ESPN is the world wide leader in sports as it relates to its live sports coverage, but based on the network’s primary voices, ESPN no longer embraces all sports fans.
Instead, they cater to a very specific audience that it has bet its future on, literally and figuratively.
At one time, the network represented sports fans world wide because it focused on sports while giving something that would be appealing to any and all sports fans regardless of background, affiliation or demographic.
Then the business model changed, which required understandable cost cutting measures.
Yet those layoffs gave a clear indication of what the network was transforming into.
While parting ways with longtime staples like Kenny Mayne, Suzy Kolber and Trey Wingo was emotional, it was the other names that followed that were the most alarming because of their voices and perspectives.
In under 10 years, ESPN said goodbye to Black talents in Ryan Clark, Cam Newton, Bart Scott, Charles Davis, Andreas Hale, Jemele Hill, Michael Smith, Cari Champion, Bomani Jones, Josina Anderson, Jalen Rose, Keyshawn Johnson, Robert Griffin III (RGIII), Mark Jackson, Shannon Sharpe and most recently, Damien Woody.
That made their vision crystal clear, a vision which differs from what we were told it would be.
In 2019, then ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro made it clear that sports, not politics or societal issues, was the focus.
“Without question our data tells us our fans do not want us to cover politics,” said Pitaro said to the LA Times that year.
Yet the purging of Black talent, announcing a new college football show, “‘Bussin’ & Pate on Campus”, airing Tr**p’s “Freedom 250 Patriot Games” and interviewing him, and deepening its ties with Stephen A. Smith, who has become more political and hypocritical, and Pat McAfee, who’s demographic appeal is very targeted, exposes the network’s true intent and colors.
And with his introduction to the Monday Night Countdown set, McAfee has surpassed Stephen A as the face of the network as he has a presence on three major studio shows on the network, including his own.
ESPN has now hitched its future to two talking heads. Yes, they generate viewers, but when you look at those audiences, you notice that they’re not a diverse group; instead, they tend to be very singular in look.
The most glaring proof of ESPN’s evolution was revealed this past Saturday on “College Gameday” from Austin, Texas.
During the show, the Gameday crew hosted Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for a discussion on the “Protect College Sports Act” with no one else to present an opposing view.
Afterward, some said Cruz’s appearance wasn’t political while others sided with FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who said ESPN is not subjected to rules governing political candidates being interviewed on air because that only applies to broadcast networks, not cable networks like ESPN.
Those are both flawed excuses.
The minute you let one politician speak on a certain issue unopposed it’s political. And when coupled with the fact that Cruz’s beliefs align with ESPN’s targeted audience, there’s no disputing what’s happening.
Cruz isn’t even from Texas, yet James Tallarico, who’s running for the US Senate in Texas, is Texas born and raised and a University of Texas graduate, so where was his invite?
With no opposing view, a single narrative was enabled to flourish unimpeded. That’s not surprising when you remember that the SEC, which ESPN has an exclusive media rights deal with, supports the Act.
After receiving backlash all weekend (and rightfully so), ESPN has invited NAACP President Derrick Johnson to join the 6pm SportsCenter on Tuesday to share his views on the Protect College Sports Act, which feels like a “better late than never” move to save face than an opportunity to have a serious conversation about the issue.
But regardless of Johnson’s appearance, the damage has been done and ESPN has made their identity and intent clear.
They are a right-leaning, college frat boy loving network.
While the latter has always been a loyal fanbase for the network, the former is a relatively new phenomenon, and it’s a sad to see how the network has devolved into a platform with fewer perspectives and unique trains of thought.
Times change, businesses change and people change.
But serving sports fans was always ESPN’s mission, and now, based on its heavy investment in two people and its selection of guests, it’s apparent that they only want to serve certain types of sports fans.
And shamelessly, they’re not even hiding it any more.
