ESPN's 32% ratings crash - layoffs happening

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by jspchief

And this is pretty much why a ton of people think ESPN sucks. They cater to huge markets while ignoring small ones.

It might be a good business model for them, but it's going to cost them viewers as there become more and more sources for a midwesterner to get their sports news without having to sit through 45 minutes of a boston/new york circle jerk.

I get it for sure. But ESPN's focus on the upper Northeast and West Coast has allowed Fox Sports 1 and the Regional Fox Networks to jump into the market and satisfy those customers.

It's also allowed the creation of the Big Ten Network, The Longhorn Network, et al.

The unfortunate side effect is that a company like Time Warner Cable creates a network for the Dodgers and won't license its broadcasts to competing service providers. For past two seasons, I've been unable to see a single regular season Dodgers game, despite the fact that the stadium is 3.7 miles from my home, because I subscribe to Direct TV.

As for ESPN, if it weren't for KU BB, MNF, bowl games and the occasional Royals game as of late, I'd never have it on. But I'd be bummed if I couldn't watch those events, so it serves a purpose.