YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN

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RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - MyIdaho - 10-15-2025

(10-15-2025, 11:55 AM)StickierBuns Wrote: I hate ESPN. Its unwatchable other than the sports for me. The 'talent' is ridiculous, pandering and basically insufferable cheerleaders and dipshits. I don't watch one second of content outside the games themselves and I turn those on 1 minute before gametime.

Me too! I only watch games on ESPN. Don't need pre or post game commentary. I do like in-game announcers that provide focused game commentary rather than blather...

RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - badgervike - 10-15-2025

(10-15-2025, 11:55 AM)StickierBuns Wrote: I hate ESPN. Its unwatchable other than the sports for me. The 'talent' is ridiculous, pandering and basically insufferable cheerleaders and dipshits. I don't watch one second of content outside the games themselves and I turn those on 1 minute before gametime.

I don't either...but doesn't ESPN realize that by now? The only time I'll watch Stephen A. is from an outside post/reference when he says something really stupid. Don't they monitor intra day viewership? Go back to Sportscenter, 30 for 30 type programming, contracted NFL/MLB/NBA/NHL games, Classic game replays and some of the odd ball sports programming (X-games, Soapbox Derby, Diving, etc.). Stephen A. is paid $21M per year by ESPN. Is he really worth that? I personally think he drives away as many viewers as he brings in.

RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - StickierBuns - 10-15-2025

(10-15-2025, 12:33 PM)badgervike Wrote: I don't either...but doesn't ESPN realize that by now? The only time I'll watch Stephen A. is from an outside post/reference when he says something really stupid. Don't they monitor inter-episode viewership? Go back to Sportscenter, contracted NFL/MLB/NBA/NHL games, Classic game replays and some of the odd ball sports programming (X-games, Soapbox Derby, Diving, etc.). Stephen A. is paid $21M per year by ESPN. Is he really worth that? I personally think he drives away as many viewers as he brings in.

I don't know how old you are, badger, but I'm 59: that means I'm not the target demo and haven't been for awhile. They don't care about us. And this swing to the yelling actors like Stephen A Smith is because thoughtful and intelligent football discussions and shows don't pull in the ratings, 'hot takes' and overreactions get engagement...pro wrestling style. Plus we are the 'hardcores', we'll watch the games regardless.

Its not our media world anymore....

RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - badgervike - 10-15-2025

(10-15-2025, 12:38 PM)StickierBuns Wrote: I don't know how old you are, badger, but I'm 59: that means I'm not the target demo and haven't been for awhile. They don't care about us. And this swing to the yelling actors like Stephen A Smith is because thoughtful and intelligent football discussions and shows don't pull in the ratings, 'hot takes' and overreactions get engagement...pro wrestling style. Plus we are the 'hardcores', we'll watch the games regardless.

Its not our media world anymore....

RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - Waterboy - 10-15-2025

(10-15-2025, 11:01 AM)purplefaithful Wrote: Nobody will convince me that a large % of the viewer decline is due to "woke influences" from Disney Corp...

WOKE is not a derogatory term in my universe. I could honestly give a crap if there is a show where the panel is all black, white or polk dot.

ESPN has made mistakes, plenty of them. But it's also a much more fragmented media world vs when they started. That imo is the main driver of decline - there is just not a need for 24 hour news/sports channels. The product gets eroded- just ask Fox or CNN.

Sorry for the detour STICKY!

The only reason they aren't down further is due to the overspend necessary to keep live sports. The parts where they actually talk is entirely not worth listening to, and that's where the viewership declines are most massive. This has everything to do with going woke. They lose half of their audience. I'm going to watch my games regardless of their virtue signaling, but I'm not going to listen to one second of their "opinions" on things. Fox is doing fine, CNN not so much, but why you include them in a discussion regarding a channel dedicated to sports really doesn't make sense. I don't think you have a vision at all at how much woke bs has driven the other side away.

(10-15-2025, 08:38 AM)StickierBuns Wrote:

Entities like ESPN, the MSM, and govt strong arming of Facebook, Twitter, Google, You Tube etc have ensured that political slant is shoved down your throat, you don't have to look for it at all, it's part of our daily lives and it has resulted in a revolt and decline of many of those same entities. Of course, you'll claim that's not the case, you liked it when your side was able to do whatever the hell they wanted. Now you act like it never existed. lol

RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - comet52 - 10-15-2025

(10-15-2025, 12:38 PM)StickierBuns Wrote: I don't know how old you are, badger, but I'm 59: that means I'm not the target demo and haven't been for awhile. They don't care about us. And this swing to the yelling actors like Stephen A Smith is because thoughtful and intelligent football discussions and shows don't pull in the ratings, 'hot takes' and overreactions get engagement...pro wrestling style. Plus we are the 'hardcores', we'll watch the games regardless.

Its not our media world anymore....

Yup, just like they aren't gonna have Bob Seeger or what's left of the Eagles do the SB halftime. It's gonna be some guy us codgers don't know or don't like or don't care about or don't listen to or all of the above. Then we'll come here and bitch like we don't understand how this world could leave us out in the cold rain like that lol.

As for ESPN they are ditching anyone who does actual journalism in favor of more of the studio clownshow stuff. Doubling down on stupid might be an apt description of the strategy. Good luck.

One thing Girdley emphasizes is how businesses fail to adapt to disruptive change. Cord cutting has really hit ESPN hard.

RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - StickierBuns - 10-16-2025

(10-15-2025, 09:02 PM)comet52 Wrote: Yup, just like they aren't gonna have Bob Seeger or what's left of the Eagles do the SB halftime. It's gonna be some guy us codgers don't know or don't like or don't care about or don't listen to or all of the above. Then we'll come here and bitch like we don't understand how this world could leave us out in the cold rain like that lol.

As for ESPN they are ditching anyone who does actual journalism in favor of more of the studio clownshow stuff. Doubling down on stupid might be an apt description of the strategy. Good luck.

One thing Girdley emphasizes is how businesses fail to adapt to disruptive change. Cord cutting has really hit ESPN hard.

I posted this thread because I thought it was interesting and I thought others might like Girdley's content....not having it turn into this Disney 'woke' bullshit. Its not at all the reason for the decline. And I say this believing that ESPN is incredibly liberal and pushing any narrative the wind is blowing in their direction that day. Today's ESPN, and really for the last 15+ years, is not for me. So guess what? I don't watch the content. But I also understand its not directed at my age group and I don't bitch like some old man from the porch for the kids to get off my lawn because they don't direct it at me. Its fine, I'm old.....lets move on, I have to ability to target entertainment for myself that interests and caters to me and ignore the other stuff. Its not rocket science. ESPN caters to the lowest common denominator because they are by far the easiest to get riled up and outraged, hence that monetized engagement. This isn't a PBS Ken Burns documentary series here they are trying to craft, its sideshow schlock.

Both extremes on each end of the spectrum are the biggest babies in the f-ing world, both softer than Charmin. A wise man once said to me: 'I hate it when a fat bitch calls another fat bitch a fat bitch' if you get my meaning. Its perfectly illustrated below:

[Image: bekphnqftcb41.jpg]

RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - JustInTime - 10-16-2025

I understand your frustration.

To me, especially in light of the recent group chat revelations from the “young” republicans, I’m of a different opinion regarding your last statement.

Sorry if this got off the rails.

Like many others I only watch ESPN for college or pro football. Any of the other content is of no interest. I did occasionally dip into college gameday, but usually as background noise. The addition of Pat McAfee ended that practice abruptly.

I don’t sit and whine or waste time or keystrokes over why the presented content doesn’t speak to me. I simply change channels. Don’t even have to leave the couch to do so.

Sanctuary is a mere click away.

RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - comet52 - 10-16-2025

(10-16-2025, 04:37 AM)StickierBuns Wrote: I posted this thread because I thought it was interesting and I thought others might like Girdley's content....not having it turn into this Disney 'woke' bullshit. Its not at all the reason for the decline. And I say this believing that ESPN is incredibly liberal and pushing any narrative the wind is blowing in their direction that day. Today's ESPN, and really for the last 15+ years, is not for me. So guess what? I don't watch the content. But I also understand its not directed at my age group and I don't bitch like some old man from the porch for the kids to get off my lawn because they don't direct it at me. Its fine, I'm old.....lets move on, I have to ability to target entertainment for myself that interests and caters to me and ignore the other stuff. Its not rocket science. ESPN caters to the lowest common denominator because they are by far the easiest to get riled up and outraged, hence that monetized engagement. This isn't a PBS Ken Burns documentary series here they are trying to craft, its sideshow schlock.

Both extremes on each end of the spectrum are the biggest babies in the f-ing world, both softer than Charmin. A wise man once said to me: 'I hate it when a fat bitch calls another fat bitch a fat bitch' if you get my meaning. Its perfectly illustrated below:

I agree. Girdley is informative. Much moreso than self righteous people arguing about their ideological fantasy world.

As for ESPN, I cut the cord in 2017 and have seen almost none of their content since.

But a few years before that I remember seeing one of their various morning talk shows and the ESPN heads were discussing...some stuff some other ESPN heads said about whatever.

And I just thought why should I waste time on this b.s.? They might as well rename themselves CJSN - Circle Jerk Sports Network. I mostly tuned them out after that.

RE: YouTube: The Rise and Fall of ESPN - purplefaithful - 10-16-2025

This thread made me realize how long its been since I actually listened to their programming vs watched a ball-game...I think the last time was a post-game after the Vikings were on a national game (and actually won).

I do admit to liking Greenie and maybe 1 or 2 others, but that's about it.