ESPN Layoffs

[ZedFedder]

Wow. Has anyone else seen this? These are some big names. I hate to see Pollack let go.

https://frontofficesports.com/bad-da...n-air-talents/

[Commercecomet24]

I used to watch espn all the time in the 80s,90s early 2000s. Watched sportscenter every night and multiple times. Watched baseball tonight every night and other programming. Now I only watch live sports. They?re bailing water.

[CaptainObvious]

If they are hemorrhaging funds this badly, how are they going to maintain conference payouts and paying for the money losing bowl games they own?

[EdwardDrayton]

I used to watch espn all the time in the 80s,90s early 2000s. Watched sportscenter every night and multiple times. Watched baseball tonight every night and other programming. Now I only watch live sports. They?re bailing water.

^^^^^. Sadly there's no quality sports reporting to be had, at least on a consistent basis.

[R2Dawg]

If they are hemorrhaging funds this badly, how are they going to maintain conference payouts and paying for the money losing bowl games they own?

The parent company is just doing what they do to divisions - cut the fat. They got plenty of money.

[ZedFedder]

The parent company is just doing what they do to divisions - cut the fat. They got plenty of money.

This is correct.

[msstate7]

^^^^^. Sadly there's no quality sports reporting to be had, at least on a consistent basis.

Twitter and message boards make sports center and baseball tonight/nfl live/etc useless. You can find what you wanna know in seconds

[Dawgface]

Haven't watched SportsCenter in years. Rarely watch any of the talking heads unless it's right before a big game.

[Pancho]

Makes me spit out my coffee. Pollack is a decent dude but I'm not sure about all the others

[Leroy Jenkins]

I used to watch espn all the time in the 80s,90s early 2000s. Watched sportscenter every night and multiple times. Watched baseball tonight every night and other programming. Now I only watch live sports. They?re bailing water.

I'd watch every morning before school in the 80s-90s. Now I only watch if there is a game I want to see. People just want to be told about actual sports, not told how they should feel about sports.

[coachnorm]

If they are hemorrhaging funds this badly, how are they going to maintain conference payouts and paying for the money losing bowl games they own?

I would not be surprised if ESPN/Disney deduct money from the SEC contract for the 8 game decision. Now that subscribers are leaving cable and satellite for streaming services, that mandatory chunk of money attached is no longer attached. Consider what is evolving with the regional sports networks, the parent company just bailed out of their contracts.

[DownwardDawg]

I used to watch espn all the time in the 80s,90s early 2000s. Watched sportscenter every night and multiple times. Watched baseball tonight every night and other programming. Now I only watch live sports. They?re bailing water.

Right there with you. Now it's unwatchable unless there's a live game on that you are interested in.

[DawgNamedScuba]

Disney owns ESPN, I sold my stock a long time ago...in a galaxy far far away

[Dawgology]

I would not be surprised if ESPN/Disney deduct money from the SEC contract for the 8 game decision. Now that subscribers are leaving cable and satellite for streaming services, that mandatory chunk of money attached is no longer attached. Consider what is evolving with the regional sports networks, the parent company just bailed out of their contracts.

I would imagine we will see ESPN going 100% streaming as part of the Disney app sooner rather than later

[coachnorm]

I would imagine we will see ESPN going 100% streaming as part of the Disney app sooner rather than later

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTRDWpOKY2w

What is the benefit of getting an app if the SEC adds too many scrub games? Sure, the big games are great but they are only ONE time slot each and no more. Many time slots have to be occupied for an ESPN app to thrive. As I stated, I believe that Disney is developing a mitigation plan to deal with the 8 game decision because time slots will be negatively impacted to the point that Disney share holders will loose potential profits due to failure to provide the BEST season long product. I believe that Disney will seek redress in COURT to recover monetary losses due to the 8 game decision? Disney shareholders could very well bring a cause of action against ESPN for lost value to their portfolio because the SEC failed to provide a product worthy of the big contract with Disney. Could the shareholders perceive the SEC as failing to act in good faith by devaluing its product with scrub games attached to a huge contract?

Remember what is going on with the Regional Sports Networks that have just walked away from their contracts with baseball, basketball, and hockey. Streaming apps have shot a round across the bow?

[WSOPdawg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTRDWpOKY2w

What is the benefit of getting an app if the SEC adds too many scrub games? Sure, the big games are great but they are only ONE time slot each and no more. Many time slots have to be occupied for an ESPN app to thrive. As I stated, I believe that Disney is developing a mitigation plan to deal with the 8 game decision because time slots will be negatively impacted to the point that Disney share holders will loose potential profits due to failure to provide the BEST season long product. I believe that Disney will seek redress in COURT to recover monetary losses due to the 8 game decision? Disney shareholders could very well bring a cause of action against ESPN for lost value to their portfolio because the SEC failed to provide a product worthy of the big contract with Disney. Could the shareholders perceive the SEC as failing to act in good faith by devaluing its product with scrub games attached to a huge contract?

Had the SEC been playing a 9-game SEC season prior to signing the new deal, this argument could be made. However, the only thing that's changed is the addition of OU and UT under the premise of continuing a 8-game SEC season. If Disney/ESPN want additional revenues, they have to pay for the 9th SEC game (which so far, they don't want b/c they feel they have enough quality coverage for their time slots already).

[coachnorm]

Had the SEC been playing a 9-game SEC season prior to signing the new deal, this argument could be made. However, the only thing that's changed is the addition of OU and UT under the premise of continuing a 8-game SEC season. If Disney/ESPN want additional revenues, they have to pay for the 9th SEC game (which so far, they don't want b/c they feel they have enough quality coverage for their time slots already).

That was the thought process with the Regional Sports Networks until they played hardball. ESPN is bleeding subscribers currently and is going to tighten up its ship. I believe that part of that ship tightening will be to hold the SEC accountable for any decisions rendered that affects its share holders profits. Part of that accountability will follow the Regional Sports Network blueprint of just prorating the value of all ready signed contracts. The SEC can further determine its relationship with its cash cow after the fact.

[viverlibre]

I only watch live sporting events, not one minute of commentary, so I could care less. Also, I really don't care about who calling the games, unless it's someone very annoying such as Mowins.

In the early 2010s, ESPN aired a prime-time program about gun violence, I knew they were in trouble at that point. I don't think most want their sports intertwined with politics/social issues.

[coachnorm]

I only watch live sporting events, not one minute of commentary, so I could care less. Also, I really don't care about who calling the games, unless it's someone very annoying such as Mowins.

In the early 2010s, ESPN aired a prime-time program about gun violence, I knew they were in trouble at that point. I don't think most want their sports intertwined with politics/social issues.

I will further support your statement because I have found the same answer. I watch less cable and satellite programming every month. ESPN value to me is College Football, NBA, and occasion soccer. Over the years I have been forced to pay for ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN News, ESPN Classic ETC. ESPN has had to staff that glut of redundant sports gibberish when all that is needed is ESPN and ESPN2. Now people are streaming. If you have Peacock you get some football. If you have Paramount, you get some football also. YouTube, not YouTube TV can provide football also. In short more people can sever their relationship with ESPN. When that happens, Disney will dump ESPN to mitigate financial losses. That dump will cause the SEC monetary pain especially if Disney shareholders go for the SEC jugular vein for providing scrub content to preserve the 8 game schedule.

ESPN is going to get crucified with a wishful CF play-off fallacy which will run in competition with the NFL. The NFL is NBC, CBS, and FOX territory and they will protect their shareholders profits by controlling the money-making time slots. This will be brought to lite after the damage mitigation discovered by Disney shareholders. If a dumping of ESPN forced by shareholders happens, the SEC will not have an over the air presence?

[parabrave]

Just cut my cable last week. Now streaming YouTube TV. Now I get ESPNU with all the other ESPN channels and NFL Network for 200 less a month. For MSU and Saints I listen to the home broadcasts so I don't have to listen to someone talking about BAMA or KY all game long. Rather listen to Neil