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ESPN: Cutting The Cord Or Political Turn Off?
The catchphrase that seems to be picking up more and more steam is “cutting the cord” when referring to those that are dropping traditional cable TV for viewing choices or alternatives by other means. The reasons why differ greatly. For some its price, or affordability. For others, its convenience with the growing numbers of alternatives. And for some; they just refuse to pay for anything in a zealot like fashion. Although each group has different reasons the outcome is the same: diminishing viewership.
However, is “cutting the cord” really the reason for ESPN’s loss of millions viewers? Or, is that the easiest crutch of an excuse for what might really be happening? After all, media is, and always will be, the king of “inflated” numbers. So much so I garner when a CEO of any media company reads a term like “double seasonally adjusted” they smirk and think – “Rookies.”
It’s just the way it has, is, and will be played; and everyone understands it. None more so than those within the business itself, which is why a few things struck me.
Why wouldn’t ESPN™ (or Disney™ its parent company) go to great efforts to include or push the narrative that “cord cutting” doesn’t necessarily mean “all” that cut have tuned off? In other words: why aren’t numbers from alternative viewing sources highlighted as to show they might not be viewing there – but they are over here? Unless – they aren’t.
And if they’re not – why not? After all, there’s probably no other content infringement policing company for copyright and other applicable ownership rights than Disney and all its subsidiaries. You aren’t going to see it for free or on alternative platforms unless they want or allow for it. Period.
This would also imply if they allowed it (anywhere) it would be accounted for ( i.e., click views, etc.) in some manner of form from across the internet to help take the edge off. i.e., Sure we lost millions from cable, but as you can see here, they’ve just migrated over to this service/platform as an alternative. Monetizing the alternative is a work in progress. etc., etc.
However, that seems not to be the case. The case appears – they’ve not only cut: they’ve tuned out or turned off the programming entirely. Why?
It’s hard to say. However, if I use myself as an example, I believe I know a large part of the underlying reason:
ESPN (like a few notable others such as NBC™) has seemingly transformed at near hyper-speed from sports reporting – to political sports reporting. The political edge now rampant throughout the shows, games, interviews, et al is overbearing, overburdening, and overdone.
Here’s what I know from my own experience: It has become near impossible to turn on something that was originally created for pure entertainment value without now being bombarded with how the “political football” issue of the day is being addressed by the commentators, sideline crews, as well as players and coaches. e.g., I tuned in to watch a football game – not a game about how today’s “political football” is handled and won. i.e., gun control, domestic violence, civil unrest, global warming, etc., etc., on, and on.
Important issues all. However, is there no respite today as to maybe catch a breather and just enjoy a sporting event and its minutia without having today’s “political football” and all its baggage forced down my throat by sports casters, players, and more? It would be one thing if these shows mentioned these topics when appropriate. But now? One would think they were watching a Sunday morning news show rather than a sports channel. Everyday 24/7.
When I’ve watched it seems the reason for their existence (i.e., the game) is an inconvenience that must be tolerated till they can get back to what they believe really matters: the “political issue” of the day.
Yes, I know I’m probably overstating. Yet, that’s how I feel today when I’ve tried to watch most ESPN programming as well as others. My immediate reaction? Many times I’ve turned off a game entirely: for continuing was akin to waiting for another comment as to cue a push of the bamboo chutes deeper.
Personally, I grew so sick of it I now watch about a third, if that, of any sports TV I had watched previous. Again: specifically for this reason.
If I want “political football” TV there are far more choices and views to get it from. Sports were at one time a sanctuary from the realities of everyday life. There one cared only about their team. Could throw all their passion (and distaste) behind them. Hate them one day, love them the next with no regards as to affecting society. It was a place to blow off steam, have fun, and armchair quarterback yourself into the Hall of Fame of “If I were on the field – I would have called that play and won!” all time greats.
Today? It’s near impossible to escape and has been picking up steam. Need I say (or not say?) Washington Red____s?
Listen, I’m not addressing whether or not you agree with what should, or should not, be done. I’m just trying to illustrate this as just one of the latest that shows in great detail just how one will not be able to escape the discussion that is purely based in the “political football” arena.
Some sportscasters now will not say the name; even if they are the on-air live, play-by-play talent, and stumble all over themselves and their play-by-play calls trying to avoid it. Players will be asked from both the sidelines, booths, with others appearing via satellite, questioning them to defend how they can even put on the uniform for that day’s game. Insinuation, implication, and innuendo will be the “play calling” as opposed to what is transpiring on the field of actual play.
Again, as I stated earlier: whether or not you agree or disagree with the topic, just this one is a representative of all the others. If it’s not a name change – its gun control. If it’s not that – it’s another. Everyday 24/7. The game now seems to be the filler as opposed to the “issue of the day.” Need I remind anyone of that great illustration of just how determined sportscasters are now going to force the “political football” down viewers throats than NBC™ Bob Costa’s gun control rant on Sunday Night Football™?
Agreeing, or disagreeing with his take is irrelevant. My point is: I don’t turn to a sporting event, or, sports commentary program, to hear the opinion/opinions of today’s sportscasters view on the “political issue” of the day. I tune in to see sports. Period.
This seems lost on ESPN and the others as of late. And if I’m a microcosm of what others are doing. What we’re not doing is cutting the cord and viewing it elsewhere. We’re actually giving a spin to the old Timothy Leary idea:
We’re tuning out and turning off. Entirely.
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Government, especially the tyranny kind, is always about stealing money, grabbing power, and dividing their victims against each other.
Being a vital part of the noiZ-media, ESPN must push tyranny's "division" agenda.
Now put your pink ribbon on, and get to watching the game while reflecting on what an enemy to mankind you you are for owning guns. Also, don't forget to hug a vet for their service and sacrifice, and to worship the flag.
Zion is a scheme, not an ethnicity..
The first time the NFL had the players wear pink in honor of breast cancer awareness week and Komen for the Cure was my first WTF moment with the wussification of pro sports. These manly men prancing around in pink shoes was just too much. Then it moved over to Nascar for gods sake!
Komen for the Cure's close association with the baby parts distributor Planned Parenthood really blew up in their faces in 2012. It turned out that PP was receiving $600,000 a year from the charity before Komen cut them off, after it was found out that PP didn't even provide mammograms, just referrals. What a racket.
Typical POS op-ed here without a single set of numbers or facts to back it. The big problem for ESPN is that it has become bloated especially from an expense-side for several reasons & it typically presents about 20-25% your overall cable bill. Simple natural that other content producers come online and some degree of unbundling occurs in cable packing that ESPN (and more importantly Disney) is going to take a notable hit.
I understand they need weekend content filler but man the oped writers here on the weekend are usually terrible. This is no excpetion.
Have not watched sports in over 30 years, But who needs sports when you live in Thailand. Here it's sport fucking 24/7
Military sports in particular...
There is generally good/interesting stuff on cable if you are willing to find it. CSPAN often has a wide array of interesting authors speaking on various books (taped with usualy a few weeks/months delay), cooking shows, NatGeo, a bunch of other channels off the beaten path, etc.
Yeah reality televsion is trash but if you think content is bad now I can't imagine what you thought it was like 30 or 40 years ago when you had almost no choices.
I had this epiphany about a decade ago. I'm a "White Sox fan"...I guess I still am though I haven't watched a single game in two or three years now probably. But one day, back then around the time the US was getting ready to invade Iraq, I hit my breaking point. I lived about 5 hours away from where I grew up in northern Illinois and was heading back on a Sunday after visiting some family. I figured I'd leave around game time and zone out for a few hours listening to the Sox game. I suffered through about 45 minutes of douche-bag Ed Farmer telling me his "informed opinion" about global geopolitics and psuedopatriotism...while in between jingoism he would note a play. I was pissed. I study and teach history (then and still do) and the last thing I wanted to hear was some old dickwad ballplayer tell me what I should think about politics...ya know? I have to think about this stuff for my job. I'm not wanting to think about it when I'm trying to be "entertained". It might be a cop out but hey, cut a guy some slack in life since after all...YOU'RE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS ASSHOLES! DO YOUR JOB AND I'LL DO MINE!
The next day I actually wrote a letter to the radio station telling them to stick to what they know well, since they are experts about baseball and not about war and history and politics. And that I didn't plan to listen to a game again any time soon. I noted that I doubted I was the only one who was annoyed by them preaching politics to me while I'm trying to hear a baseball game.
I have listened to a few games over the years. Farmer still sucks at calling and color in a game but I have noticed they don't do so much politics. But still, the grand spectacles all over sports of flag waving and military commemorations are disgusting. The political overtones by half wits like Costas who, for some reason, people seem to think is "smart" is just bizarre. I too, like the author, watch very little sports anymore. When I do I go to a bar so I can't hear it...and I just watch. But it's all just too much anymore. It's just not entertaining.
So suddently sporting events and coverage have only become politicized in the last 10-15 years or as this author is trying to assert the last 5 years? Pure nonense.
They have been part and parcel for a long time especially MLB. Just go back to WWI and the federal gov't policies & interactions of MLB owners at the time.
You're right...and maybe it just became more obvious to me...but I don't know, since 9-11 it sure seems like they turned the volume up to "11" on it to me. There's always been politics behind the scenes of course with the legalized monopolies and stadium give aways and all that, but now the "commemorations" and stuff are way over the top. The way the blatantly use veterans and patronizingly tell them how they should be remembered and feel about past wars is impossible to stomach. It has to be turning some people off.
I was down to Super Bowls. But the military boot licking became more than I can take.
Of worthy mention. The Public Isn’t Buying Press Credibility
Who needs sports now when watching the collapse of the world economy is far more interesting and consuming. An catastrophe on this scale hasn't happened since the Black Death.
Highly Questionable is the only "show" I'll watch on ESPN. Papi is awesome
ESPN is now available on ROKU and other Internet Streaming Box's. If you want Sports you no longer need Cable TV, Dish, or DirecTV to get your Sports Fix. The reason all those subscribers have disappeared is because Nelson is not looking at Internet Streaming Channels, only Cable TV Channels. ROKU is approaching if not already providing 3,000 Streaming Channels. There will never be a Nelson Ratings service for Internet Streaming Channels. Once people get a ROKU they quickly ditch Cable TV. There is more content of all kinds available that suddenly you figure out that paying $100 a month for the absolutely abysmal programming that Cable TV has become due to decades of non-competitive media services. Internet Streaming has provided that competitive service. Anyone can create and stream media for any of those thousands of Internet Streaming Channels or even create their own. Of note are several Corporations that are producing or buying high quality content for their own Internet Streaming channels. The only commercials you will see on those channels are for that corporations products and/or services and unlike Cable TV where the viewer is required to pay for the channel and watch the commercials the Internet Channels are free with very limited commercial interruptions. Currently I pay $8 a month for Netflix and the hundreds of other channels I have in my menu are free. I could easily live without Netflix but I do enjoy that totally commercial free service. That's one of the reasons HULU had to provide commercial free service. People are refusing to pay for channels that have commercials show up. Cable TV is obsolete and will soon be gone if they don't substantially cut their prices. Cable TV should not cost over $10 a month instead of the $100 + price they are currently charging.
Cable TV should not cost over $10 a month instead of the $100 + price they are currently charging.
Basic cable service is down to $10 at least in the New Jersey area. I never use it, but I have to buy it to get internet service.
Netflix spoiled me. I can't take commercials anymore.
Long time lurker, more recent sign up on this site, this is my first post.
I "cut the cord" exactly one month ago. When I cancelled my cable subscription, the customer service rep asked "may we ask why you are choosing to cancel?"... I answered after a short pause... "no comment". He (the CSR) said "Really? I've never heard that before."
Anyway, and I shit you not, as I was moving into my new place a field rep from the same cable company showed up on my front lawn dodging movers asking .. almost begging me to sign up.
Weird in that it seemed like they tracked me down to my new address and were waiting for me on the day I moved in which was some days later than my cancellation and move out.
I don't miss it very much, saving hundreds each month and the uncompressed OTA signal of major networks is much crisper than I ever got via cable.
Regards,
Willie
PS: Oh wait! Fight club! My first time here! I'm calling out Taffy Lewis only because Bladerunner is my favorite movie and P.K. Dick is my favorite author. Knuckle up fucker.
PPS. 2016 presidential tickets prediction. Bush/Clinton or Clinton/Bush. Choose wisely.
Shut up Willie. Too much info 'bro.
I barely watch any sports programs anymore for precisely the reason described in this post. The programs and content are pregnant with with propaganda subtly directing us about the right and and wrong way to think and feel about social issues, most of which have nothing to do with sports. From the pre-game shows to the advertisements and the game itself, the beat goes on like 10,000 drums. “Look what a perfect way of life we represent.”
And therein lies the worst part about it. You know damn well from experience and numerous incidents that not one athlete, owner, announcer, producer, or sponsor is privately practicing this bulshit dogma they preach to us in public. That goes for just about everything you watch from mainstream media too.
I agree with everything said above by Downtoolong.
The Daily Bell talks about this phenomenon a lot, calling it the propagation of "Dominant Social Themes" pushed by the so-called elite. aka Political Correctness, etc.
I unplugged completely from all kinds of sports because I don't need "hollywood idiot" type commentators talking about anything other than the action.
Until they being back womanizing, racial jokes, and the word "fag" in conversation, the sports industry won't get a single FRN from me.
It's amusing to me when people say they want to watch sports on TV but the commentating pisses them off. Uhh, turn the volume down/mute it. Not hard! No diea why so many seem to think you have to have the sound on when watching sports on TV.
The reason people are probably turning away from ESPN is because they're a joke of a network and their goal is to troll viewers with wastes of human flesh like Skip Bayless.
NO ONE wants to sit back, relax and watch a sports event with finger on tbe mute button having to think about when to stifle a sportscaster's idiocy.
anyone watch the LLWS last year -- espn ridiculous glorification of the two black teams. including the serena like boy-girl pitcher that is now some kind of african gender bending paragon
both teams got busted for cheating. the chicago team stripped of its title....they had EIGHT illegal players. too late, nyc/espn and dc/obama already had the parade
ESPN happy to report that Obama plans to rename the Washington Redskins, now that he's renamed Mt. McKinley.
ESPN happy to report that Obama plans to rename the Washington Redskins, now that he's renamed Mt. McKinley.
The Washington Denalis? No wonder why RGIII doesn't think he's the best QB in Football anymore.
I don't watch sports at all, but apparently you can't get away from what this article complains about even if you attend a football game in person. From one of my favorite comedians, Bill Burr, this video:
http://teamcoco.com/video/bill-burr-sports-charities
Right On. Ive loved and played sports all my (younger) life. ESPN was always the big cable moneymaker. It had it all but then threw out Limbaugh, Dennis Miller and every guy who wasnt PC. And JUST HAD to find inventive ways of getting infobabes on the field and in the locker rooms just for PC. Now, watching ESPNs ESPY awards, giving a Courage Award to Brucelyn Jenner, is the end of my wanting to watch or listen to anything they have to say.
And Ive given up Bob Costas for Lent, as well as before and after Lent.
I browse ESPN.com because I am a degenerate gambler and bet on MLB/NFL (Vegas res)...and damn if in the past couple weeks theyre hasn't been at least 5 new articles EVERY DAY talking about hurricane Katrina. It's been what, 10 years? Can they get over it now?!
This article is so correct. I just want to watch the game, see and appreciate great athletism, feel the effort and will to win by these champions, learn some of the strategy and stats, hear light or funny stories about players and the game. This court stuff, politically correct stories, politics of the game, cencorship of everything takes all the fun out of it.
A Small Victory, Viewership Drops for Degenerate MTV:
http://winteractionables.com/?p=24690
If you have time to waste watching TV...well you might have too much extra time. I understand you can now skip the commercials but I have never found any content worth my time.
When the internet came along I could seek the info I wanted without the ads (except here where they are like the undead) and even learn things I had no chance of learning before.
I have a nice old Trinitron but it hasn't been turned on about 12 years...
TV?...that shit's still happening?...I surprised.
Americans are retarded for sports.
What is this "television" of which you speak?
BTW, team sports are designed to tap into the tribal instincts and make people into followers rather than leaders.
"There is no "I" in team. True, but there us an "m" and an "e". As in "me", so fuck off."
The SJW angle of sports broadcasting is incredibly annoying and I for one hate being lectured, let alone force-fed a diet of awful WNBA games in the Summer or having to watch Women's World Cup games while they pretend it's as good as the men's version.
ESPN pretty much jumped the shark with their ESPY's award to Caitlyn Jenner.
The constant Viagra and Cialis ads on the commercial breaks are also incredibly annoying. Big Pharma seems to control half the airways now.
What the fuck has happend to the US and the West with all this garbage anyway? Why can't I just watch a football game without all the politics? Bizarro world.
We don't need to propaganda.
We don't need no thought control.
As with everything the MSM does, a little goes a long way and adding more does not add value. Too much crappy advertising. Too many ESPNs. Too many cable stations. Too much manipulation.
An awake and alert audience is turned off by the MSM.
I fixed this,
The commentaries now are from the most cretinous wankers born,, fuck wits that cannot shut their flapping gobs, totally full of shit.
Personally I love Moto GP but the cretinous blow hard tosser that probably hasn't even ever been on the back of a moped, cannot shut his goddam mouth. His knowledge of motorcycles is less than my cats, so I actually recorded sessions of the GP, one for 3 , one for 2 and one for GP as the bikes sound different, and without his fucking voice.
Around 15 mins I got, and then looped it to soundtrack of about 45 mins, and played that instead of TV sound.
I couldn't tell the difference, except his prattling shit was gone.
Friends came over and without saying anything they watched the GP. oblivious that the wankers drivel was gone.
They didn't notice it missing, they watched the bikes, concentrated on the bikes, occasional one word comments, but they sat transfixed just as you would at the real event.
Fucking amazing,.
I'm going into business, selling replacement soundtracks for all sporting events to cut the wankers cackle.
Try it, honestly, it brings the magic back without listening to the banal bollocks of those fucking self important wankers
racing without the announcers is where it's at. who wants to hear someone talking, when they could instead be hearing the engines?
I detect a Brit accent.It used to be Yankee Ingenuity. Its been supplanted by Brittey Ingenuity. American invention is not alive and well. Maybe ended with Steve Jobs or Windows 7.
Same thing with Ice Skating. SHUT UP and let us watch the event WITHOUT (much) COMMENT - the way sports were broadcast years ago (EG Jimmy Dudley and the Cleve Indians)
ESPN - political correctness with the blame whitey meme undertone
Politics with teams. Awesome. I tuned out 20 years ago.
ESPN has turned into the sports version of MSNBC. Poor Boomer.
Much of the viewership has gone to competitors. NBC Sports and FoxSports are poaching tons of talent from ESPN (Erin Andrews) plus leagues like the NFL, NBA, and SEC are launching their own networks to broadcast their content. This is market competition, not that the average American is wisening up to the constant propaganda bombardment on the major networks.
Erin Andrews = tons of talent? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
And don't you just love watching and listening to the ignorant, uneducated, stuttering voices of the new standard of racially and gender mixed commentators with their sixth grade level of communication skills, speaking down to the audience?
Problem is, monopolies can get away with just about anything, especially when the Serfs are content.
J
Maybe it has little or nothing to do with politics in sports, and everything to do with the gradual changes in our society. WOMEN have much more power in both public and private life today than thirty years ago, and women have always been intentionally excluded from the testosterone pit of professional sports. It's been a "guy thing". Except that today, that "guy" has to do at least a little of the housework because he can't support a wife on his sole paycheck, and she works every bit as much on the market as he does. If there are kids, he's expected to do Family Things during the prime sports-watching hours on Sunday afternoon. Or even to be doing Church Things, since much of the demographic that used to do sports (blue-collar Christians) are now expected to do more than just show up at Christmas and Easter. And if he's young, he's got more interesting things to do with his cellphone than listen to some over-the-hill ex-sports star rant about a bunch of monkeys running around a field or a wooden court doing strange things with balls.
Professional sports were the designated Mass Opiate of the Archie Bunker Era. We're now into the PostModern era, and "mass" participation in unifying Great Events is passe. Anyway, since we're all on-call for work 24/7, who has the time?
I stopped watching ESPN when they stopped airing motorcycle racing.
Why anyone watches the Talmudvision these days is beyond me...