WHAT YEAR DID ESPN FALL OFF?

[triplehate]

To me it was when espnews and cnnsi came out. It was constant highlights back to back to back all in 30 minutes. I didn't need to watch sports center for an hour to see if Vince Carter had a crazy dunk.

So basically what ESPN based it's whole network around I didn't have to watch anymore. The more internet stuff was available the less I had to turn on the actual channel.

 

[Rekkapryde]

It was never gonna last

Internet killed it, and MTV as well

 

[Legal]

It definitely isn't one singular thing, but you can point out specific moments as mile markers for the decline.

For me, it was the runup to the Rose Bowl for the 2005 USC team. Season wasn't even over, and they'd spend entire blocks of Sportscenter talking through the idea that that USC team wasn't just one of the greatest teams ever, but THE greatest team ever.

Also, I'm not sure anyone remembers, but that dumbass "Who's Now" bracket they ran in 2007 was almost like the incubator for the current situation where people care more about what aoke of these athletes get up to off the court than actual games.

Not to mention that terrible TI remix "Sportscenter Poppin, no errrthing stoppin"

 

[SchoolboyC]

when those first and 10 segments took off bigger than they ever could have imagined

Yep. Tim Tebow’s time in Denver and LeBron joining the Heat coincided with each other and that turned Skip into the biggest star on their network and a household name

 

[SmoothOperator88]

Can't pinpoint the exact moment but definitely 2012-2015 range.

 

[DonRe]

To be honest when the arguing shows started.

i was a stan of PTI. I loved coming home from
HS and watching it.

And although they didnt really argue
Or debate, it spawned an era of shows where its more about who has the most outlandish take.

plus getting in bed with the sports leagues over tv right pretty much meant they will never be a true journalistic entity.

 

[ReturnOfJudah]

1996

 

[Since '86]

2007 with the "Who's Now" tournament segment

 

[semicko82]

When they showed pro wrasslin highlights on Sportscenter

 

[King Poetic]

When there was no more rich eisen and Stuart on sport center

 

[Thief's Theme]

never, you just grew out of it

nah, they used to show more highlights and make the highlights seem like every game was big... now it's like 2 plays a game, they sound bored when they recap it, and then mostly just talk

Patrick and Eisen leaving, RIP Scott
Tom Jackson and Berman not on NFL Primetime
ESPN+ taking away some of their best content

 

[Copy Ninja]

Gradual decline but to me it became apparent when First Take became their most popular show and they followed the same 'hot takes' model in their other shows.

They also fukked up their online presence making a good portion of their content subscription only.

 

[IslandG]

When Top 10 lists and replays of sports highlights on ESPN became redundant because of YouTube and Twitter and FB Shares where people can re-watch them infinitely.

 

[malbaker86]

To me it was when espnews and cnnsi came out. It was constant highlights back to back to back all in 30 minutes. I didn't need to watch sports center for an hour to see if Vince Carter had a crazy dunk.

So basically what ESPN based it's whole network around I didn't have to watch anymore. The more internet stuff was available the less I had to turn on the actual channel.

gosh i miss peak ESPN news. When it first came out in 96, it was

 

[42 Monks]

When Top 10 lists and replays of sports highlights on ESPN became redundant because of YouTube and Twitter and FB Shares where people can re-watch them infinitely.

Something I really don't like about ESPN, is that they can't even be trusted to even watch enough games to put out a real top 10 like how low effort is that shyt? you got guys on twitter, youtube, etc putting up fire clips and better commentary than your 6 figure talking heads and entire media departments

they deserve every L they take. its crazy how they fail to keep up with their own marketing