Clearing the deck for Woj and The Vertical to come back to ESPN.Wow- Marc Stein just tweeted that he's out. ESPN is GUTTING its NBA coverage. Holy cow.
His takes were not HOT enough, so what purpose does he serve to ESPN?Wow- Marc Stein just tweeted that he's out. ESPN is GUTTING its NBA coverage. Holy cow.
You mean NBA, MLB and NHL.Insane that Stein is being let go. He was probably the most reliable NBA news breaker after Woj.
ESPN is doubling down on NFL and college football and gutting their NBA and MLB coverage. Fuck them.
Because they also avoid the cost of having a few camera guys, producers, editors, etc. The back of the house stuff adds up on those shows too.I find the Intentional Talk thing to be bizarre. How expensive could a show like Baseball Tonight really be? It's a show with four guys discussing clips of games. If no one is watching clips shows anymore, fine I get it. But why are you using that time to show another clips show?
I've heard rumors that a lot of NFL talking heads on the network aren't safe after the draft. Take that FWIW.I wonder whether more cuts will come after the NFL Draft
Except weren't we told it was just "talent" this time?Because they also avoid the cost of having a few camera guys, producers, editors, etc. The back of the house stuff adds up on those shows too.
Woj doesn't worship at the altar of LeBron. They only want sycophants at ESPN.Clearing the deck for Woj and The Vertical to come back to ESPN.
http://deadspin.com/sources-adrian-wojnarowski-is-close-to-joining-espn-1791830016Woj doesn't worship at the altar of LeBron. They only want sycophants at ESPN.
As snarky as that comment is, it's also very accurate. ESPN cares about brands and brand awareness more than sports at this point and there's no bigger brand than the likes of Lebron (especially with Kobe done) in terms of superstar status. He's poised to be THE focal point of the NBA for a long time and will be the cornerstone of most of ESPN's coverage, so why chase stories that aren't worthy of PTI-style debates or not about how he's awesome? Everything else will be reduced to highlights and catchphrases.Woj doesn't worship at the altar of LeBron. They only want sycophants at ESPN.
Does Sean McDonough take over some of Dave's work, or is Sean being sacked as well?Chad Finn just tweeted that Dave O'Brien was let go by ESPN.
Thank goodness NESN is know for being one of the best when it comes to employee compensation and by best I mean cheapest.Chad Finn just tweeted that Dave O'Brien was let go by ESPN.
He'll pick up some basketball work for FS1 this season I bet.Thank goodness NESN is know for being one of the best when it comes to employee compensation and by best I mean cheapest.
Does Gus usually pair with Raft for Big East hoops on FS1?He'll pick up some basketball work for FS1 this season I bet.
Every major sport website has a game recap. What's hard to understand?I would watch more, as well. But apparently there is a huge segment of the population that would rather seek out their own highlights and watch them on the phone? Or something else millennial that I don't understand.
I thought it was "50 people you'd know, and 50 you don't" with the insinuation that it was half behind the camera folks.Except weren't we told it was just "talent" this time?
They have more than one broadcasting team.Does Gus usually pair with Raft for Big East hoops on FS1?
I know, but I doubt the B and below teams on FS1 are making much above ESPNU coin given the BE ratings. While the BE ratings are growing for FS1, games still average less than 200,000 viewers. That's still more than a million less than ESPN.They have more than one broadcasting team.
How much do the lesser commentators on ESPN (including ESPNU) make per game? Does anyone know? I'm curious what all of these cuts mean for the rank and file that are still required to be there calling all of the games that still make ESPN an attractive viewing destination for so many people.I know, but I doubt the B and below teams on FS1 are making much above ESPNU coin given the BE ratings. While the BE ratings are growing for FS1, games still average less than 200,000 viewers. That's still more than a million less than ESPN.
There are a bunch of local sports folks doing ESPN3 work. The talent supply is going up. This pool is not only cheaper, but requires much less for travel. These productions are also expanding the production pool with young talent that is getting directing, graphics and replay experience. They're getting freelance gigs beyond rolling cable.How much do the lesser commentators on ESPN (including ESPNU) make per game? Does anyone know? I'm curious what all of these cuts mean for the rank and file that are still required to be there calling all of the games that still make ESPN an attractive viewing destination for so many people.
100% false…. I don’t know any person who would rather watch a Madden competition than an actual game… Hell Go look at big time college sports schools (Like IU/UCLA/USC etc). They pack those arenas to the brink. The only people who I know who watch E-sports (like madden) are the type that have been addicted to things like WOW and could give a rats ass about actual sports. In fact most of the people I watch sports with despise HOT TAKEZ news (like me) and would rather watch sports shows that use stats and level headed analysisThere are a bunch of local sports folks doing ESPN3 work. The talent supply is going up. This pool is not only cheaper, but requires much less for travel. These productions are also expanding the production pool with young talent that is getting directing, graphics and replay experience. They're getting freelance gigs beyond rolling cable.
The other pressure, as done for some of the 2016 NCAA women's tourney (not sure about 2017) and a big chunk of the Rio games. More announcing and event production (minus camera and audio) for Rio was done in Stanford and Bristol can do the same. A PBP/analyst team can do five games a week and never leave home.
We are certainly in the midst of changing times. At some point the NFL will even feel it. The college age audience/fans would rather watch people compete in Madden instead of an actual game and follow fantasy via an app. Good luck converting them into watchers of three-plus hour games. At least real players aren't getting hurt in Madden.
Those of us that actually enjoy watching games and nuanced sports discussion may be the dinosaurs. A few King James dunks followed by a 20 minute discussion on his favorite video games, movies and business interests and what that means to the world is the new SC model. They've already started to take the word sports out of the branding.
http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/news/linda-cohn-sportscenter-espn-layoffs-new-york-post-the-bernie-and-sid-show-wabc/xti6exskx6wp19v8pegqu7quz"I felt that the old-school viewers were put in a corner. And not appreciated with all these other changes," Cohn said during a radio appearance on "The Bernie and Sid Show" via the New York Post. "They forgot their core. You should never forget your core. And be grateful for your core group."
And yet correct in her assessment.Linda Cohn sucks.
I'd take issue with your overall assessment. Foy you, and those in your circle sure, but many P5 schools, with a few exceptions, have overbuilt and overpriced. Student demand is down and the non-student pool is being purged by couch-gating and cost increases. The new pro stadiums and arenas aren't exactly super sizing either and their top dollar seats and suites feature plenty of non-game related perks and enticements.100% false…. I don’t know any person who would rather watch a Madden competition than an actual game… Hell Go look at big time college sports schools (Like IU/UCLA/USC etc). They pack those arenas to the brink. The only people who I know who watch E-sports (like madden) are the type that have been addicted to things like WOW and could give a rats ass about actual sports. In fact most of the people I watch sports with despise HOT TAKEZ news (like me) and would rather watch sports shows that use stats and level headed analysis
(PS. I’m the age group you are talking about (I’m 23)
They didn't just let Henry go, they axed almost everybody in the TrueHoop group. Which is...insane, because they and the podcasts they were doing were literally the best thing ESPN did, to the point everybody else was trying to emulate them.Henry Abott(@TrueHoop on Twitter) was also let go.
No, she's really not.And yet correct in her assessment.
It's such a ridiculous and lazy take, too. Trump winning an election and giving Jenner an ESPY didn't matter. What mattered is that 8 million(estimate, not sure of the number) people have cut the cord and, at the same time, ESPN has overspent on live sports. So their revenues are declining and their expenses are increasing. That's not sustainable.No, she's really not.
I'm assuming you mean that the ESPN skewing "liberal" have somehow killed the channel.
That's fucking stupid.
“It’s been a total mismanagement of rights fees, starting with the NFL renewal,” said one former employee. “We overpaid significantly when it did not need to be that way, and it set the template to overpay for MLB and the NBA.”
TL;DR: ESPN is paying out more money for content (roughly $6 to $7 billion dollars a year) than any other media platform and is now scrambling to re-do contracts, cut costs and raise revenue to cover these costs.Between the NFL, NBA, MLB, and College Football Playoff, ESPN has $33.27 billion in long-term content obligations. That blows Netflix's oft-scrutinized long-term content obligations out of the water.
ESPN is not losing money. It still posts a profit as does the overall cable division for Disney. The problem is that ESPN's revenues are declining and it, by itself, is why Disney did not reach expected earnings.ESPN is underwater for a simple reason. They are paying out more money then they are taking in. How did this happen?.