OT: ESPN has problems. This may separate the B1G from the SEC

[cubuffsdoug]

We've known for some time that Disney has tried to sell ESPN to cut its losses. Each year that passes, ESPN is one step closer to financial ruin. For the life of me, why in the hell did CFP sign the deal to give ESPN control rights to broadcast the playoffs through 2031? CFP left a significant amount of money on the table because they may have felt pressure from the SEC and ESPN executives. Why not spread the playoffs across multiple networks to earn a bigger financial windfall without crushing the networks' pocketbooks? Now, ESPN is selling away games (semifinals) to TNT due to financial constraints. It should be a telling sign that the SEC may have reached its peak financially. I recall reading an article on al.com where people were upset that Rutgers would earn more from its B1G media rights than Alabama. That rubbed many Alabama people the wrong way. IMO, the financial gap between the B1G and the SEC is expected to continue growing over the next few years due to ESPN's financial struggles. Here is a link to an article talking about the ESPN situation: ESPN's Financial Struggles Continue; Network Gives Away College Football Playoff Game Broadcast

 

[vkj91]

ESPN outside of live sports has been dog shit for years. BUT all this money conferences are getting are a result of ESPN in its prime for example, game day kinda sucks right now. For 15 years it was much watch tv for everyone I know. If a company with vision bought espn it could return to glory. Does maxim magazine still exist. If so who owns it lol

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

ESPN outside of live sports has been dog shit for years. BUT all this money conferences are getting are a result of ESPN in its prime for example, game day kinda sucks right now. For 15 years it was much watch tv for everyone I know. If a company with vision bought espn it could return to glory. Does maxim magazine still exist. If so who owns it lol

Sports Center was basically must-watch TV to get recaps of all the games - especially NFL. Now everything is all online. Sports Center is now both less essential and definitely less interesting.

 

[bac2therac]

Attention spans are gone. Its all about live sports now. ESPN ruined their brand with nonsense which filters into their reputation and that despite being the sports leader in programming for so long the changes in viewer habits is making them a less go to

 

[cubuffsdoug]

There's always one. Sheesh.

The problem I see with ESPN is that they have tried, or are still trying, to own the rights to every major sport while struggling financially. A wise move would have been to join forces with other networks to split the cost of broadcasting events without breaking the bank. ESPN wants to own everything, and now they look weak selling off events to other networks. NBC, CBS, and Fox were smart to split the cost of broadcasting B1G events, thereby maintaining financial flexibility to showcase other sporting events.

 

[bac2therac]

There's always one. Sheesh.

Its part of their decline so we can be big boys and talk about it

Their daily shows rely on alot of talk and they paying personalities alot of money add on to their overspending of live product

That model of viewing is dropping..add in political bent one way and it adds to the decline

There isn't just one reason. There are many. Networks like Fox Sports never were at the heights of espn but they are concentrating on the sports

 

[LotusAggressor]

ESPN choose woke over just covering games! Go woke go broke! When will these companies learn

Anyone who fits that category at ESPN is long gone. The most popular program on ESPN is McAfee, who's the furthest thing from "woke."

 

[bac2therac]

Anyone who fits that category at ESPN is long gone. The most popular program on ESPN is McAfee, who's the furthest thing from "woke."

Yeah but its a little too late. Those viewers who left aren't coming back and the model has changed

 

[DJ Spanky]

ESPN on hard times? Let me see how I feel about that...

 

[vkj91]

Anyone who fits that category at ESPN is long gone. The most popular program on ESPN is McAfee, who's the furthest thing from "woke."

Not true about them all being gone. There was an issue few weeks ago between a basketball personality and Robert Griffin.
Mcafee is their most popular because he’s rough around the edges. He’s similar to how espn was when I was a kid. They done like the audience and made same comments we were thinking. It’s why Keith Hernandez is so popular. Ever see KH talk about the fam eating the 20 dollar hotdog?

 

[tico brown]

Its part of their decline so we can be big boys and talk about it

Their daily shows rely on alot of talk and they paying personalities alot of money add on to their overspending of live product

That model of viewing is dropping..add in political bent one way and it adds to the decline

There isn't just one reason. There are many. Networks like Fox Sports never were at the heights of espn but they are concentrating on the sports

That’s why they allow Pat Magafee to do whatever he wants on multiple shows every week.

 

[knightfan7]

Its part of their decline so we can be big boys and talk about it

Their daily shows rely on alot of talk and they paying personalities alot of money add on to their overspending of live product

That model of viewing is dropping..add in political bent one way and it adds to the decline

There isn't just one reason. There are many. Networks like Fox Sports never were at the heights of espn but they are concentrating on the sports

Then take it to CE. You're a big one often trying to take it here even tho you should know better by now.

 

[tico brown]

Yeah but its a little too late. Those viewers who left aren't coming back and the model has changed

Isn’t their new model to charge $30 a month later this year?

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/05/13/espn-streaming-app-cost-bundle.htmlh

 

[koleszar]

They lost me when Herby cried live on TV.

 

[bac2therac]

Then take it to CE. You're a big one often trying to take it here even tho you should know better by now.

Has zero to do with CE..keep it in your pants

 

[bac2therac]

Isn’t their new model to charge $30 a month later this year?

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/05/13/espn-streaming-app-cost-bundle.htmlh

Who would pay for that

Ultimately though they are going to force all of us to start paying to watch sports anywhere

 

[NickRU714]

The problem I see with ESPN is that they have tried, or are still trying, to own the rights to every major sport while struggling financially. A wise move would have been to join forces with other networks to split the cost of broadcasting events without breaking the bank. ESPN wants to own everything, and now they look weak selling off events to other networks. NBC, CBS, and Fox were smart to split the cost of broadcasting B1G events, thereby maintaining financial flexibility to showcase other sporting events.

Part of it is ESPN has to go all in because they have nothing else.

NBC, CBS and Fox (or the streamers Amazon, Apple and Netflix) don’t need 7,000 hours of sports programming a week.
They have all their other programming to monetize.

Unfortunately for then, ESPN has no other option.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

Go back to televising Australian Rules Football replays. They could probably get replay rights for a song, show it instead of dumb talk shows, and hardly anyone will know the outcomes ahead of time. Same with the National Rugby League.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Go back to televising Australian Rules Football replays. They could probably get replay rights for a song, show it instead of dumb talk shows, and hardly anyone will know the outcomes ahead of time. Same with the National Rugby League.

hey I enjoyed the Savana Bananas vs. Party Boys game the other night. (ESPN2). First time I've watched anything on ESPN other than Cap. Bowl Week.

 

[rufeelinit]

Didn’t they just opt out of the three remaining years of their baseball contract? Manfred acknowledged what they are negotiating to fill that gap is at much lower rates than what espn was contracted to pay. I know baseball has viewership issues but that looks like a smart move to exercise the opt out.

 

[mosito]

ESPN had the New Year's Bowls locked under contract through he late 2020s. No one else could have bid aside from only the 1 round of games.... There was interest from Amazon, Fox and others ( not sure how interested) but if you couldn't get any semifinal game or final, then it made no sense to bid it up. Hence why the money from the CFP came in at around 60-70% of what people were projecting (if I recall)...

Then ESPN of course tacked on a couple of years to 2031.

ESPN also sold Big12 games as well to TNT.... Seems to be that they are trying to develop a partnership with Warner Brothers.... Maybe to do a joint Bid for stuff in the future... Who knows...

ESPN is definitely hurting but they seem to be wheeling and dealing. The bulk of the SEC contract is in a 20 year just like the ACC that ends in 2034... So they have it cheap as well as other stuff.... They can easily sell games and develop relationships.

We've known for some time that Disney has tried to sell ESPN to cut its losses. Each year that passes, ESPN is one step closer to financial ruin. For the life of me, why in the hell did CFP sign the deal to give ESPN control rights to broadcast the playoffs through 2031? CFP left a significant amount of money on the table because they may have felt pressure from the SEC and ESPN executives. Why not spread the playoffs across multiple networks to earn a bigger financial windfall without crushing the networks' pocketbooks? Now, ESPN is selling away games (semifinals) to TNT due to financial constraints. It should be a telling sign that the SEC may have reached its peak financially. I recall reading an article on al.com where people were upset that Rutgers would earn more from its B1G media rights than Alabama. That rubbed many Alabama people the wrong way. IMO, the financial gap between the B1G and the SEC is expected to continue growing over the next few years due to ESPN's financial struggles. Here is a link to an article talking about the ESPN situation: ESPN's Financial Struggles Continue; Network Gives Away College Football Playoff Game Broadcast

 

[cubuffsdoug]

ESPN had the New Year's Bowls locked under contract through he late 2020s. No one else could have bid aside from only the 1 round of games.... There was interest from Amazon, Fox and others ( not sure how interested) but if you couldn't get any semifinal game or final, then it made no sense to bid it up. Hence why the money from the CFP came in at around 60-70% of what people were projecting (if I recall)...

Then ESPN of course tacked on a couple of years to 2031.

ESPN also sold Big12 games as well to TNT.... Seems to be that they are trying to develop a partnership with Warner Brothers.... Maybe to do a joint Bid for stuff in the future... Who knows...

ESPN is definitely hurting but they seem to be wheeling and dealing. The bulk of the SEC contract is in a 20 year just like the ACC that ends in 2034... So they have it cheap as well as other stuff.... They can easily sell games and develop relationships.

ESPN is wheeling and dealing out of necessity to stay afloat. Warner Bros. is splitting from Discovery, so there may be limited funds in the future for ESPN if they continue to work with Warner Bros.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Let's not forget that ESPN colluded with the ACC to take down the Big East. So anything bad that happens to them is well deserved.

 

[LotusAggressor]

Let's not forget that ESPN colluded with the ACC to take down the Big East. So anything bad that happens to them is well deserved.

And then aired a documentary about how sad the demise of the Big East was without mentioning their central role in its destruction. That's like tobacco companies shedding tears over smokers who died of lung cancer.

 

[MADHAT1]

My opinion:
When ESPN started making their commentators bigger than what was being commentated about, sports became secondary and viewers started getting tired of all the BS being said instead of just reporting what happened in the days sports match-ups and athletes involved .
Now sports center and other ESPN shows are not the must see TV that they once were.
Getting condensed sports news online is preferable to listen to some ESPN talking-head blather on and on about his/her viewpoint.
Also some of the shows ESPN puts out where opinions are being discussed are just blah blah blah programing without substance.
The exception to that, I feel , is Pardon the Interruption.
ESPN turned into a talk show channel instead of sticking with sports reporting and covering sports events

 

[BABYBULL24]

Back in the day ESPN had an advantage as they were automatically included in 99% of Basic Cable packages going back to the 80s. As Cable TV has diminished & other Sports Networks have been developed so has the dominance of ESPN.

 

[Caliknight]

ESPN being acquired by Disney was a massive mistake. It took on Disney's cultural values which are out of line for most clear thinking people. Now they are suffering like Disney.


ESPN being sold to a neural arbiter would be great thing for the network, but it's going to take a massive amount of work to make financially sound again.

 

[Knight Shift]

ESPN outside of live sports has been dog shit for years. BUT all this money conferences are getting are a result of ESPN in its prime for example, game day kinda sucks right now. For 15 years it was much watch tv for everyone I know. If a company with vision bought espn it could return to glory. Does maxim magazine still exist. If so who owns it lol

IDK about live sports either. Their baseball broadcasts are unwatchable.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

IDK about live sports either. Their baseball broadcasts are unwatchable.

Announcers can make any game interesting and exciting while keeping you informed. ESPN's announcers talk about nothing 99% of the time, and it drives me to mute the game or turn it off.

 

[tico brown]

Who would pay for that

Ultimately though they are going to force all of us to start paying to watch sports anywhere

I wish I could find the post I made when CUTTING THE CORD first started and I said that people will be paying $30, $50 a month for ESPN, MSG, HBO, blah blah blah. That cutting the cord thing was too good to be true because these companies would figure it out. My luck I would be the one with the feds knocking on my door if I finally go get a jailbroken Firestick…

Might as well go back to cable.

 

[Knight Shift]

Announcers can make any game interesting and exciting while keeping you informed. ESPN's announcers talk about nothing 99% of the time, and it drives me to mute the game or turn it off.

IDK what it is about Eduardo Perez' voice, but he sounds like Bert of Ernie and Bert of Sesame Street. They also used to amplify the ball hitting the catcher's mitt and when the bat hit the ball, and it was so annoying. ESPN and Apple TV are tied. Apple TV's announcers are not bad, but I don't need to see a statistic on the probability of everything, including if the catcher is going to shat his pants in the last inning. Let the game breathe, and talk about something interesting--historical, topical, etc. Watching Apple TV broadcast is like:

 

[tico brown]

IDK what it is about Eduardo Perez' voice, but he sounds like Bert of Ernie and Bert of Sesame Street. They also used to amplify the ball hitting the catcher's mitt and when the bat hit the ball, and it was so annoying. ESPN and Apple TV are tied. Apple TV's announcers are not bad, but I don't need to see a statistic on the probability of everything, including if the catcher is going to shat his pants in the last inning. Let the game breathe, and talk about something interesting--historical, topical, etc. Watching Apple TV broadcast is like:

It could be worse. It could be Gus Johnson on Fox screaming ITS SECOND AND NINE!!!!!!!!!
WHERES MY BAR B Q SAUCE?????
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

 

[cubuffsdoug]

Here's an article from Va. Tech, suggesting that the SEC and Big Ten will be the last two standing. With ESPN's financial problem, I see the B1G being the last to stand.
The End: What Happens to the ACC and Where does Virginia Tech Go?

 

[TRU2RU]

Here's an article from Va. Tech, suggesting that the SEC and Big Ten will be the last two standing. With ESPN's financial problem, I see the B1G being the last to stand.
The End: What Happens to the ACC and Where does Virginia Tech Go?

The author loves to hear himself talk & is off base on most of what he says, you don’t need a 80,000 seat stadium nor a 15,000 seat basketball arena to become a member of the SEC or the B1G, all you need is an invitation which is very doubtful that VT will receive

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

I wish I could find the post I made when CUTTING THE CORD first started and I said that people will be paying $30, $50 a month for ESPN, MSG, HBO, blah blah blah. That cutting the cord thing was too good to be true because these companies would figure it out. My luck I would be the one with the feds knocking on my door if I finally go get a jailbroken Firestick…

Might as well go back to cable.

There a joke that the various broadcasting/streaming companies will bundle their service and call it cable.

 

[tico brown]

There a joke that the various broadcasting/streaming companies will bundle their service and call it cable.

 

[Ty Webb]

I know someone who worked in finance for them.

Essentially they overpaid for media rights while seeing a decrease in viewers due to cord cutting, etc. They also overspent on on air talent thinking day time sports talk shows were the way to go and are now learning less and less people care about 3 versions of the same show they have on air every single day.

 

[needmorecowbell]

This thread is hilarious.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

There was a time when ESPN actually made a couple billions for Disney, iirc. As ESPN tried to control sports content they lost their way... instead of having a must-watch sportscenter show that was fair to all they began to SELL the teams and conferences they invested in. And millions and millions of viewers tuned out.

That is pretty common among Disney media.. ABC News, Disney films.. and the films of all the IP they bought to destroy.. don't worry, they use parks revenue to make up teh differnce so they can keep pumping out crap content.

Wait? What was that? oh yeah.. Comcast/Universal built an Orlando park 3 times the size of the Magic Kingdom in only 5 years (Epic Universe).. which is less time than it took Disney to build one ride.. Tron. But Disney's Parks revenue is not in trouble... it wil save the day. They will just remove lots of stuff in their parks and replace it with new stuff based on IP they own and sell it as NEW and IMPROVED! They will expect revenues to increase so they will just continue to raise prices until the morale of their customers improves.

Fox Sports.. which Disney does not own.. with telemundo (which is comcast/universal) will have the World Cup next year... so ESPN pain will continue.

 

[Roy_Faulker]

I wish I could find the post I made when CUTTING THE CORD first started and I said that people will be paying $30, $50 a month for ESPN, MSG, HBO, blah blah blah. That cutting the cord thing was too good to be true because these companies would figure it out. My luck I would be the one with the feds knocking on my door if I finally go get a jailbroken Firestick…

Might as well go back to cable.

Thankfully some of the cable companies are getting wise. Spectrum subscriptions now include Peacock, Paramount+, and ESPN+.