My Idea to Replace ESPN
 

How many times have we tuned in to the big box sports networks to get info on our favorite teams - only to hear endless hours of drival on teams from New York or Dallas? The coverage doesn't even have anything to do with the success of the teams. What percentage of time does the Packers get? The Steelers? The Royals? These are all very successful teams that no one hears about because they aren't located in New York, Dallas or LA.

How many of us have to DVR 4 hours of programming to skip through for the 2 minutes of our favorite team?

Could this be part of the reason ESPN is having issues? Even with these large populations, they are limiting the number of teams represented on the show to less than 10% of the league. Why would you have ANY business that reaches out to 10% of the customers?

Maybe it's time to have representation for the other 90%. Why not devote 30 minutes a day to EACH team? And why not show the fans of these teams what they are clamoring to see? What if there was a consortium of the 90%ers where they could come up with a broadcast that everyone goes to?

Imagine this lineup:

9:00 a.m. MLB - AL West
9:30 a.m. NFL - NFC North
10:00 a.m. NBA - x
etc

This type of lineup would not only bring very focused fans that know they can get their information about their teams (no matter where they live). But it would also help the economy by ensuring local coverage continues and thrives. Small market media personnel would be seen Nationally with the ability to move up into an even larger role.

I'm talking about a National broadcast with equal time devoted to every team in the league. Since it's nationwide, fans could finally get some sort of coverage other than the tidbits they are currently getting. There are plenty of Americans that live all over the country.

I have been saying this for YEARS.

This is the original reason I stopped watching that garbage and Would bet that ratings would blow the F up if they did something like this.

But it will NEVER happen.

I'm scanning your post for mention of hot topless broadcast women under 30 years old and 125 pounds or less and I'M NOT SEEING IT.

And in the same arena.....why doesn't NFL Sunday Ticket offer a team by team package. Maybe I don't want access to all of the games for each team. Maybe I just want the games for my team. I'd pay $125 a year (with no discounts) for just the Chiefs games.

This. I stopped watching in the mid 90's when the interwebs became affordable. Sure it took 30 min to load a page and if someone called, you had to start over, still better than espn

Yep, they would rake in the cash

My understanding is ESPN has been struggling over the last few years. Fox has been eating into their market share, I believe

The other leagues actually do this. But I highly doubt the NFL ever will. They'd see it as leaving money on the table. Owners believe people will do anything to get football... And so far they've been right.

Your love for Alex has me questioning your ability to truly understand anything

Genious. If only there were a 170 post thread on this very topic right at the top of the Lounge.

False

It's not a competitor. It's the industry. ESPN is being killed by cord-cutters getting rid of cable altogether, not Fox Sports

I think I ff is the only reason viewership hasn't declined.

I think ESPN fell into the trap many other cable networks do...they forget what got them there and start making changes just to make changes to seem relevant to new viewers...Think the music TV channels...if video killed the radio star and then reality shows killed the video. At ESPN, sports talk radio on TV replaced sports and sports reporting. The fun of SportsCenter became lets take it over the top to the point you forgot what the story was. I do believe the Fox model has cut into viewership they provide the regional coverage people want...just like was mentioned earlier custom shows/programming designed to specific divisions would work on a national level thanks to the DVR.

I barely watch ESPN for highlights, Just don't care.


I feel this could be coming. I did a survey for DTV last year. It asked a lot of 'If you could get' questions. Felt like they would offer different packages-especially Sunday Ticket options. If not this year, maybe next year. Not sure when their latest deal is up.

Out unless Aussie Rules Football.

I tend to agree, although, they went away from sports programming and sports highlights to more opinionated shows and I really DGAF about any of these peoples opinions. ESPN Gameday was great until they made it 3 hours and then only 30 seconds were spent covering KC while Denver, the East and West coast teams got the other 2hrs, 59 mins and 30 seconds. Bleh...

I'm very close to cutting the cord, ESPN just isnt worth it any more. As much as I enjoyed the invention of ESPN, I'm glad to see it's demise as well.

Yeah I remember when MTV was all about music.




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Hot young topless female sportscasters, then I'll watch ESPN.

One of the reasons I used to listen to NFL Radio all the time on Sirius was because it was so educational.

To this day, I still love the education aspect of some commentators on YouTube regarding basketball and baseball.

If they educated and informed their viewers rather than relying on screaming assholes screaming at other screaming assholes, I hope they'd see a better return on investment.

Or you could just use Google Now and get the content you want.

Just switched out of the Apple Ecosystem and got a Google Pixel. Really loving all the things Google Now brings to the table in one place.

ESPN man...if there is a game I am watching sure...but I just don't have any interest in the takes or opinions of anyone anymore...simply do not give a shit about the back and forth I don't need it.

It must get ratings so I might be in the minority and if that is what we actually tune in for then **** us I suppose we are getting the ESPN we deserve.

I think a great example of where they went wrong can be witnessed by the ESPN Radio prime time morning show... When they replaced Cowherd with Lebotard... I tuned in on the way to work yesterday, two days before the NFL Draft and they are discussing Matthew McConaughey movies. Really!?!?

Blame Fantasy Football. Football AIDS.

I completely agree with this.

absolutely a huge part of it.

Bring back Sports Night

I completely disagree with the premise that teams like the Packers and Steelers don't get coverage. If you have a star QB and your team plays well - you get coverage.

The problem with ESPN is multi-fold. Go to their website. All you see about the draft is "inside" info that you have to pay for/subscribe to. People don't want to shell out money for mock drafts. There are hundreds of free sites to get the same BS and speculation.

The NFL has become over saturated and trying to appeal to the Super Bowl audience. Look at the draft tonight. I believe they actually now have a red carpet introduction like the Oscars. A pre-draft red carpet? Do you know anyone who doesn't really watch the NFL who has told you, " I have to tune into the NFL network at 7 tonight because I really want to see what Trubisky is going to wear." Also the draft is spread out ridiculously long over several days/nights.

If you want a good laugh check out the one thing ESPN does right, their 30/30 series. The other night they had a replay episode on the 1983 draft with Elway/Kelly/Blackledge/Marino. It was great to watch the draft footage from back in the day. Commissioner Roselle would get the card, go up to the table and he couldn't help but laugh and smirk when he thought a team screwed up. His face reading the Jets pick of O'Brien is priceless.

I know I'm an out of touch old cranky Caucasian, but how the heck does anyone listen to Stephen A Smith? He is the "face" of their radio program?

I have to agree with your analysis, ESPN has lost touch with the people who started watching them when they first aired . I used to go home after working the night shift and watch Sportscenter every morning to watch the highlights and see who won. Chris Berman was funny and interesting when he first started coming up with nicknames for players but after 30 years it got a little overplayed. With all the venues available with the internet ESPN has just outlived it's usefulness. Nothing lasts forever and it's time for ESPN to go the way of the dinosaur.

put the draft back on Saturday and Sunday. I loved that.
my entire weekend, particularly Saturday, was filled with watching the pre draft, draft, grilling food, lots of beer, more food, more beer.

now, on a Thursday, I'm lucky to be awake after 9:30 on a work night. and it's way more boring. now I might have a few beers, but that's it. no grilling, or snack food etc. Just a regular boring Thursday night