Can ESPN go local? Or is this rival sniping?

Maybe I'd have to go out and start buying a few newspapers again. I've got five newspaper choices -- three NYC and two NJ -- plus Newsday on the web (can't buy it in Jersey).
I think I'd survive.

 

I think the LA Times article cited nearly 3 million unique visitors per month to the LA.com site. Someone, apparently lots of someones, is visiting the site.

 

ESPN wants no part of Richmond. If it goes into more cities, it will go into only cities with large amounts of pro/college teams. It would handle VT/U.Va. with ESPNDC.com. Bet that.

So sorry, ESPNDubuque.com hopefuls. Ain't happening.

 

That is not exactly true. I'm an SE in a small market and the ESPN radio channel out here has broadened to ESPN(Insert small city).com. It put out a magazine recapping the local prep sports year. Here in the next few weeks, it is updating its ESPN(insert small city) website. Not sure how it will do because we still dominate local coverage with our resources, but it is a growing presence.

 

This reads like sniping. But I wouldn't be too happy if some TV producer was trying to throw me out of my seat at a local event.

Interesting that this was a TV thing though...the expansion is more the ESPN(blank).com and their writers might not have the same attitude as the TV producers.

 

You never know, Dubuque does have a casino

 

Not entirely. Pittsburgh is an O&O and hasn't even been mentioned as a potential ESPN-Local destination. And that's a sports-obsessed town. Steelers, Penguins, college football and basketball. Minor league baseball...

 

But it is still a two-paper town with a lot of very strong sports sections in the outlining counties.

A place like Richmond, where if the TD closes, there really is not jack shit (no dailies for 50 miles) North of the James to fill the void for local football. Not sure about South of the James, but I am guessing there is not a ton there either.

 

I don't think you'll ever see an ESPN.Richmond web site. The market isn't profitable enough to start one. I also doubt if there is enough interest in a second or third tier market city such as Richmond.
The proliferation of ESPN.Com in major cities is more likely. Frankly, I'm surprised that ESPN.Com hasn't settled in places such as Philadelphia or Washington D.C. or Atlanta. I know plans are in the works, I'm just surprised it hasn't happened yet

 

Yes, I am too.

 

Wait for the two-hour special for the announcement.