ESPN

[woolybug25]

If there is anything we can be sure of, it's that ndgrad will find a way to spin any topic to the oppressive liberal, fascist, evil doer regime.

 

[wizards8507]

Where do you get this from???

He's right in general.

It's not hard to figure out the trends. Most of what you'd guess through stereotyping is true. NBA is a heavily black audience. Golf is old, rich, and white. NASCAR is poor and white. College football is college educated and/or southern and white. Soccer is Hispanics and effeminate Californians. The cluster in the center-right illustrates that most sports fans are middle of the road, but they do skew male, which puts them right-of-center.

If there is anything we can be sure of, it's that ndgrad will find a way to spin any topic to the oppressive liberal, fascist, evil doer regime.

Hop on Twitter, search ESPN, and take a look at the comments.

 

[Emcee77]

What do you expect? This isn't hard hitting news. They aren't reporting on the political effects of Syria or anything. It's freaking sports, man. People don't want to watch Dan Rather report their sports to them, they want sensationalism, people have voted with their ratings.

I totally agree that this is the viewpoint of most people, but it's frustrating for me because I do want sports reporting that is basically just reporting, i.e., facts with some impartial analysis mixed in to help understand the context. I crave that, actually, and I really can't watch most sports programming any more. I am an outlier, I know, but I wish more networks would emulate NBC Sports, which I think does a great job, at least with ND football and hockey and soccer, of providing good, solid sports coverage without sensationalizing things and wallowing in hype.

 

[IrishLion]

Brett McMurphy????

Jesus

 

[wizards8507]

Brett McMurphy out.

 

[ACamp1900]

If there is anything we can be sure of, it's that ndgrad will find a way to spin any topic to the oppressive liberal, fascist, evil doer regime.

If only his politics were on the other side, he'd have secure employment with the mother ship.

He's right in general.

It's not hard to figure out the trends. Most of what you'd guess through stereotyping is true. NBA is a heavily black audience. Golf is old, rich, and white. NASCAR is poor and white. College football is college educated and/or southern and white. Soccer is Hispanics and effeminate Californians. The cluster in the center-right illustrates that most sports fans are middle of the road, but they do skew male, which puts them right-of-center.


Hop on Twitter, search ESPN, and take a look at the comments.

WWE made me chuckle... I was just curious where he was getting that... you never know with our boy.


also, suck my effeminate, soccer loving, Cali- schlong.

 

[IrishLax]

Give us the brief paraphrasing

Basically:
1. Cord cutting is destroying ESPN's war chest. ESPN knew this was coming, but they underestimated how quickly it would happen and the impact it would have. Which is a problem because...
2. ESPN tied up a TON of money in live sports rights. They did this because they were terrified of FS1 and what would happen if Fox Sports got their hands on premium live sports rights. This overreaction to FS1 is als a big deal because...
3. They invested a lot of money infrastructure to compete with Fox Sports, including a new SportsCenter set. Then they panicked because SportsCenter's ratings kept going down and none of their tinkering worked until they gave SVP his own show. SVP's show is succeeding from a ratings standpoint, which made them think...
4. That the only way to save SportsCenter is to have it be personality driven and not resemble SportsCenter at all. This is a direct pivot from ESPN's old mantra of brand > personality. ESPN had that mantra because whenever they let a star get too big for their britches they leave for greener pastures. But now they're going all in the other way, because they found letting a personality be a personality (SVP) works. But.... there's no evidence SVP isn't an anomaly, because Hill & Smith's show has terrible ratings so far.

Weinstein mentioned that the reason he left Bristol a few years ago is because they wanted him to be strictly a SportsCenter personality and he didn't really like that as a career move because:
1. He saw the writing on the wall with SportsCenter's ratings.
2. He knew he'd be replaceable with any other similar sounding white guy at a cheaper price tag should things get rocky.
3. He didn't see any way ESPN could get through the changing landscape without major changes and he wasn't sure he wanted to be around when that happened.

 

[IrishLax]

Brett McMurphy out.

And Jeremy Crabtree.

Seems like 90% of the people let go are typical "old school" reporter type white dudes. Only woman I've seen let go on Deadspin's running list is Dana O'Neil.

 

[Blaise]

I totally agree that this is the viewpoint of most people, but it's frustrating for me because I do want sports reporting that is basically just reporting, i.e., facts with some impartial analysis mixed in to help understand the context. I crave that, actually, and I really can't watch most sports programming any more. I am an outlier, I know, but I wish more networks would emulate NBC Sports, which I think does a great job, at least with ND football and hockey and soccer, of providing good, solid sports coverage without sensationalizing things and wallowing in hype.

I agree with this... We complain about the talking heads having a bias against ND but its because ripping ND draws ratings... It's why when Kelly made his comments about Kizer, every show brought it up.

One of the radio shows were taking Kelly to task for saying all recent Superbowl winning QB's Graduated. Yes.. It is self serving but also true. But Shock Jock era means we need to yell, argue, fight, when in reality, what he said was true.

It's a tough watch and listen and I think its one of the reasons among MANY, why ratings are down

 

[woolybug25]

And Jeremy Crabtree.

Seems like 90% of the people let go are typical "old school" reporter type white dudes. Only woman I've seen let go on Deadspin's running list is Dana O'Neil.

Hannah Storm got her role reduced.

 

[wizards8507]

Basically:
1. Cord cutting is destroying ESPN's war chest. ESPN knew this was coming, but they underestimated how quickly it would happen and the impact it would have. Which is a problem because...
2. ESPN tied up a TON of money in live sports rights. They did this because they were terrified of FS1 and what would happen if Fox Sports got their hands on premium live sports rights. This overreaction to FS1 is als a big deal because...
3. They invested a lot of money infrastructure to compete with Fox Sports, including a new SportsCenter set. Then they panicked because SportsCenter's ratings kept going down and none of their tinkering worked until they gave SVP his own show. SVP's show is succeeding from a ratings standpoint, which made them think...
4. That the only way to save SportsCenter is to have it be personality driven and not resemble SportsCenter at all. This is a direct pivot from ESPN's old mantra of brand > personality. ESPN had that mantra because whenever they let a star get too big for their britches they leave for greener pastures. But now they're going all in the other way, because they found letting a personality be a personality (SVP) works. But.... there's no evidence SVP isn't an anomaly, because Hill & Smith's show has terrible ratings so far.

Weinstein mentioned that the reason he left Bristol a few years ago is because they wanted him to be strictly a SportsCenter personality and he didn't really like that as a career move because:
1. He saw the writing on the wall with SportsCenter's ratings.
2. He knew he'd be replaceable with any other similar sounding white guy at a cheaper price tag should things get rocky.
3. He didn't see any way ESPN could get through the changing landscape without major changes and he wasn't sure he wanted to be around when that happened.

Mostly accurate with a few exceptions. In no particular order... The emphasis on FS1 is a bit overblown. ESPN is much more concerned about Apple / Amazon / Facebook / Google / YouTube / Twitter because those entrants would be threats to the entire MVPD bundle. In terms of "the bundle," FS1 and ESPN are in the same boat. A lost subscriber to ESPN is a lost subscriber to FS1 and vice versa. The SportsCenter set wasn't really a ratings ploy, it was a technology move, and the investment wasn't a huge deal compared to the NBA deal. The Parks & Resorts segment spends billions of dollars in capital, so the purchase of actual physical PP&E at ESPN doesn't really move the needle. Plus, that facility is supposed to be "future proof." SC6 was absolutely a ratings ploy because "His and Hers" was doing so well on E2.

 

[Blaise]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Danny Kanell is out at ESPN. <a href="https://t.co/5ST6hiKtj6">https://t.co/5ST6hiKtj6</a></p>— Kyle (@KyleKoster) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleKoster/status/857272437855199232">April 26, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Apparently Steven a Smith is becoming the 1-4 show

 

[dublinirish]

Danny Kanell told he is gone and then his radio show starts like an 1 hour later

 

[GowerND11]

Danny Kanell told he is gone and then his radio show starts like an 1 hour later

I don't have Twitter, and can't embed at work, but I saw his Tweet on the Deadspin list. OUCH!

 

[dublinirish]

I don't have Twitter, and can't embed at work, but I saw his Tweet on the Deadspin list. OUCH!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Poured my heart and soul into ESPN for last 8 years. Moved my wife and 3 kids to CT to go "all in" 5 years ago. Bummed it ended in 3 minutes</p>— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) <a href="https://twitter.com/dannykanell/status/857274506368483330">April 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">But totally get it. All part of a business that is rapidly changing. Thankful for the opportunity I was given and people I got to work with!</p>— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) <a href="https://twitter.com/dannykanell/status/857274947974070273">April 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In grand scheme of things...I've still got what really matters. My faith and my family. And luckily I've got lots of experience getting cut!</p>— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) <a href="https://twitter.com/dannykanell/status/857279301552570368">April 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ACamp1900]

Danny Kanell told he is gone and then his radio show starts like an 1 hour later

So those who support his show are tuning in today to hear Stephen A Smith instead?? Do I understand that correctly???

 

[dublinirish]

So those who support his show are tuning in today to hear Stephen A Smith instead?? Do I understand that correctly???

thats what i gather, i dont have access to listen right now though. His slot was 1-4pm ET right?

 

[dublinirish]

Always thought Kanell came across pretty well when covering CFB on Tv, seems like a good skin.

 

[ACamp1900]

thats what i gather, i dont have access to listen right now though. His slot was 1-4pm ET right?

No idea... that's one hell of a transition tho... has to be difficult for Smith too in fairness.

 

[Cali_domer]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Danny Kanell is out at ESPN. <a href="https://t.co/5ST6hiKtj6">https://t.co/5ST6hiKtj6</a></p>— Kyle (@KyleKoster) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleKoster/status/857272437855199232">April 26, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Apparently Steven a Smith is becoming the 1-4 show

Well that assures I will never listen again.

 

[IrishLion]

The pattern is emerging... ESPN is dumping mostly the legit reporters/journalists. The few "personalities" being let go probably help with the financial impact to a greater degree, so let's not pretend they aren't doing what they need to do, but at the same time, their answer to their problems is clear.

Most viewers want less politics, less shouting, less debate, and more sports.

ESPN's solution is to do the total opposite? Dump mostly the people that report on the actual sports?

 

[Blaise]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For 17 yrs I've had a dream job covering baseball for ESPN. Today is my last day. Thanks to all the great people at ESPN, MLB & all of you!</p>— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/857285136357900288">April 26, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jayson Stark Gone... Shocking.. He was a really really strong baseball writer

 

[NDohio]

Just turned it on so I could hear who was doing the show. Neither Stephen A or Kanell are hosting the show today. Some other guy I don't know is. Had to turn it off though. I feel like I need a shower now.

 

[GowerND11]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For 17 yrs I've had a dream job covering baseball for ESPN. Today is my last day. Thanks to all the great people at ESPN, MLB & all of you!</p>— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/857285136357900288">April 26, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jayson Stark Gone... Shocking.. He was a really really strong baseball writer

Over/Under the time it took to clean his desk for MLB Network to call?

 

[Old Man Mike]

So the jerk that I can't get to the "Change Channel" button fast enough is the one whose role is expanding? Once again, I'm so far behind the curve that it looks like a straight road to he!l to me.

Fox Sports and Soccer it is.

 

[ACamp1900]

All group Bs

 

[Blaise]

Over/Under the time it took to clean his desk for MLB Network to call?

2.76 seconds, and its only that long cuz they had to sneeze

 

[ACamp1900]

I love me some MLB network.

 

[wizards8507]

I love me some MLB network.

Kevin Millar is the Guy Fieri of sports.

 

[ACamp1900]

Kevin Millar is the Guy Fieri of sports.

Ha true. In fairness I enjoy the studio 21 stuff, hot stove, live look ins and such, not so much INT Talk or High Heat, which I pretty much skip as a general rule. One of my fav shows anywhere tho is triple D so ..... yeah...