FS1 anchors

[bradley center bat]

Clay Travis joining EA on a two hour college football pre-game on FS1.

http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2013/07/08/fox-sports-bolstering-college-football-tv-coverage-pregame-show-opposite-espns-gameday-and-hiring-clay-travis/

[Skatastrophy]

I'm not a big fan of newscasters that make the show about themselves. Not gonna lie, I'm lukewarm on these guys.

[Tums Festival]

Hope they make it. I really need an alternative to ESPN.

For me, ESPN is becoming like MTV. When I was a kid, MTV was everything. Then they stopped playing videos and because the place for trashy reality shows. Haven't watched in years.

I used to watch ESPN all the time. I could watch SportsCenter over and over again. Now, I only tune in when a big game is on. Can't stand the current SportsCenter,  those annoying debate shows, or 95% of their "original" programming.

Occasionally, they're run a decent 30 for 30. Otherwise, no thanks.

I won't watch SportCenter anymore, I get mt scores, etc. off of CBS Sports website. ESPN makes the events about them and provides excessive coverage of their favorites. The only person at ESPN with any dignity left at this point is Bob Ley.

[ChicosBailBonds]

If FS1 can bring back the light-hearted, fun feel that ESPN had in the days of Patrick and Olbermann, I think it would be great!

FIFY

[GGGG]

FIFY

Regardless of how you feel about him now, Olbermann was phenominal on Sports Center.  Another one was Craig Kilborn. 

[brandx]

Regardless of how you feel about him now, Olbermann was phenominal on Sports Center.  Another one was Craig Kilborn. 

I'll watch Olbermann anytime - whether pontificating on Sports or Politics. But I can't imagine how awful it would be to work with/for him.

Even in the last year couple years at ESPN, while they all saw him as a genius - no one (except for a few producers) wanted to work with him. And that was only cuz he did so much of their work for them.

[brewcity77]

Regardless of how you feel about him now, Olbermann was phenominal on Sports Center.  Another one was Craig Kilborn. 

I'd be fine with Olbermann. I'd like him back in sports better than as a newscaster. He's no Will McAvoy, even if he wishes he was.

[MU82]

I won't watch SportCenter anymore, I get mt scores, etc. off of CBS Sports website. ESPN makes the events about them and provides excessive coverage of their favorites. The only person at ESPN with any dignity left at this point is Bob Ley.

As I was reading this thread and nodding in agreement with the criticisms, I said out loud: "Yeah, I wonder what a real pro like Bob Ley thinks being associated with all these clowns."

[ChicosBailBonds]

Regardless of how you feel about him now, Olbermann was phenominal on Sports Center.  Another one was Craig Kilborn. 

I've felt that way about him since he was here locally at KTLA, long before he got to ESPN.  People in the industry that have had to work for or with him will vouch for that.  Horrid.  Wretched.  As one executive producer I know at KTLA told me once, "the irony that he started the worst person of the day award should not be lost on anyone"

Agree with you on Kilborn

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'll watch Olbermann anytime - whether pontificating on Sports or Politics. But I can't imagine how awful it would be to work with/for him.

The stories are legendary.  Top 10 douche in the industry....I'd argue comfortably in the top 3 with very little chance of slipping.

[brandx]

The stories are legendary.  Top 10 douche in the industry....I'd argue comfortably in the top 3 with very little chance of slipping.

Don't remember who said it, but in the ESPN book the description by one of his peers was - on an intellectual, he's a genius; on a social level he's a special needs kid.

[LloydMooresLegs]

The Patrick and Olbermann schtick was great early on because it was spontaneous. Even the Berman crap that is so insufferable now was entertaining early on.  Then they started forcing the light hearted and funny stuff and it doesn't work that way.

This

[LloydMooresLegs]

ESPN got walloped in the quarterly numbers.  Came out today....absolutely walloped.  Down 32% for the quarter




Fox's entire strategy based on the meetings I went to is to be the anti-ESPN. Make sports fun again, not the "evil empire".  Will be very interesting to see if they can pull it off.

CCB: In your opinion, how much (if any) of the difference was due to hockey playoffs? Looks like the only sports  competitor to take a bite out of espn was NBC Sports.  The rest must have been due to the many other entertainment options.

[esotericmindguy]

The 8am live sportscenter is the worst show of television.

I'm serious.

You obviously haven't watched first take.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Don't remember who said it, but in the ESPN book the description by one of his peers was - on an intellectual, he's a genius; on a social level he's a special needs kid.

Not surprising.  The guy entered Cornell at age 16....he likely had a tough time developing those skills.

[forgetful]

Not surprising.  The guy entered Cornell at age 16....he likely had a tough time developing those skills.

I've known some of these types of kids.  Funny thing is, often they are less intellectually gifted than their peers, but were pushed hard by parents/mentors.  They end up not developing key social skills, which then puts them at a further disadvantage in the workforce. 

Now then again, there are some of them that are just wicked smart.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm enjoying reading all these comments about how much espn sucks and how it was better in the olden days. Not that I disagree, but what we have to realize is that the incoming generation of sportsfans is still locked into ESPN and loves the programming. We are going to be hard pressed to get exposure amongst potential recruits. That's why I like these two for the anchor gigs. They have enough entertainment value to attract in the younger generation. I'm hoping they balance that with more commitment to the sports highlights that ESPN has gotten away from.

Those numbers that were posted earlier makes me optimistic. If we can break this monopoly, we will be on the ground floor of a great undertaking.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I also find the comments about getting away from sports funny when half the threads on this site end up being about the Dodgers, Whataburger, and other random tangents

[ChicosBailBonds]

CCB: In your opinion, how much (if any) of the difference was due to hockey playoffs? Looks like the only sports  competitor to take a bite out of espn was NBC Sports.  The rest must have been due to the many other entertainment options.

Maybe, but remember the playoffs didn't start until May 1st (I think) and this report is for all of Q2.  It certainly would help NBC but I don't think that's the entire story.  If you look at the numbers, most of the channels have been pretty consistent.  The exceptions are ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV and Speed to a lesser extent.  NBC had a nice jump as did MLB.  More details will come out in the next week or so, certainly NHL will help but whether it was the main driver we won't know for a bit.

[GGGG]

I'm enjoying reading all these comments about how much espn sucks and how it was better in the olden days. Not that I disagree, but what we have to realize is that the incoming generation of sportsfans is still locked into ESPN and loves the programming. We are going to be hard pressed to get exposure amongst potential recruits.

Yes...they love the programming so much that it is slipping in the ratings.  I think you are exaggerating its importance.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

And Olberman was already hired and fired by FOX Sports. 

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

All this talk about how ESPN is still dominant ... has no industry monopolist ever been taken down? 30 years ago everyone had three crappy car brands. Twenty-ish years ago everyone had one crappy phone service.

Given the serious hatred many have for ESPN, it's inevitable that a market alternative will develop.

[GGGG]

All this talk about how ESPN is still dominant ... has no industry monopolist ever been taken down? 30 years ago everyone had three crappy car brands. Twenty-ish years ago everyone had one crappy phone service.

Their ratings are slipping even without a legitimate rival.  NBC Sports tried but they cheaped out on the rights fees so they were never able to build a base of anything.  I love the NHL and the Tour de France, but it's really not something you can build viewership around.

Fox knows what they are doing.  They built a broadcast network from nothing...they built a cable news network from nothing.  They are now going to try sports.  They have some good quality football and basketball to build off of, and instead of trotting out old, staid people like Bob Costas, they are going to try to go quirky and fun.

ESPN may be dominant now, but they definitely have weaknesses.  I would rather have the BE be on the forefront of something new rather than lost in the shuffle.

[Babybluejeans]

The FS1 rollout is timed perfectly with the NFL starting back up, which will offer the best opportunity to market the new network on Fox (i.e. national TV). And I'm assuming they do just that. Hopefully lots of football-related programming early on will pull people in and make it a go-to channel for sports fans. I'm hopeful this could really work.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Their ratings are slipping even without a legitimate rival.  NBC Sports tried but they cheaped out on the rights fees so they were never able to build a base of anything.  I love the NHL and the Tour de France, but it's really not something you can build viewership around.

Fox knows what they are doing.  They built a broadcast network from nothing...they built a cable news network from nothing.  They are now going to try sports.  They have some good quality football and basketball to build off of, and instead of trotting out old, staid people like Bob Costas, they are going to try to go quirky and fun.

ESPN may be dominant now, but they definitely have weaknesses.  I would rather have the BE be on the forefront of something new rather than lost in the shuffle.

#1 I agree with you.

#2 To be fair to ESPN, their ratings don't really have anyplace to go but down. That doesn't mean they aren't as successful or dominant, but they are at their peak, so there will be some natural variations in their viewership.