The Decline of ESPN...What Happened?

ESPN has been on the decline lately. This is evidenced through mass firings, declining subscriptions, shaky ratings, and just general criticism from the public. This video explores why this has been happening and theorizes whether or not they could make a recovery from it.
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[@andersonpeter990]

“You watch ads on here all the time” ad starts playing

[@igotsdmunchies4242]

Jordan Payne and when the ad ends "and that is how KZbin makes money" lol

[@cesarvalle5301]

Duded that happened to me!!

[@ofamilyonthemove1238]

He placed it there on purpose...

[@coltoncrawfordjazz]

haha I scrolled through the comments to see if anyone else caught that

[@SamLemont]

*cough* uBlock Origin *cough*

[@lazygamer4746]

You can watch ESPN for hours and never actually see any sports.

[@johngullo9420]

lazy gamer Like MTV and music videos

[@norbertop.niebres6320]

Also VH-1 and music videos. Ditto MTV2.

[@michaelcap9550]

Sounds like what happened to MTV.

[@CSDonohue11]

lazy gamer Plus see the same thing over & over again or hear the same nerds yelling.

[@jamepearson]

lazy gamer it’s called evolving

[@anthonyconn5215]

ESPN basically refuses to acknowledge hockey, one of the four major American Sports, exists. But they’ll talk basketball in the off season. They lost me a while ago.

[@phillyfan-182]

You almost forget hockey is a sport. Max Kellerman on first take said nobody in the USA cares about hockey. I disagree with his comments. Hockey has a strong following but it doesn’t get the same ratings as football, baseball and basketball.

[@ffr8186]

If you wanna keep going it’s a large reason probably why NASCAR has declined as well. If they really brought a good overall network on all sports they’d talk more golf, nascar, hockey and more!

[@Murph_.]

Thank God! For a while, I thought I was the only one!!!! Hockey is the greatest sport ever played, IMO. Hockey players are the best athletes. You don't have to have specific attributes, like height or to be 300#... there are 5'9", 165# guys in or going into the Hall of Fame, there are 6'5" and taller guys going into the Hall of Fame. The key is you have to be a great athlete. A great athlete who is 5'9" is very unlikely to make the Hall of Fame in Basketball or Football, and in Baseball you only need to be good at ONE thing... so you don't need to be a great athlete, you just need to be good at ONE thing... A great athlete like Trout will make the Hall for sure... but you can't just be good at one thing in hockey and be a top player. In baseball, if you can hit home runs easily, you can be considered great, even if you can barely make it around the bases or hit over .200. If you can throw a 100 mph fastball, you don't need any other skills. It used to be, in baseball, that you needed to be a well rounded guy to be a professional. Today, half these guys can't field worth a damn, they are sluggish on the base paths, and they can only hit the ball very hard... most not even for a decent average. That's baseball, a one dimensional sport. Hockey is the only true sport left of the major sports in the world today.

[@slanda2262]

@@Murph_. not true we are just at a time where pitchers are the best they've ever been and it's harder than ever to get a hit saying "if you can throw 100 mph, you don't need anything else" tell that to aroldis Chapman he was that and once the league caught up to it he started getting exposed pitchers now throw baseballs at 100 mph fastball with movement or a 90 mph even some curveballs are being thrown like blitzballs Chapman is still good now but he has two maybe even three pitches that batters have to worry about on top of the fastball. Plus baseball is probably the sport that requires the most hand eye coordination and patience that's why people who don't watch baseball find it exciting plus there are many great players in the league that can play both sides of the field shit ohtani is hitting pitching and fielding saying that you don't need to be an athlete in baseball is incredibly stupid btw just because they don't have as much movement as other sports doesn't make them any lesser of an athlete Jordan was the prolly the biggest atheletic freak in his time and he couldn't reach the majors

[@Murph_.]

@@slanda2262 Throwing harder doesn't make a pitcher better. I'd put Greg Maddux up against any pitcher any day. Also, as we continue down this road, players will catch up to the high velocity fastballs, but if the pitchers are otherwise average or worse, which they are, then what? KNOWING how to pitch is more important than how hard you can throw. Finally, when guys are all taught that they should either walk or swing for the fences, it's much easier to strike someone out. MUCH, MUCH easier. In conclusion, one skill does not make a great player.

[@darrellpatton4008]

I remember when ESPN showed sports, MTV showed music videos, CNN reported news, and Michael Jackson was black. That's how old I am.

[@perrydavis3612]

Excellent point- well said

[@dwavyy300]

Wow don’t worry then you’re almost on your way out

[@313KungFuKenny]

😂😂

[@yell0wberry]

I wonder if everyone remembers when ESPN showed the O.J. Simpson bronco chase as well as his trial, they also showed other things unrelated to sports such as Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin‘s funeral, as well as the Kobe Bryant Helicopter crash press conference and the George Floyd protest. Perhaps networks such as ESPN, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, lifetime, and TBS need to rebrand themselves to something that relates to their actual content

[@chuyozuna2398]

So you’re 50 years old?

[@cashondeliver]

They hired a bunch of people that know little to nothing about the sports they cover 😂

[@saucehoopmixtapes3291]

It’s infuriating

[@brendan594]

Sippin Water like Skip Bayless

[@georgeryanjr.9767]

Rob Parker and Max Kellerman are the worst

[@brendan594]

George Ryan Jr. oh god Max Kellerman knows nothing. He said the MLB is more popular than the NBA. I’m a baseball fan, and even I think that’s the dumbest comment ever, obviously the NBA is more popular than the MLB

[@ltwadley7619]

@Luke Skywalker Skip is on Fox, not ESPN.

[@DanielGonzalezL]

ESPN covering political content is like Hershey's selling mirrors. Like, what?

[@marilynmarks9112]

Daniel Gonzalez is Hershey selling mirrors for reals?

[@DanielGonzalezL]

Marilyn Marks nope :P

[@jakob7722]

At first I was like “What? Mirrors?” But then I realized that was the point…

[@krombopulos_michael]

Not really though, because in 2017 a lot of teams and athletes used the games to try and highlight political issues, and they had to cover that.

[@DanielGonzalezL]

Krombopulos Michael it sickens me when politics get everywhere. I'm from Venezuela and here (since things are so fucked up) you literally can't do a single thing without involving politics somehow, and it's really, really tiring. Don't let that happen over there

[@noideac]

If ESPN wants to get big they gotta make ESPN 8: The Ocho a real thing 24/7

[@VeeZee777]

noideac 😂😂😂 that's from Dodgeball no?

[@dgrullon9596]

Too political. Too expensive. Overated. Those are the issues.

[@paulhogan3116]

ESPN started to decline when they got rid of ESPN 8: THE OCHO

[@pedalesmexicali]

WTF is ESPN 8?

[@daved2140]

@@pedalesmexicali It's a joke based on the movie "Dodgeball."

[@ht8384]

I was going to comment the OCHO lol 😂

[@estevanmartinez1751]

Most under-rated comment ever lmfao I listed the OCHO in my head when he was listing the ones ESPN has lol

[@justinbenning2428]

That was a bold move on their part Cotton.

[@PaperRaines]

I saw ESPN playing the movie "The Mighty Ducks" during primetime the other night. That network has got issues, especially with covid going on

[@butt02plug]

It’s awesome!!!

[@eugenemotes9921]

THERE is no COVID-19

[@jamesedwards3923]

We have all seen it. Before ESPN. So basically they were not smart enough to put vintage footage. They have lost their way. It is dead.

[@BOG0690]

Which one? D3 is my favorite

[@matthewcade4249]

I mean I’ve stopped watching espn because of how political it’s become

[@commonsense3921]

You really mean you stop watching when their views didn’t match yours.

[@solascriptura-e7t]

@@commonsense3921 False. He is saying (what most people are also saying) : "keep politics out of sports". The Kaeparnick kneeling situation.... Michael Sam draft day celebration.... Bruce/Caitlin Jenner nonsense... Dennis Rodman & North Korea ...

[@philhunt26]

Sola Scriptura lol bet you have zero problems with “military tributes” though, do you?

[@solascriptura-e7t]

@@philhunt26 Funny. You don't know me, at all, do you? I served eight years in the US Navy (2002- 2010). Last duty station in Pearl Harbor (2007- 2010). CS3 onboard USS Russell (DDG- 59). Thanks for trying; but, you lost that bet.

[@1212goose]

@@philhunt26 those are stupid also.

[@davester1970]

I cancelled ESPN as well as the rest of my satellite subscription a year ago because $135/month was way too much to pay for shitty programming. I haven't looked back since. Politics did play a factor, but mostly television sucks. Modern television wasn't made for anyone with an IQ of room temperature.

[@GEEZYEA777]

You’re 100% correct. I can easily stream Redzone for free, listen to most games on the radio, or watch the play by play. I can also watch shows and movies on the internet or pay for a much cheaper subscription like Hulu

[@anrw886]

It has been 3 years since I have activity watched TV, and switched over to 100% digital media. Instant, mostly free and better...

[@murray1978]

I never heard of Gears TV. Is it an online service? 15 dollars a month is a steal. My cable bill was almost a 100 dollars a month at one time and I only used three or four channels.

[@jeremybrown9611]

Politics plays the smallest role, don't act like it was never there, even when ESPN was at there best... politics was there!

[@emiemivideos]

The young Republican lmfao

[@ChuckKeough]

I didn't even realize I had fallen away from ESPN... mlb.com made it so much faster to get what I needed.

[@ChuckKeough]

Sure, why not

[@tagaway6173]

Chuck Keough I'm going to sub to you just because Jajajaja.

[@kamX-rz4uy]

NHL.com too

[@popeaustini]

mlb.com and nhl.com are powered by BAMTech streaming tech which is owned by The Walt Disney Company

[@everettgladden2065]

Yoshi Bryant Your channel looks like a bunch of clickbait garbage. Why should I subscribe?

[@1962KSR]

Wrong. it's ESPN politics that caused me to stop watching. I never watch an NFL game on ESPN and only watch an occasional college football game. I never watch ESPN for anything else. They are a terrible network.

[@ofallmyintention9496]

They have their stories written before the game even starts, and they try and force their opinions down your throats.

[@LocoMan123]

@Skippy the Alien people watch sports to escape politics regardless of viewpoints

[@seanthomson5578]

No doubt. I started watching ESPN less and less over the last few years. I always hated their obsession with Kaepernick but ultimately their non stop virtue signaling and glorifying gender politics did it for me. Herbstreit’s BETA performance was the nail in the coffin for me

[@hond4h34d]

I don't watch ESPN because of lame graphics and poor presentation of all of their sports properties.

[@Acerthorn]

"Think of KZbin. You watch ads here all the time -" **Mid-Roll ad plays.** Hey Company Man, did you do that on purpose?!

[@ECDT1089-EtheLamborghini]

Next video, PepsiCo - Bigger than you know!

[@excusermewhat3567]

Yes!

[@camac9277]

Ye!!

[@NintendoLover2005]

ECDT1089 Yeah!

[@10smackers88]

Hecc yeah lemme see that

[@krazysteve]

GainedSalmon 3 Sprite is my favorite coke

[@charlesvannice8279]

I think the politics supercharged their decline.

[@jesuszamora6949]

Not really. Plenty of places have it worse than ESPN because they have NOTHING that can't be put on Netflix or Hulu. The political stuff (and let's be honest, it's mostly Trump supporters who complain about it) is probably not going to move the needle either way because their entire model is obsolete.

[@Fuzhou]

What about ESPN 8: The Ocho?

[@lexilou4764]

Fuzhou if it's almost a sport, they got it there.

[@vanzy01]

Would that mean I can't watch the Average Joe's defend there championship title anymore!?

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

Go balls deep!

[@AndrewLeonard46]

When they took off sportsnation it was over. They are not even about sports anymore, it’s politics

[@trevboy98]

If you are a fan of a small market NBA team like I am, don’t even bother with ESPN because they won’t talk about your team

[@companyman114]

Which team is that Trevor?

[@trevboy98]

Company Man I’m a Denver fan but it’s a problem with other teams as well like Memphis or Charlotte. ESPN tends to cater towards the bigger market teams like the Lakers, Knicks, Celtics. It makes sense, but I usually don’t watch ESPN because of it

[@companyman114]

Absolutely but to be fair TNT and the other sports channels seem to ignore them as well. By the way I used to follow Denver pretty close the few years before Carmelo left. That was a good team with a good coach, fun to watch too.

[@trevboy98]

Company Man True. It just disappoints me that a player on in a small market could score 50 points and get barely any attention while a player on the Lakers could breathe and get an article written about them. & right on man

[@companyman114]

Yes, very true.

[@dede4004]

I used to love ESPN.....UNTIL they got into politics. And do more TALKING about sports than actually SHOWING sports.

[@nickbigmann5228]

Exactly, it's like they're catering to women having all these talk shows. Really boring and a total turn off for me and most long time sports fans.

[@Allhailthesith]

They have a controlled narrative and that makes it a no no for me

[@anthonyperez1410]

I stopped watching when I couldn't tell the difference between them (ESPN) and MSNBC.

[@yeetusdeletus7039]

@@Str8Maddeness yo lowkey you should stop talking

[@regiirecords8829]

@@Str8Maddeness Maybe sit the next few plays out, Champ, you're looking kinda shaky over there.

[@justinbenning2428]

@@Str8Maddeness well done proving his point for him. You didn't even try to argue against his comment. You just shifted into the "Yeah but you're more stupider" 3rd grade mentality. You lack even the smallest sense of self awareness.

[@Fabricio-ek4mz]

3:46 the moment he says "you see ads on here all the time" an ad comes up

[@p11111]

Big corps are soo slow to adapt. Especially if the founders sold out long ago and everybody there is just another salaryman who doesn't give a damn about tomorrow.

[@prezidentjeff]

vptes1 Excellent point

[@MW-fi7we]

I think ESPN's politics had a lot to do with their decline.

[@utsb3220]

Too political and I hate it. Should be 100% no politics.

[@GCJACK83]

ESPN started going downhill long ago when people discovered they could get sports scores and highlights off the internet. The downfall was compounded when they started turning their backs to certain commentators when they got too political until they crossed a certain line. People watch sports networks not for politics, but for sports.

[@Thx1138sober]

ESPN is a dead man walking

[@matthewclifford4661]

Too true.

[@SiFuJasper]

Chris Berman was awesome!!! Favorite quote from the Swammy: “There are no stupid questions; just stupid people who ask questions.” That quote is way too non-PC for today.

[@colts8146]

It got political nobody wants to hear political shit on a sports channel

[@artemlugin8490]

Sports networks need to have a sports feel to them...espn doesn’t

[@shermanchester68]

That’s why all the major sports started their own channels.

[@289cobra9]

It's more like MSNBC today.

[@eddie9244]

espn went full left wing around 2014 , i can only tolerate PTI and sometimes around the horn on youtube

[@finchborat]

It started in 2013, but they did turn it up a notch in 2014.

[@georgebsuh5144]

there is no left wing or right wing....democrat or republican to these media people (even Fox News)..that is the shit they sell you. they are all communists.

[@jjjones7915]

@@georgebsuh5144 sure

[@nachocheese2823]

@kings react gaming did you just assume his race he might identify as a toucan

[@LucasSChiefsLightning]

"lEfT wInG" lmao

[@Kruppt808]

More competition, bad management and questionable firing and hiring.

[@dbrinkm1]

Raising their subscription prices is the EXACT reason why most subscribers CUT THE CORD. I cut the cord last year and have been very content with my decision.There are countless other avenues to gain sports information which are readily available, and free ! Another BIG reason for decline is the fact that so many younger viewers will NOT sit down and watch 1-3 games on any given Sunday ! They get their scores from mobile apps and do OTHER things with their friends on same Sunday ! Sports in general, and especially the NFL, do not hold the younger generations attention like it did 20-50 years ago. I see cord cutting and viewership continuing a sharp decline and predict that ESPN is in far more trouble than any of their CEO's would like to admit.

[@MasterMalrubius]

Not wanting to support ESPN is one of the reasons I got rid of cable.

[@perrydavis3612]

Good point- does any one actually think these kids coming up are gonna sit down in front of a tv? With all the toys they have now? Same with voting - 121 mill out of 330 mill in the last election? Does anyone believe these kids are gonna vote?

[@calvine.whalen130]

That picture of Max is literally his face every time Stephen A. starts talking😂

[@samroberts3384]

They were dumb enough to divide their audience in half by getting political.

[@raymondmyers6899]

So, victim blame often, do you? The audience was already diverse. ESPN simply revealed the tender snowflakes who need for everyone to be exactly like themselves or else they can't handle it.

[@derekchapman6388]

I’ve personally stopped watching and don’t visit their website due to their politics.

[@tnndll4294]

Why watch when it's a ONE-PARTY Platform?

[@randymonster4105]

cause you're a sensitive pussy.

[@Maverick_682]

The only type of ESPN content that I take in is ESPN Radio and when they air college football. Other than that, they're garbage and yes, they got *WAY* too political.

[@MrWatchmen759]

Is 2018 people still have cable ?

[@DJ____7235]

Solo to the Max my thoughts Cable is outdated.

[@MrWatchmen759]

MetalSonic1993 it really is

[@DJ____7235]

Solo to the Max exactly people are trying to save it lol

[@eduardomorales1455]

More then you think. 1 out of every 100 may not have cable.

[@DJ____7235]

eduardo morales good. They can get streaming instead.

[@blazinpyromaniac]

Their anchors and ESPN personalities kinda sucks nowadays too. They talk too much about their personal opinions on things like politics (which we don't really give a f about) instead of just keeping it neutral and these personalities try to become a bigger than the sports themselves.

[@Ratt2004]

Decline of ESPN.... 1. Turning it into a political statement with every host talking about their Democratic affiliations & several playing the race card on there. 2. TALK SHOWS....I could give 2 shits about Dan Lebatard, Mike & Mike, Golic & Wingo...I just want Sportscenter & actual sports. 3. Too many ESPN things....how many ESPN channels do we need? R.I.P. to ESPN Classic....slowly been phased out of cable/dish packages since 2019.....just lost it over here in April (even they went on the decline, only showing 'classic' games from 2002-forward)

[@chrisphoenix8331]

For the most part and you covered it, I use to never watch ESPN for opinions. I would watch for the results and stay for some of the interesting talking points. Now you don't need ESPN for the results therefore ESPN is becoming useless. Nobody needs to hear Dan LeBatard or Stephen A's opinion when we already know the results and just form our own.

[@mrpanda750]

The only reason why I watch was for Skip Bayless and Steven A Smith argue at eachother while I got ready for school.

[@MikeBNumba6]

*Nobody needs to hear Dan LeBatard or Stephen A's opinion when we already know the results and just form our own.* And these guys aren't experts or anything. Honestly everything they say is no different then what any of us say in the KZbin comments. They don't break down game film or anything. Its "Lebron isn't clutch, The NE pats have Brady they will win, KD better then Lebron, ect.." Does it really take an "expert" to say or have an opinion on all that shit?

[@chrisphoenix8331]

MikeBNumba6 Exactly, I agree

[@andybryant5646]

I agree I just watch the sports like college football and NBA

[@Venom3254]

Have both of them even played a professional sport? I know Stephen A smith's bum ass hasn't played.

[@jbizzle1966]

I left ESPN because of politics and so have many of my friends

[@coolguy02536]

You made the *right* choice

[@ScarecrowsDream1977]

me too

[@heartandsoulfilms7816]

same here

[@heidi7151]

The main reason is forcing politics into shows. Also, why is ARod commentating baseball games? He's a disgrace. Could they pick a more hated player? Honestly.

[@kenperk9854]

You are right on Heidi! Somebody at espn suffered a brain injury and thought the P in espn stood for politics. Ass wipes.

[@MichaelWH]

Too much politics !

[@cambonious23]

Arod isn’t great, but not that bad

[@GeekboyNC]

They lost me in 2014 when I cut out cable. I sort of missed it for a few hours, but quickly moved on. I happened to see it again in the waiting room getting my truck fixed. I had them turn it off. There is nothing there.

[@jflowers090]

The combinations of other options and their politics pushed me away. Sports are to be an escape.

[@skydragon2213]

I agree with almost all of these comments. ESPN has become a network of politics, and that's not what its supposed to be. It is a sports channel for god's sake.

[@zekebones34]

The answer to ESPN is simple. They went from Sports to pop culture and politics

[@oscar_fml-346]

Zeke Bones no stfu

[@MurKJrps3]

Gay ass nigga - he's actually right. They're talking politics more than ever

[@LpCruz11937]

If that's how you feel, you're in the minority

[@illustriousbrainqueef1823]

You posted this video two years ago and I’m surprised they are still around in 2020. No one watches espn anymore. It’s going the way of MTV. Soon it will be strictly reality tv.

[@dej.3302]

Sports is entertainment. Politics for most is not. The main reason the subscription numbers have not declined as much is that ESPN is part of a cable package that you can't pick and choose exactly what you want. ESPN is part of the same wagon train that has other different entertainment for other members of the family.

[@NikkiMKarLen]

"Eventually, is it just going to be one guy paying a billion dollars a month for his ESPN subscription?"

[@AndrewAnstrom]

Nikki M. Solis judging by those numbers, that guy better be paying 8 billion dollars if they still want to break even.

[@MichaelKolesarKoleslaw]

This video is 100% right on the money. Why don't we have guys who walk around and light all the gas lamps? They were replaced.

[@DeadbeatGodfather]

I’ve gotta say, of all the “brand” video producers out there, you are easily the best. You don’t take sides, aren’t biased, and mostly stick to facts and statistics. Thanks for producing quality videos, never change!

[@semperfi6512]

true, similar to Netflix and Block Buster Videos, ESPN will eventually go under.

[@Brooks22n]

ESPN Sports commentators just yell at each other , it’s a joke , I stopped watching years ago

[@19580822]

When I watch a sports channel I want to see sports. Scores. Highlights. Stats. Schedules. Standings. I don't want to hear your political opinions, I don't want to hear sob stories about rich athletes going on strike, and the debate format has been done to death. Go back to your roots. Unfortunately I can't just cancel you, because the programming package I have contains a lot of channels I DO watch.

[@C3-PantherPickle]

DAM right I JUST don't care

[@piteusx8440]

19580822 Is that why FOX Sports is a miserable failure?

[@piteusx8440]

Joseph Kennedy LOL. IF YOU DON'T KNOW, I suggest you STFU before making a fool of yourself.

[@coolguy02536]

Says the dude responding to every comment on the video with "BUT FOX NEWS!!!" You look fragile and triggered. Mad the whole world hates your racist far-left agenda?

[@oumarkoume7238]

"Think of KZbin, you have to watch ads here all the time." (Ad plays)

[@kenperk9854]

I've viewed youtube for 15 years or more. Ads watched? ZERO.

[@startedtech]

@@kenperk9854 ...15 years? Are you just an imbecile? KZbin hasn't been around that long.

[@strategicjedi7667]

Company Man: “Think of KZbin, you get ads all the time.” Me: (Immediately gets ad after he says that.) “Well he ain’t wrong” 3:44

[@SJM6791]

When I was growing up, the 1st thing I did every morning was turn on ESPN and watch the highlights of the previous night’s games. I have trouble watching anything that they show now. They’ve literally killed the golden goose with their constant left wing political rhetoric and racial agenda. I watch sports to escape that bullshit.

[@Gothlova]

They declined for stupid shit like giving Jenner an award for being a "hero" over a young lady who lost her life that played HS ball till her passing and a Military hero who does MMA after losing a arm and leg

[@_-444_-]

I love this channel Company Man

[@TimCarter]

Comparing the NFL to slavery was a stupid side for them to take.

[@beinghonest9433]

Right, NCAA is more like slavery those kids are not getting paid

[@NealB123]

Too political, too many bad management decisions and lots of competition. The got arrogant and badly overpaid for some of their sports programming and now the competition is killing them.

[@richjageman3976]

Stopped watching all ESPN when they went political.

[@norbertop.niebres6320]

Amen to that. There is always the internet and video games (console and desktop/laptop computers).

[@charlieporch3181]

Yes . Politics suck on sports. The end of ESPN is going to be like Sears. Gone!

[@truthminusthebs2896]

Okay, enough already! Outstanding video, but to those of you, who are literally complaining that ESPN doesn't air hockey as much as they should are ridiculous! Hockey obtains less ratings in the United States than Track and Field, regardless of the network. I mean, think about it. People would rather watch CSPAN showing janitors vacuuming the carpet in Congress than the NHL! Now, before you get your NHL sponsored tampon in a bunch, ask yourself this, "If ESPN could make money from the NHL, wouldn't you think ESPN, the money-hungry network it is would have them on more? In short, it's NOT ESPN's fault that they don't air much hockey, in short, it yours, why? Because, if you NHL fans tuned in and purchased products from the commercials and/or ads as us NFL, NBA, MLB fans do, then ESPN would air more hockey! It's all about the dollars!

[@ILive4saturdays]

It’s amazing how this dude said “politics” really hasn’t changed espns bottom line. And every comment is “yeah those sjws are the reason why” Amazing the lengths people will go to feel important.

[@pylianpbappe8898]

ILive4saturdays do you remember the show “His and Hers” which took over sportscenter’s time at 6? That was a huge turnoff for thousands including me. If I wanted to her that I’d watch CNN.

[@ILive4saturdays]

The Maestro give me data not some testimonial

[@skinner321]

What they need is to renegotiate the contracts with the leagues, cut all the extraneous ESPN channels, focus on their core model of being the best 24 hour sports channel with very limited commercial breaks. Re-establish themselves as "the" sports channel instead of banter from a bunch of people talking about "possibilities". Watching commentary about possible trade deals is like watching Russians play chess. I want to go to ESPN for sports, not news. And bring back womens volleyball, I liked that.

[@nagibrich1270]

Derek Bootle womens volleyball? i guess you are a men of culture aswell

[@skinner321]

nagib rich, Beats cricket, that stuff is boring.

[@mountainman6172]

Derek Bootle that's actually very similar to Sky Sports recent restructuring.

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

They won't, Disney wants to push their left wing agenda and ESPN, ABC, and Star Wars are the core to do it.

[@martytu20]

So why do that and pay 9 bucks a month if you can do the same thing on a KZbin channel to watch it for free? ESPN is the dinosaur and the meteor (the Internet) have already caused a massive climate change the dinosaurs have to radically adapt to or become fossilized. The only way ESPN is going to be saved is if net neutrality is repealed and they get first dibs on preferred sites.

[@MorbidGod391]

I find it funny as you said KZbin has ads I got an ad. Lol

[@AvinashKumar-ny6iz]

Allen S was that an ad of Netflix. That was the case for me

[@angryidahobusdriver]

Ubuntu. :)

[@Stacy_Smith]

I found it funny when he used the phrase "KZbin makes money...". They have demonetized so many channels that they are taking a serious hit on their bottom line!

[@SydneyGreenstreet1227]

They fire Harold Reynolds, Curt Schilling, etc. and keep Jemelle Hill on just because she’s a black woman. LeBron this, Crimson Tide that. Screw ESPN !

[@andresreyna4260]

I love Harold Reynolds too but they fired him for sexual harassment, so they def kinda needed to do that Haha

[@BlownTreeFB]

Demecca Davis just shut the fuck up

[@danielsprong7950]

Demecca davis. What are you talking about?

[@thomasdr08]

Roll Tide

[@hotwax9376]

@Big Okie Don't forget Tom Brady.

[@mpa8336]

Their decline paralleled the rise of Kapernick- on whom I express no opinion, as I don't care. I never watched them, never had the time for TV, but interest in pro sports tanked for a while. We knew ESPN staff, when they were sailing strong. As to how they could recover- they'd have to start offering people what they want, instead of what they think people should have.

[@dicomohio4743]

ESPN should go beyond traditional physical sports and get into e sports.

[@jaga9828]

“Just think about youtube you watch ads he- **ad plays**

[@TalmoTheSell]

politics ruined it. The end.

[@isiahboone3127]

Too many debate shows about what athlete is the GOAT. Too much talk about politics. I feel people of color think Stephen A. Smith and other black analysts are supposed to be the black spokesman for our people. Yet, his job and agenda is to criticize and over-exagerate how bad players play, etc. It's boring now. They put a black man vs a white man to argue about athletes because the controversy of race attracts viewers. Now sports viewpoints are Democratic vs Republican. Bring back Sportcenter of the 90s.

[@ParthPatel-zy4pg]

they started riding lebron way too hard

[@cerabrii398]

And the Cowboys, who for two years in a row have missed the playoffs yet they continue to talk about them

[@frankwhite2635]

Chris Berman was the best thing about espn. His nfl highlight commentary was legendary. Now it’s basically just the sister version of CNN.

[@finchborat]

More like the sister version of MSNBC.

[@MD-us8np]

They turned off half of the populace with their political viewpoints and it turns out it’s the half that’s interested in sports.

[@MD-us8np]

I also disagree with the author. A lot of people like convenience and getting sports and highlights from one source is easier than going to ten different places to get it. I cancelled because I watched sports to get away from the news and sports became too much like the news.

[@ilovetitties4481]

They had the TVs tuned to ESPN at my gym, and they were showing discussions on Black Lives Matter instead of showing the Islanders game.

[@jesuszamora6949]

I Love Titties Well, that has more to do with their rejecting the NHL in favor of talking heads. ESPN isn't the Indoctrination network it's being painted as by those who've been indoctrinated by Fox News, but their insistence on disregarding anything that isn't football or basketball is a problem. ESPN is basically NFL Network 2.

[@MrChuckdingo]

MSNBC gave Al Sharpton his own hour-long show to rant about how much whitey be oppressin' his brothas. Your argument about Fox is invalid. Also, I don't feel guilty about slavery.

[@PickleRicksFATASSCOUSIN]

ESPN? More like *Eastern* *Sports* *Politics* *Network*

[@norbertop.niebres6320]

EAST COAST POLITICS SPORTS NETWORK I miss the old ESPN (Pre 2008).😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@daltonfarris]

@Sparka ☠👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿😂

[@johnheavner7947]

There are a million reasons for their decline but they can be summarized as "The photographer who thought he was more important than the Picture"

[@Frazier16]

Or "the comedian who thought everything he made was comedy gold and stopped trying as hard"

[@joshkeene8457]

Everyone: “Hey, can you tell us the scores of the recent NFL games?” ESPN: “WHY? LEBRON JAMES JUST HAD A BURGER FOR LUNCH AND TOM BRADY BOUGHT A NEW CAR!!!”

[@cerabrii398]

Then after that we'll talk about the Cowboys

[@NWSportscast]

@@cerabrii398they never talk about small market teams, and baseball/soccer/hockey have been basically forgotten about

[@peterplanz2310]

This sums it up nicely.

[@KingTay-xg4mi]

@@NWSportscast the cowboys my favorite team hasn't been worth shit for a couple decades and yet we still in the top 3 greatest worldwide franchises Manchester United aint got shit on us

[@matthewrchamberlain]

We just wanted highlights, not what LBJ's son ate for breakfast this morning or shouting talking heads spewing the same rhetoric over and over again.

[@badlandskid]

Don't give 2 shits about anything lebron

[@jacobstrine6332]

Lyndon b Johnson’s son?

[@JoeyCrackization]

So true!

[@Longrange1116]

social justice warriors, their coverage from their gated disney castle - is laughable

[@QueenOfTheNorth65]

@@jacobstrine6332 Hahahahaha! That’s why I thought, too. 😉

[@mh-do3pe]

ESPN became Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Extra.

[@runninrebel1520]

Don’t forget E!

#facts

[@ofallmyintention9496]

Exactly. Sports journalism became more similar to the wider spectrum of American "journalism"...which is garbage.

[@NeverMindMan]

And CNN. At least when Jemele Hill was there.

[@RETRO_BELL]

@@NeverMindMan yes, when they went political...I had to step away....

[@bbenjers]

I remember I was at a barbershop & I was wondering why I was hearing CNN in the background. I turned around and it was ESPN.

[@dbassett74]

HA!

[@starwarsnaomi]

That is sad that u fall for the BS from Fox we just lie news & other right wing nut jobs!!! If the majority of the employees are black & who are under attack by the so called police they have a right to take a stand and speak out

[@MarkSmith-js2pu]

Nw that’s funny😂😂😂😂

[@akreanimated7242]

😂😂

[@MarkSmith-js2pu]

@@starwarsnaomi what did Jon Gruden say that was so bad? I don’t get it. Please explain.

[@MagicAceVFXStudio]

"This should be call the Lebron James Network... all we do is talk about Lebron James" - Jalen Rose

[@jimmyjamedwards5967]

And Tom Brady.

[@thesupergoat4739]

And Zion Williamson

[@Abraham16ish]

And Mike Trout.

[@MichaelWH]

And Aaron Rodgers...and Dallas Cowboys

[@Abraham16ish]

AntsnRoaches Not to mention Nick Saban and Alabama football.

[@atragedy6223]

cable in general is a waste of time. I cancelled cable long ago and only have one regret.. that I did not cancel it sooner.

[@norbertop.niebres6320]

You do know that outside of NFL Football, the lion's share, aka HUGE majority of sports (College Football and Basketball, NHL Hockey, NBA Basketball, and MLB Baseball) are on cable/satellite television. On over the air broadcast TV, sports have pretty much disappeared, again outside of NFL Football.

[@OdintheGermanShepherd]

Cancelled cable in ‘06 and I’ll never have it again.

[@rgnicko5769]

Im in hotel watching cable right now....i dont regret getting rid of it one bit. 50 percent of it is bullshit shows trying to shill old people.

[@norbertop.niebres6320]

@@OdintheGermanShepherd I just hope you are not a sports fan. Most if not all of sports have drifted to cable/satellite. Of course, if you subscribe to 10 different streaming services, then you will be back to where you have started.

[@lamontbradford4630]

There shoving the New England and Tom Brady down our damn throtes.

[@jpowers55]

I miss the days when ESPN was scores, highlights and funny commercials.

[@kenperk9854]

Yeah, right? I loved those college basketball comercials with Rober Goulet singing about coaches! PRICELESS.... since we will never see stuff like this anymore...… binged.it/2ZPkdfM

[@136yomyheat]

FACTS

[@gojenson]

I yearn for the days of “this is sportscenter” commercials.

[@jeffreytoman5202]

I stopped watching when they started to only cover two sports.... the NFL and, to a far lesser extent, the NBA

[@Bigbullsfan]

I cover college football to

[@NWSportscast]

Same for us. One of the reasons we started making our podcast in the first place is because we were sick of having to listen to just football and basketball all day. There's so many other good sports to cover that ESPN ignores.

[@ftruers2544]

They cover more nba than nfl nowadays

[@RodrigoroRex]

@@ftruers2544 No, the NFL is the most covered

[@just_your_localguard9612]

To be fair, NFL and NBA are really popular among their viewers.

[@Chubbytiger74]

There shows aren't even about the athletes performance in the game anymore. It's all about their personal lives, politics and Twitter arguments between athletes.

[@CokeDrkrNotSnrtr]

its like how MTV phased out music and Comedy Central is phasing out comedy, ESPN is phasing out its sports

[@todoldtrafford]

And they act like teenagers. You never see weathermen acting like that. They just give you what you need

[@AllieRX]

I'd love to see you do a video on failed mergers like AOL Time Warner.

[@bananamanstrikesback5553]

Allie-RX yesss

[@trevonpernell0814]

Allie-RX Or that Viacom-CBS merger.

[@thegoodtony3339]

he already did AOL

[@AllieRX]

Tony Donaldson No he didn't.

[@MysteryMii]

Does the failed AT&T-T-Mobile merger of 2011 count?

[@NoFearIsHere]

I stopped watching when they talked about Lebron/Tom Brady for 45 minutes. Leaving 15 minutes for commercials

[@Shawn.Mathew]

NoFearIsHere but they need poster boys nba is star driven if not lebron than steph curry, nfl is a different story which is more franchise driven

[@Peppers19781978]

Don't forget about the non-stop Yankees/Red Sox coverage

[@rocketkid1785]

You must of missed the Tim Tebow coverage

[@badjr0]

This. ESPN shows way too much favoritism towards certain teams/athletes. I remember when A-Rod came back from his PED suspension and they covered his batting practice for nearly the whole show. Are you kidding me?

[@dallas317]

LeBron is a racist! boycott nba!

[@ravenlord4]

You forgot "ESPN 8: The Ocho!"

[@rushrules3423]

fuck you, take my upvote!!! haha

[@NoBrakes219]

SHIT YOU BEAT ME TOO IT

[@5295jk]

The ocho is ESPN's savior..

[@mikelomez9313]

raven lord Yeah I never miss the annual dodgeball tournament

[@DoomWar1]

If it almost looks like a sport, we cover it here! On ESPN 8 the Ocho

[@tetunoffensive]

Sounds like MTV. Internet made music and sports scores and highlights too easy to access so they went in new directions. People are nostalgic of the good ole days of these channels but in actuality they would not work in today’s day and age. So now we have these “weird” emotion and opinion based content that you either get on board with or quit watching. Will be interesting to revisit in the next decade or two.

[@drunkroku4054]

Mtv is dying the same death = SJW/Leftist political BULLSHIT!

[@jesuszamora6949]

Drunk Roku You conservatives wouldn't be crying if they went in your direction.

[@bobbyslater1198]

Neither would the channels.

[@jcampbell7878]

Mtv back catalog of shows/series is pretty decent....goes to app only teen mom and last season real world wtf

[@brestevens]

In two decades both ESPN and MTV will be either unrecognizable, renamed, or gone. Reminds me of The Nashville Network, which eventually morphed into Spike TV and is morphing again into The Paramount Network. That's ESPN and MTV's future.

[@pillowsocket]

"you watch ads all the time" right before the ad plays, well played

[@tomschmaltz5467]

pillowsocket that’s what I thought ahhaha

[@immaboss2326]

Same here lol

[@MisterMonsterMan]

Its 2021 now and they still talk about race and gender more than sports. They arent even a sports network anymore.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

It’s a shame that the network has come down to this

[@lanealbirth141]

Ok what’s the problem with that

[@zackspiker_]

Just give it a while, eventually you’ll see an athlete with race and/or gender. It’ll happen.

[@kevaughnramsay9846]

@@lanealbirth141 The people who complain about politics are soft as shit.

[@D0RYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY]

Too much political bullcrap in their broadcasts. I dont tune into sportscenter to hear about anything other than sports. I havent watched much recently. Too much commentary on politics. Sorry but i dont want to hear lebrons opinion on donald trump.

[@lbennhtx6072]

b t s n Get Woke Go Broke.

[@kenperk9854]

but but but bron git a for grade edication. He know he shit.

[@Based_Proletariat]

Nazi

[@gjp8492]

Can you do the decline of MySpace? Keep up the great work!

[@Locutus]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpTTmKCwfbuWZ6c Watch this video, it is about mySpace, and should answer some of your questions.

[@MrBones-ky6fb]

They became hyper-political, preachy and self-righteous. Basically, they became a 24/7/365 episode of "Sports Night".

[@barakobama9743]

That’s why I watch espn deportes and I’m Italian lol