💬 ESPN Layoffs: Tebow has contract extended by ESPN

[TUSKtimes]

Looks like ESPN is heading to the second wave of massive payroll reductions that will make it's way to some familiar faces losing jobs. Don't expect me to show up for their wake. I hope that eventually a lot of sport is redistributed back to the true national audience.

Here comes big ESPN layoffs

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[BamaFan334]

Maybe if they stayed out of politics they'd be doing a little better. College Gameday used to be my favorite show on Earth, one I never missed. I'll chalk a portion of it up to having a family now and just not enough time to go around, but I don't even try and watch Gameday anymore. I love Rece Davis and enjoy Kirk Herbstreit, but ESPN has just sucked the desire out of me to watch anything on their network other than Alabama. College Football Finale was another show I loved to watch at the end of the night after the kids finally went down to bed, but I freaking hate what they did with that show. People hated Lou Holtz ad Mark May, but they were light years better than what the show is producing now.

 

[planomateo]

They keep losing subscribers...

I really don't care for their format, I haven't in probably 6-8 years if I had to guess, perhaps longer.

Interesting read on ESPN's subscriber numbers over the last few years

 

[TerryP]

Kaylee Hartung is "going back to her roots" as she's taking a job at CNN.

 

[EasyTider]

They should start playing music videos

 

[jdpas29]

stick with sports, fools

 

[JoshB]

Maybe if they stayed out of politics they'd be doing a little better. College Gameday used to be my favorite show on Earth, one I never missed. I'll chalk a portion of it up to having a family now and just not enough time to go around, but I don't even try and watch Gameday anymore. I love Rece Davis and enjoy Kirk Herbstreit, but ESPN has just sucked the desire out of me to watch anything on their network other than Alabama. College Football Finale was another show I loved to watch at the end of the night after the kids finally went down to bed, but I freaking hate what they did with that show. People hated Lou Holtz ad Mark May, but they were light years better than what the show is producing now.

I dont know how political ESPN gets but that doesn't have anything to do with it regardless. People are moving more and more away from cable/satellite providers or "cord cutting." Things are going to be drastically changing with the way television runs in the next 10 years or so. Companies like Sling are changing the game and eventually Dish, DirecTV are going to have to do something drastic to keep up (like letting customers PICK their channels). ESPN will be fine when it comes to that.

 

[Argo]

I dont know how political ESPN gets but that doesn't have anything to do with it regardless. People are moving more and more away from cable/satellite providers or "cord cutting." Things are going to be drastically changing with the way television runs in the next 10 years or so. Companies like Sling are changing the game and eventually Dish, DirecTV are going to have to do something drastic to keep up (like letting customers PICK their channels). ESPN will be fine when it comes to that.

ESPN has been extremely political in the last few years. They've had more than a few admit it. While I agree it is a combination of a few different things as to why ESPN is losing ratings, it's completely incorrect to say politics has nothing to do with anything.

Inside and out, ESPN dealing with changing political dynamics

 

[JoshB]

ESPN has been extremely political in the last few years. They've had more than a few admit it. While I agree it is a combination of a few different things as to why ESPN is losing ratings, it's completely incorrect to say politics has nothing to do with anything.

Inside and out, ESPN dealing with changing political dynamics

Other than paying more attention to LGBT issues I havent noticed anything political (other than the pundit shows like Around the Horn or PTI talking about stuff like that sometimes but those have become more current events/pop culture shows than strictly sports now). Maybe I just dont notice because I dont care what Stephen A. Smith or Chris Carter has to say about politics but it always seems that people never say "keep politics out of my sports" until someone says something they dont agree with.

 

[bradenob]

Other than paying more attention to LGBT issues I havent noticed anything political (other than the pundit shows like Around the Horn or PTI talking about stuff like that sometimes but those have become more current events/pop culture shows than strictly sports now). Maybe I just dont notice because I dont care what Stephen A. Smith or Chris Carter has to say about politics but it always seems that people never say "keep politics out of my sports" until someone says something they dont agree with.

There are a lot of liberal leaning commentators who tweet their views a bit, and Schilling certainly was treated poorly, not allowed to speak his views outside of his work without being fired.

I am sick, to be brutally honest, of having three women I have never heard of before talking about college or pro football, or baseball. Maybe they grew up loving the sport, but it seems disingenuous to me. I just don't want to have women telling me why they think the Patriots will beat the Steelers. If that makes me a chauvinist, so be it. I turn ESPN off almost all the time because I just resent it. So all I can say is they lost another viewer.

 

[Tidestalker]

Other than paying more attention to LGBT issues I havent noticed anything political (other than the pundit shows like Around the Horn or PTI talking about stuff like that sometimes but those have become more current events/pop culture shows than strictly sports now). Maybe I just dont notice because I dont care what Stephen A. Smith or Chris Carter has to say about politics but it always seems that people never say "keep politics out of my sports" until someone says something they dont agree with.

They had some chick writer on from espn the magazine who gave some smart ass award called "The biggest L of the week" to the USA mens soccer team for demanding their players stand for the anthem (negative connotation). I immediately turned the channel... Last thing I cared about on a Sunday morning Sportscenter on so many levels. I guess she comes on every Sunday. I won't be watching

 

[JoshB]

There are a lot of liberal leaning commentators who tweet their views a bit, and Schilling certainly was treated poorly, not allowed to speak his views outside of his work without being fired.

I am sick, to be brutally honest, of having three women I have never heard of before talking about college or pro football, or baseball. Maybe they grew up loving the sport, but it seems disingenuous to me. I just don't want to have women telling me why they think the Patriots will beat the Steelers. If that makes me a chauvinist, so be it. I turn ESPN off almost all the time because I just resent it. So all I can say is they lost another viewer.

I dont like Schillings because I think he is a right wing nut but I didnt agree with Schillings being fired but its still their company and they can fire people that say things they dont like, welcome to the USA.

You dont like hearing women talk about sports? Like seriously? A woman cant be a commentator because why? She didnt play linebacker? Good lord. That's not chauvinist, its just ignorant.

 

[TerryP]

I am sick, to be brutally honest, of having three women I have never heard of before talking about college or pro football, or baseball. Maybe they grew up loving the sport, but it seems disingenuous to me. I just don't want to have women telling me why they think the Patriots will beat the Steelers. If that makes me a chauvinist, so be it. I turn ESPN off almost all the time because I just resent it. So all I can say is they lost another viewer.

You got me here--curiousity is killing me. Which "three women?"

There is only one female that had play-by-play duties this past season: Beth Mowins. The analyst and reporting jobs during those games were handled by two ex-college (and pro) players. I don't see anything lost there in terms of analyzing games (especially if we compare that crew to Huard's, or Ware's, or someone like Gilmore's.

There are quite a few sideline reporters but if you are going to fault them for what they are reporting the vast majority of the time they are reporting what they are being fed. There are a few exceptions.

I've been VERY impressed with the observations and commentary from Laura Rutledge. (Of course, I suspect some will credit that to her being married to a former Tider; albeit baseball.)

 

[Tidestalker]

Funny to watch the old ESPN clips when they throw it back... STRAIGHT SPORTS. Some funny commentary/go to lines from the anchors, but the sports came first.

Now the gossip comes first. It's lame. But bigger issue is that there are just too many outlets to get sports info now... Used to check for scores and highlights, now everyone has a handful of websites to check for those. Or apps.

Regardless I'm happy to see ESPN tanking. I can't stand the TMZ & PC reporting they do. Aside from 30/30 series there are not much content I can stomach.

 

[TUSKtimes]

The next grunt you hear will be the president of ESPN falling on his bloody sword.

I too hope that these monsters of cable have "bundled" themselves out of business.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

It isn't just the political undertones IMO. It is the shift to TMZ-like chasing after every trend/fad etc of pop culture rather than concentrating on sports and sports analysis. Take some time and listen to Lebatard and some of the other "personality" driven shows and see how much sports is really discussed as opposed to silly BS. It is also the shift to opinion driven pieces that many times close down the option for anyone to have another opinion and the outright preaching that goes on about social issues. I am neither (D) nor (R) and typically avoid political diatribe but there is no denying there is a certain amount of it that is included with almost every non-sporting event segment on ESPN (and yes sometimes during the events themselves). Yes the other options out there are hurting ESPN subscriptions but to deny that their own choice to try and cover non-sports topics has also greatly contributed to the situation they find themselves in.

 

[planomateo]

It's really simple, revenue vs expenses. They'll eventually have to start losing out on some of the bigger broadcasting rights they have.

If my numbers are right, ESPN makes ~$700M a month in subscriber fees...mind boggling. Losing ~3M subscribers a year is costing them ~$3M a year (average cable customer is paying ~$100 year to ESPN)

 

[JoshB]

It isn't just the political undertones IMO. It is the shift to TMZ-like chasing after every trend/fad etc of pop culture rather than concentrating on sports and sports analysis. Take some time and listen to Lebatard and some of the other "personality" driven shows and see how much sports is really discussed as opposed to silly BS. It is also the shift to opinion driven pieces that many times close down the option for anyone to have another opinion and the outright preaching that goes on about social issues. I am neither (D) nor (R) and typically avoid political diatribe but there is no denying there is a certain amount of it that is included with almost every non-sporting event segment on ESPN (and yes sometimes during the events themselves). Yes the other options out there are hurting ESPN subscriptions but to deny that their own choice to try and cover non-sports topics has also greatly contributed to the situation they find themselves in.

I couldnt careless with the political stuff but Im with you on the TMZ stuff, but thats more to do with how our culture is now. People dont seem to care as much about information or getting actual facts. First, they want the "news" FIRST (doesnt matter if its right) and they want sensationalism. I mean just look at that ignorant 13-year old "Cash Me Ousside, How Bow Dat?" girl. She is legit a celebrity and making a ton of money now because of the way things are now.

I dont get your "non-sports topics" thing tho, I listen to ESPN Radio daily and i dont think Ive ever heard a single show where they talk about non-sports topics. If they go into pop culture or politics it always has some relation to sports (like the Tom Brady-Patriots-White House stuff).

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Disney isn't your friend. They don't care what you think unless you agree with them. I hope the MFers go broke.

 

[JoshB]

Disney isn't your friend. They don't care what you think unless you agree with them. I hope the MFers go broke.

:rolf: Yeah im sure the company that owns Marvel, Star Wars, ABC, ESPN and every animated movie ever is going to go broke pretty soon...