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

RonSpringsdaman20

RonSpringsdaman20

Hold The Door!
Messages
9,773
Reaction score
3,861
skinsscalper said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Tusan_Homichi

Heisenberg
Messages
11,059
Reaction score
3,485
ABQCOWBOY said:
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
Click to expand...

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

LittleBoyBlue

Redvolution
Messages
35,766
Reaction score
8,411
Roadtrip635 said:
Unfortunately like too many news agencies, they start becoming about sensationalism.
Click to expand...

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

MichaelWinicki

"You want some?"
Staff member
Messages
47,997
Reaction score
27,917
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
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

burmafrd

Well-Known Member
Messages
43,820
Reaction score
3,379
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.
 
ABQCOWBOY

ABQCOWBOY

Regular Joe....
Messages
58,929
Reaction score
27,716
Heisenberg said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Last edited:
big dog cowboy

big dog cowboy

THE BIG DOG
Staff member
Messages
101,915
Reaction score
112,917
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
$_35.JPG


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

ABQCOWBOY

Regular Joe....
Messages
58,929
Reaction score
27,716
big dog cowboy said:
$_35.JPG


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

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

RonSpringsdaman20

Hold The Door!
Messages
9,773
Reaction score
3,861
stasheroo said:
Oh yeah, it was the best! Pulling that Dallas Cowboys Weekly out of the mailbox was like a little bit of Christmas morning!

:laugh:
Click to expand...

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.
 

tyke1doe

Well-Known Member
Messages
54,312
Reaction score
32,716
burmafrd said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

gmoney112

Well-Known Member
Messages
11,589
Reaction score
15,694
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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top