Here come the ESPN firings, worse than we thought
- Thread starter Halldan1
- Start date
If you have no interest in live sporting events or live TV it's pretty easy to get rid of your cable. If you watch live content and live sports you will not be able to watch the same amount or every game without cable.
You can purchase live sports packages directly from the NBA, NHL, and MLB without a cable/dish subscription. With the NFL's Amazon Prime partnership for this upcoming season, it wouldn't shock me if a Sunday Ticket stand-alone streaming service will be made available in the next year or two.
Bummer, give me Len Elmore over Dickie V or most other game analysts every day of the week...
Elmore will be fine. He was more of a freelancer doing college broadcasts for FS1, CBS Sports, and ESPN. We'll probably see a lot more of him on Big East games next season.
I'm not saying that what I like is what represents the best business model, or what everyone else ought to like, but to me, ESPN (and SportsCenter) began careering downhill with the emergence of Dan Patrick, Olbermann, Craig Kilborn, and Kenny Mayne. All these self-promoters put themselves and their personalities before the show, and sent it off in a new direction. It's a little but like umpires and referees: If I know their names, they probably stink at what they do.
As soon as it became more about these clownish self-promoters, I was out. And now, it's only gotten worse, with pale imitators all trying to become the next one of those guys. It started an avalanche that became shows that are completely personality-driven: that ridiculous thing with Stephen A. and Bayless? Unwatchable. And it was their highest rated program. So maybe they're doing the right thing from a business standpoint, but they are really plumbing new depths in terms of sports journalism. This is them not even pretending that matters anymore.
As soon as it became more about these clownish self-promoters, I was out. And now, it's only gotten worse, with pale imitators all trying to become the next one of those guys. It started an avalanche that became shows that are completely personality-driven: that ridiculous thing with Stephen A. and Bayless? Unwatchable. And it was their highest rated program. So maybe they're doing the right thing from a business standpoint, but they are really plumbing new depths in terms of sports journalism. This is them not even pretending that matters anymore.
At this point I think Smith realizes what's making him money, which is why they even gave him back a radio show. Some people realize what their role is and just runs with it. Like with PTI, Tony and Michael have taken the mantle as the grumpy old men and has rolled with it, which is why that show is as successful as it is. Now when it comes to Stephen A., I don't think it's completely an act but I'm sure it's turned up to 11 for the viewing audience.
Do people really need all the talkers on broadcasts? No one cares about the guy in the stands, or the girl repeating the drivvle a coach tells her at halftime. The way the Mets have the guy in the stands talking while the game is on drives me nuts.
Three announcers for baseball is all you need. Two in the booth at a time while the other guy does 3 innings of radio, like it was for decades. Ramblings of an old guy I guess.
But as long as Stevie H is safe, I could care less about who ESPN has on TV. Frankly, since we went to FOX, I hardly ever watch it anymore.
Three announcers for baseball is all you need. Two in the booth at a time while the other guy does 3 innings of radio, like it was for decades. Ramblings of an old guy I guess.
But as long as Stevie H is safe, I could care less about who ESPN has on TV. Frankly, since we went to FOX, I hardly ever watch it anymore.
Spot on. But maybe because I'm from an older generation I just can't listen to look at me sportscasters. Anyone (are you listening Dukie V) who makes themselves the story when it's not about them is a change the channel moment for me.
These cuts are talent only and I have none so...all good.
So true Dan, I am a lifelong Reds fan who has subscribed to the MLB package every year for the past 12 years. Besides the Reds, I have spent many late nights watching the Dodgers just to hear Vin Scully call the game. He is now retired and boy, do I miss him. He is the perfect example of a broadcaster letting the game be the story.
I think it's done now. 4 SportsCenter anchors, Stark and Doug Glanville are the most visible for me at least. I like how the talent left are making mention of it. And Barkley had a classy shout on Inside the NBA to everyone
baseball tonight and svp show will have something on their departed colleagues, bob ley spoke on this on end of today's otl and adnan virk addressed on espn radio show
more than that on sc anchors
crawford
sire
mccarthy
hassel
haynes
werder bell stark elmore punch mcmurphy
then digital writers took huge hit mcmanus o'neil and a bunch of team/conf beats
I have no idea who most of these people are, and I guess that's part of ESPN's problem. They lost me with all of their personality nonsense long ago. I just shook my head when I saw awhile back that Michael and Jemele were taking over the 6 pm slot. Mike & Mike was always an immediate change of the channel when they came on.
It also boggled my mind that they were handing out high 6 figure and 7 figure salaries like candy. Where were these people going? They were always bidding against themselves.
Things changed and we can discuss the business side of it, and whether or not they got bloated and lost focus, or how the industry changed, but you feel for the people. Regardless of what they made or what perks, it sucks for them to lose their jobs.
Terrible when a company goes through this.
Terrible when a company goes through this.
The programming rights they paid is what has been killing them is right. Over paid on everything.
Game of Thrones costs 100 million for an entire season. That is the cost of a single MNF games for ESPN. If you have some time. A good read.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/feat...e-future-of-tv-and-they-re-not-really-into-it
Wait they blew out Katz? Lol. He was the only guy they had who did college bball coverage that was worth a damn.
As long as we have twitter chasers, this board will provide all the over-extended examination a person stuck in a basement could ever hope to have.
Hamster 1. Bart 0.
Hamster 1. Bart 0.
ESPN lost me when it became more about the personalities behind the microphone than what was transpiring on the field.Years ago there was the bailout of the auto industry where as in the case of ESPN, senior executives who made bad decisions nevertheless kept their jobs and their bonuses.I feel for the writers and behind the scenes people losing their jobs because of other's mistakes.
See October 2015, primarily executives, 300+. This is all talent based personnel. Some mistakes for sure and a whole lot of circumstance driving this.
I should say, only guy ON TV that did good college bball coverage. I'm sure there plenty of good writers for espn.com. Dana O'Neill always seemed like one, for example.
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