towards whichever 4 teams they think get them the most eyeballs.
When one of those assets is a network that gets "second pick" of games... it's extremely important that ALL teams be perceived as good so that the "second tier" game is still considered a premium matchup that people want to watch.
On top of that, they put their name in the SEC Network branding/logo.
And they do live cut ins to "SEC Nation" during game day.
ESPN isn't biased towards the SEC, they're biased towards ratings and money. And right now ratings + $$$ = SEC.
For the CFB playoffs, they will be biased towards whichever 4 teams they think get them the most eyeballs.
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kmoose
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They may use their bias as a tool in the pursuit of revenue, but that doesn't change the fact that they are biased. And to go on a national show and try to claim that you aren't, and call people "stupid" for realizing that you are; that's almost the textbook definition of douchebaggery.
rtrn2glory
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he's a typical modern day commentator.
he thinks the general public values his opinion and couldn't be more wrong.
much like the brent mussbergers and brad nesslers of the tv world.
they've all gotten too big for their britches, much like everyone who's been on that network for a decade or so
kmoose
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All want to be Howard Cosell or Keith Jackson, who wanted to be Walter Cronkite.
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Right, exactly. RIGHT NOW they have SEC bias as a product of their business decisions, because anything but SEC bias would hurt their properties/revenue.
In a couple years that might change depending on XYZ and what they're invested in. But for anyone to argue they don't have -- at minimum -- a conflict of interest as a "journalistic" entity is ignorant of business.
kmoose
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I was going to vote my ideals, and watch Maine v. Rhode Island on a local broadcast, instead of watching KSU/Texas on ESPN.
Then I realized it doesn't matter. I'm not a part of the Nielsen Ratings, so my viewership doesn't count for(or against) ESPN.
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So Fowler is trying to convey that ESPN is a trusted news source and above infotainment?
Who you crappin' Fowler?
ESPN has a financial interest to promote the SEC and they do it. Own it. I'd do the same thing. It's not like they don't script story lines for various sports and for different personalities as is evident with Coach Holtz and Mark May. I have talked with May out on the town in AZ and he laughs at the things they make him say. It's all an act, the whole fu@%ing network.
Now before we all pile on ESPN, they do know how to butter the entire loaf instead of just certain slices. Many of their prized personalities are unabashed Irish fans and are allowed to express as much.... Kiper, Vitale, Digger and of course Holtz are constantly showing their love of the Irish, it's usually followed by a snarky counterpoint but it still keeps the Irish brand front and center on the competition's dime. That doesn't happen too often in the marketing world.
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Who you crappin' Fowler?
ESPN has a financial interest to promote the SEC and they do it. Own it. I'd do the same thing. It's not like they don't script story lines for various sports and for different personalities as is evident with Coach Holtz and Mark May. I have talked with May out on the town in AZ and he laughs at the things they make him say. It's all an act, the whole fu@%ing network.
Now before we all pile on ESPN, they do know how to butter the entire loaf instead of just certain slices. Many of their prized personalities are unabashed Irish fans and are allowed to express as much.... Kiper, Vitale, Digger and of course Holtz are constantly showing their love of the Irish, it's usually followed by a snarky counterpoint but it still keeps the Irish brand front and center on the competition's dime. That doesn't happen too often in the marketing world.
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WakeUpEchoes
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I think he really believes what he is saying. I'm not sure if that is better though.
DomeX2 eNVy
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I love how he mentioned how he hates when stupid uninformed information is repeated again and again.. . . . I thought he was talking about how the refs got the call at the end of the FSU game right.
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I liked Jackson's style of game calling but he was the biggest homer on the networks. ND v UM or ND v USC didn't matter, ABC carried those game and Keith openly rooted for the Rose Bowl (carried on ABC) prospects. Raved ad nauseam about the superiority of the BIG and PAC conferences which played in "The Granddaddy of the them all".
kmoose
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Keith Jackson was doing an Ohio State/Michigan game, after his first retirement, but before he came back to just do West Coast games; He actually said, on air, and not over an open mic going to commercial, "Well, I never liked Woody(Hayes) anyway."
He was the best in the business for a long time. And then he got old, and at that time he started to think that his personality was above the game.
irishfan
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We don't have any SEC bias. We just randomly have had GameDay for an SEC game 4 of the 5 last weeks. Including Missouri at South Carolina....
Same network that talked up A&M beyond belief, and still gives credit to Miss State for knocking off a "Top 10" A&M team.
Same network that talked up A&M beyond belief, and still gives credit to Miss State for knocking off a "Top 10" A&M team.
K
koonja
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How does them calling it 'the drama' bother you? That's what it was/has been since it happened.
kmoose
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Because they are not shy about calling them "blown calls" for other teams. So why not call it a "blown call" for ND?
K
koonja
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Maybe because they're supposed to appear impartial and it's a fact that many people do not see it as a blown call?
There's no better way to term it for them, IMO.
kmoose
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Meh! I said it bothered me. I never said it was rational.
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koonja
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Lol, touche!
Grahambo
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This is exactly what Dan Patrick was saying the other day on his radio show. Somebody called in asking about the SEC bias and he said its nonsense because the SEC draws in the most money. He said ESPN is full of businessmen and they don't care about the SEC, B1G, etc. All they care about is what brings them the most money/ratings. He said if the B1G were to bring in the big bucks then they would be promoting the B1G ad nausea.
He mentioned how they dropped hockey because it was doing poorly in money and ratings and he said they are slowly pushing out NASCAR because its losing steam. He said they're all over the NBA because it gets ratings.
Just look at the World Series ratings. People complain about how networks like ESPN are all over the Yankees, Red Sox etc and they finally get a World Series with small market teams in KC and SF and look at the ratings. Game 1 was a 6% drop compared to the previous Game 1 low back in 2012. Big name teams get big time draws. Look at how successful the Tampa Bay Rays have been in recent history and they still draw poorly. So poorly that they are being rumored to being moved to Montreal.
kmoose
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There is a big difference, though, between the SEC and the rest of college football; ESPN holds a financial stake in the SEC network. They don't own any of the BIG-10, PAC-12, or Longhorn networks. So, they have a vested financial interest in pumping up the SEC, win or lose. Again, I get the business end of it. But don't sit on a national stage, act superior, and call people stupid for recognizing your bias.