YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN

[supafreak84]

Sigh. Can't we just keep politics out of a thread like this? Its has zero to do with what happened to ESPN. ZERO. The guy explained what happened and none of it were the dreaded 'progressives'.

It is certainly part of the equation besides hiring annoying personalities and loud mouth former athletes. If they have to feel it necessary to hire a woman on every show, at least hire one that knows the difference between a Barry Sanders Lions jersey and a Sheduer Sanders Browns jersey. Might be a good start, especially when their job is to discuss and analyze the NFL. Just one example of many as to why ESPN has tanked.

[JR44]

ESPN has been around for over 45 years, not many businesses are able to stay relevant that long. I would say they are a huge success and it well past the time of being able to define them in rise and fall terms. They didn't just rise, they created something that was never there, the originator of sports news, an all sports network. There was nothing like it at the time. They created a trend and in doing so they not only covered the main stream sports, but brought all kinds of sports and into our living rooms, introducing us to so many incredible athletes and accomplishments. An while doing so they also brought a wonderful and refreshing inclusivity to sports journalism as they featured a cast from various backgrounds. They did so much for the world of sports. I am forever grateful.

They paved the way for many more sports networks and programs, many who would not be around today if it were not for ESPN. Obviously, this would create more competition and cut into their net share of the business. A "fall" or just a natural progression of more competition. I find it amazing they are still around. Name a business who has been around for over 45 years who has not made their share of mistakes or have had personnel come in who did not do a great job. They have done their best to stay relevant and stay up with the trends and what feeds the sport audience. Did ESPN create the Stephen Smiths and the Pat McAfee or did the sport fans community create them? They have so many great journalists and analysts that are still currently there. Also, not to mention they just bought NFL Network, so don't think they are falling anytime soon.

[StickierBuns]

ESPN has been around for over 45 years, not many businesses are able to stay relevant that long.  I would say they are a huge success and it well past the time of being able to define them in rise and fall terms.  They didn't just rise, they created something that was never there, the originator of sports news, an all sports network.  There was nothing like it at the time.  They created a trend and in doing so they not only covered the main stream sports, but brought all kinds of sports and into our living rooms, introducing us to so many incredible athletes and accomplishments.  An while doing so they also brought a wonderful and refreshing inclusivity to sports journalism as they featured a cast from various backgrounds.  They did so much for the world of sports.  I am forever grateful. 

They paved the way for many more sports networks and programs, many who would not be around today if it were not for ESPN.  Obviously, this would create more competition and cut into their net share of the business. A "fall" or just a natural progression of more competition.  I find it amazing they are still around.  Name a business who has been around for over 45 years who has not made their share of mistakes or have had personnel come in who did not do a great job.  They have done their best to stay relevant and stay up with the trends and what feeds the sport audience.  Did ESPN create the Stephen Smiths and the Pat McAfee or did the sport fans community create them?    They have so many great journalists and analysts that are still currently there.  Also, not to mention they just bought NFL Network, so don't think they are falling anytime soon.

They've gone from 100 million subscribers to 70 million: to say that's alarming is a major understatement for any business that survives on that number. This is why they sold 10% of their equity stake to the NFL....there was absolutely NOTHING else they could have done to help survive. The NFL Network is garbage, the NFL has been trying to unload it for years. The real part of the deal was the equity stake. Competition for sure is part of it, as it generally is with successful businesses, but as the video illustrates, ESPN cut their own throat in the long game by forcing cable companies to up their price to consumers and then said consumers looked for alternatives (cord cutting). They spent money for a decade like drunken sailors and it came back to bite them.

[badgervike]

ESPN has been around for over 45 years, not many businesses are able to stay relevant that long.  I would say they are a huge success and it well past the time of being able to define them in rise and fall terms.  They didn't just rise, they created something that was never there, the originator of sports news, an all sports network.  There was nothing like it at the time.  They created a trend and in doing so they not only covered the main stream sports, but brought all kinds of sports and into our living rooms, introducing us to so many incredible athletes and accomplishments.  An while doing so they also brought a wonderful and refreshing inclusivity to sports journalism as they featured a cast from various backgrounds.  They did so much for the world of sports.  I am forever grateful. 

They paved the way for many more sports networks and programs, many who would not be around today if it were not for ESPN.  Obviously, this would create more competition and cut into their net share of the business. A "fall" or just a natural progression of more competition.  I find it amazing they are still around.  Name a business who has been around for over 45 years who has not made their share of mistakes or have had personnel come in who did not do a great job.  They have done their best to stay relevant and stay up with the trends and what feeds the sport audience.  Did ESPN create the Stephen Smiths and the Pat McAfee or did the sport fans community create them?    They have so many great journalists and analysts that are still currently there.  Also, not to mention they just bought NFL Network, so don't think they are falling anytime soon.

And there you have it.  When you over correct to the point that you have all Black panel discussion shows...are you really more inclusive or just more Black?  The woke Disney influence has degraded the brand and their viewership has suffered because of it.  Not sure what they can do about it.  Lots of podcasts out there if you're looking for opinion oriented sports programming (some of which are ex-ESPN talent).  I guess I'm old school.  I miss the days of Sports Center where I could catch up on the days sports with a little bit of entertainment from Stuart Scott et al.

[purplefaithful]

Nobody will convince me that a large % of the viewer decline is due to "woke influences" from Disney Corp...

WOKE is not a derogatory term in my universe. I could honestly give a crap if there is a show where the panel is all black, white or polk dot.

ESPN has made mistakes, plenty of them. But it's also a much more fragmented media world vs when they started. That imo is the main driver of decline - there is just not a need for 24 hour news/sports channels. The product gets eroded- just ask Fox or CNN.

Sorry for the detour STICKY!

[StickierBuns]

Nobody will convince me that a large % of the viewer decline is due to "woke influences" from Disney Corp...

WOKE is not a derogatory term in my universe. I could honestly give a crap if there is a show where the panel is all black, white or polk dot.

ESPN has made mistakes, plenty of them. But it's also a much more fragmented media world vs when they started. That imo is the main driver of decline - there is just not a need for 24 hour news/sports channels. The product gets eroded- just ask Fox or CNN.

Sorry for the detour STICKY!

Not a detour at all, my friend....in fact you got this thread back on track from some * cough * interesting sidebars.....

[badgervike]

Nobody will convince me that a large % of the viewer decline is due to "woke influences" from Disney Corp...

WOKE is not a derogatory term in my universe. I could honestly give a crap if there is a show where the panel is all black, white or polk dot.

ESPN has made mistakes, plenty of them. But it's also a much more fragmented media world vs when they started. That imo is the main driver of decline - there is just not a need for 24 hour news/sports channels. The product gets eroded- just ask Fox or CNN.

Sorry for the detour STICKY!

But..an all woman or all Black panel doesn't happen by accident...so obviously ESPN (and Disney) cares whether the panel is all Black.  I obviously also don't care about the racial make up of the panel except for the reason behind it.  Do they devalue non "diverse" opinions or are we virtue signaling? Edit: And yea..sorry about the detour Sticky..lol.

[StickierBuns]

So did anyone actually WATCH the video, lol? Because he laid out in great detail exactly what happened and none of it was because Disney is 'woke'. I know some desperately want to believe it, but its not what happened. I thought the NFL was in the shitter after the 'kneel down that changed the universe'? Its only more popular than ever. What it tells you more than anything is that people want what they want and what they SAY and what they DO behind closed doors are two very different things.

Nobody that's a sports fan is saying no to the NFL. NOBODY. They got you....and you know they got you.

---

  Edit:  And yea..sorry about the detour Sticky..lol.

No worries, you were just saying your piece.

[Zanary]

I only watch ESPN for the games/races that they have locked down. I avoid their bobbleheads as much as possible, which is a great deal.

I'd avoid the political commentary, though, as at least one mod will get their thong all knotted.

[StickierBuns]

I only watch ESPN for the games/races that they have locked down. I avoid their bobbleheads as much as possible, which is a great deal.

I'd avoid the political commentary, though, as at least one mod will get their thong all knotted.

I hate ESPN. Its unwatchable other than the sports for me. The 'talent' is ridiculous, pandering and basically insufferable cheerleaders and dipshits. I don't watch one second of content outside the games themselves and I turn those on 1 minute before gametime.