Jemele and Mike

No, Hunt.

 

I'm watching. It has a bit more of the Sportscenter feel and the da-da-da da-da-da! bumper.

 

SJ "autocorrect": mipussycat.

 

As a very occasional viewer these days beyond live games, I ask: What has gone on with ESPN? It looks to have made a deep dive demographically and politically to the point of almost programming for the athletes it covers. Or maybe it has research telling it to serve certain segments almost exclusively and to hell with several others?

 

Unless I misheard him on the first night, I think Mike said this show will be slotted where it is for at least 3 years. He could've been joking or maybe he didn't mean to say that? It was a curious throw-away line.

As to your other questions ... yeah, there's definitely a story as to "Why?" Nothing sinister or unbecoming or anything but there's a whole sociological thing (possibly political) going on.

ESPN already showcases its diversity -- there isn't a better TV outfit with more diversity. It's pretty impressive.

 

Sports Illustrated reports this week that they each have three-year contracts.

ESPN's ratings are in free fall. That's why all the format gimmickry.

 

It's not ratings. It's that they are victim number one of cord-cutting, as they are the biggest and most expensive in terms of carrying fees cable network.

 

The story noted that these new formats concentrate on delivering "shareable" segments for social media.

 

"Shareable" segments ... lol

 

I hate it, too. But that's how you have to maintain relevance now. Millennials don't watch games, either. Who has time for that? Games are played to provide shareable highlights and bloopers and GIFs.

 

No "shareable segments" is a big reason why Bill Simmons' TV show failed. Other than the Affleck rant, there were no "viral" moments.

Meanwhile, segments from Kimmel, Fallon and Corden get shared thousands of times and viewed millions of times on social media every day.

 

Someone will write an interactive Broadway play called "Les Shareables" and make millions.