Forbes: Losing Millions Of Subscribers, ESPN Now Facing Tough Decisions

[RonSpringsdaman20]

One they shifted from sports reporting to trying to make themselves the story, it was the beginning of the end. I couldn't possibly care less if they folded like a cheap suit. Bunch of blow hards with an east coast bias that can rot as far as I'm concerned.

A good riddance couldn't possibly come fast enough. I can't even remember the last time I tuned into that turd of a network.

they stopped reporting news, and started creating news... they got in the business of creating personalities... and stars...

 

[YosemiteSam]

Bye.

 

[Roadtrip635]

they stopped reporting news, and started creating news... they got in the business of creating personalities... and stars...

Unfortunately like too many news agencies, they start becoming about sensationalism.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

ESPN was better in the early days. Just sports, no BS or opinion based reporting. Just sports and scores. That was a great idea and I honestly liked it much better. JMO

I think the days of that are over. You can get scores instantly anywhere you are as well as highlights and commentary. TV and sports, other than major live sporting events, are not a match long for this world and even live sporting events are becoming much easier to watch via the Internet and you don't have to subscribe to an entire TV package to do it.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Unfortunately like too many news agencies, they start becoming about sensationalism.

It's the way of things ...

Just tell me what day the cowboys are playing.
Tell me what time.
Tell me what channel.

The rest is all ..... ****!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I haven't watched ESPN in years, outside of Monday night football and the NFL Draft. Other than that... Nada. And I started watching it in 1980 when the announcers wore the yellow blazers.

But back then I got The Sporting News too, so there you go.

 

[burmafrd]

BSPN has no one but themselves to blame. Lazy sloppy and always going for the lowest common denominator.

And for those that claim there is no bias or that the hard core fans don't care you are clueless.

 

[big dog cowboy]

But back then I got The Sporting News too, so there you go.

Don't forget your Dallas Cowboys Weekly subscription.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Don't forget your Dallas Cowboys Weekly subscription.

That too!

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think the days of that are over. You can get scores instantly anywhere you are as well as highlights and commentary. TV and sports, other than major live sporting events, are not a match long for this world and even live sporting events are becoming much easier to watch via the Internet and you don't have to subscribe to an entire TV package to do it.

That may be so but it doesn't change the fact that I believe ESPN was better when it started. One has nothing to do with the other. It is what it is.

Edit:

I'm going to reword this because as I read it over again, my original response comes across as kind of snarky so sorry for that Heisenberg.

What I should have said was: I probably agree with you. I think the world has probably moved on from that but I just enjoyed that ESPN more then what we see today. I have little use for the way every story is sensationalized and how story lines are written in such a way as to create more of a story line and to a lessor extent, just report on sports. I don't really think sports need to be "enhanced" shall we say. I think sports are the show and the actual playing of the game is enough. That creates it's own story and is entertainment enough. I'm sure it's old fashioned of me but that's OK. I still like it better that way.

 

[Stash]

That too!

I'm right there with you! On all of them!

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'm right there with you! On all of them!

We thought we were in tall cotton back then didn't we?

 

[Stash]

We thought we were in tall cotton back then didn't we?

Oh yeah, it was the best! Pulling that Dallas Cowboys Weekly out of the mailbox was like a little bit of Christmas morning!

 

[big dog cowboy]

My favorite issue. I read it 3 or 4 times word for word before putting it down. I still have it in storage.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

My favorite issue. I read it 3 or 4 times word for word before putting it down. I still have it in storage.

I remember the first time I told my Uncles that you could get DC Weekly online. They looked at me like I had three horns sticking out of my head. They were kinda incredulous about the whole thing. It reminded me of the seen in Blazing Saddles. "Badges? We don't need no stinking BADGES!"

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

Oh yeah, it was the best! Pulling that Dallas Cowboys Weekly out of the mailbox was like a little bit of Christmas morning!

I used to live for August so I could get my hands on "Street & Smith", or "Lindy's", or "Athlons"... Sporting News preseason football magazine was bad*$# as well.

 

[Stash]

I used to live for August so I could get my hands on "Street & Smith", or "Lindy's", or "Athlons"... Sporting News preseason football magazine was bad*$# as well.

That's one part I still cling to, I picked up this year's Lindy's annual a few weeks ago.

 

[Rogah]

I am personally boycotting ESPN due to them giving the Arthur Ashe award to Jenner. A guy whose reckless driving killed a woman earlier this year.

I can't believe how much of a free pass s/he is getting for the what is essentially vehicular manslaughter.

 

[tyke1doe]

BSPN has no one but themselves to blame. Lazy sloppy and always going for the lowest common denominator.

And for those that claim there is no bias or that the hard core fans don't care you are clueless.

I don't think anyone said ESPN doesn't have a bias. Everyone has a bias. And any station that provides commentary on an issue has a bias. Also, I said that most hard-core fans who don't wear their team feelings on their sleeves don't care. I don't care if ESPN commentators don't think the Cowboys will be that good. Their comments don't determine the Cowboys success or failure. That's why I say it's only fans who are super sensitive about anything critical being said about their team are the ones who get worked up about "bias."

Truth be told, if ESPN were still the only outlet that provided sports news and programming, the same people complaining would be forced to watch. The fact that we have specialty programming and because we have programming options are the reasons ESPN's viewership is declining.

Why do you think the Cowboys are America's Team? It's because Tex Schramm and Co. took advantage of the television market and while other owners complained about playing at night and on Thanksgiving, etc., the Cowboys front office had the foresight to capture the television market, which, at the time, was CBS and NBC.

The Cowboys never would have been able to achieve the popularity they have today in this diverse cable and satellite television landscape.

 

[gmoney112]

That's because they don't offer anything unique or insightful.

They've become the TMZ of the sports world; relying on sensationalism and catch phrases instead of sports analysis.

Their demographic is sports fans. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Make Sportscenter a linear analysis of scores and news in the sporting world that are relevant to fans interests. Provide insightful details. Be knowledgeable. This isn't Hollywood, stop the exposes (with accent over e) into potential "scandals" around the league, or Twitter rumors. Fans tune in for sports, do sports.

If they wanted to up their subscription service; get top tier analysts that help break down film, explain schemes, and give informative team/player analysis based on knowledge and experience. It's not complicated.

Shell out the money for guys that know what they're doing. Sturm puts out better stuff than 99% of the analysis I've seen on ESPN. If Sturm can do it, ESPN can. Instead they rely on guys like Calvin Watkins for sports coverage, and they wonder why their viewership/subscriptions are rapidly diminishing.